Hothouse

Rating:
Summary: Deep and challenging
Review: Here is a fine example of the most adept application of a most adept imagination. In this novel Aldiss not only challenges many ecological issues, but blends them into a wonderful story of evolution, both of life as a whole, and of society. This is a must for any sci-fi/fantasy fan.

Rating:
Summary: Imaginative, but not engaging.
Review: I'll give Aldiss credit for creativity -- this story of far future Earth is full of very imaginative landscapes, flora, and fauna. But there's not much else to recommend it. The speculations on the evolutionary history of Earth are a little too implausible to overlook. And the story line seems little more than a mechanism for introducing more outlandish creatures.

I expect it would be more enjoyable for younger readers, or those who don't demand that the science in their fiction be at least plausible.

As a last note, I should mention that I came across this book as one of Easton Press' "Masterpieces of Science Fiction" series. Given that it is apparently a classic, my viewpoint is perhaps in the minority.

Rating:
Summary: Showcases his imagination
Review: Of all the "New Wave" SF writers that emerged in the sixties and seventies, Brian Aldiss is probably the least flashiest and most consistent. His books have this sort of quiet confidence, as if he already knows they're unique and doesn't need to go about proclaiming it. Most of the time the trick is in the presentation. In this novel we have an Earth millions of years in the future, a planet that has stopped rotating and is thus half light and half dark, a planet where most of the animals have died out and plants have taken over, evolving into all sorts of weird lifeforms, all of which you have to read to believe. Humans are still around but most traces of civilization are gone, they live fairly nomadic and primitive existences. The biggest problem with this book is that the setup is just about all you get, while there is a plot of sorts, it's for the most part episodic and at best ramshackle, lurching from situation to situation. But it's Aldiss' vision of the future Earth, orbiting a sun soon to go nova, and a planet covered in all kinds of fantastic forms of life, that sustains the book. Every time you turn the page something new and bizarre greets you and I'm just amazed the man was able to think of all these things. Granted most of the plot is devoted to showing off these things but when then they're this consistently entertaining I'm not going to argue too much. Honestly there probably is some kind of allegorical aspect to the plot that I'm just missing because I'm too dense but hey, whatever. Fans of pure science probably won't be too thrilled because Aldiss' extrapolations of the far future seem to have little to do with actual science, but as I always say, don't let science get in the way of a good story. This is an absolutely fascinating story that ranks with his better works and while it's not his absolute masterpiece, it certainly deserves to be read.

Rating:
Summary: Showcases his imagination
Review: Of all the "New Wave" SF writers that emerged in the sixties and seventies, Brian Aldiss is probably the least flashiest and most consistent. His books have this sort of quiet confidence, as if he already knows they're unique and doesn't need to go about proclaiming it. Most of the time the trick is in the presentation. In this novel we have an Earth millions of years in the future, a planet that has stopped rotating and is thus half light and half dark, a planet where most of the animals have died out and plants have taken over, evolving into all sorts of weird lifeforms, all of which you have to read to believe. Humans are still around but most traces of civilization are gone, they live fairly nomadic and primitive existences. The biggest problem with this book is that the setup is just about all you get, while there is a plot of sorts, it's for the most part episodic and at best ramshackle, lurching from situation to situation. But it's Aldiss' vision of the future Earth, orbiting a sun soon to go nova, and a planet covered in all kinds of fantastic forms of life, that sustains the book. Every time you turn the page something new and bizarre greets you and I'm just amazed the man was able to think of all these things. Granted most of the plot is devoted to showing off these things but when then they're this consistently entertaining I'm not going to argue too much. Honestly there probably is some kind of allegorical aspect to the plot that I'm just missing because I'm too dense but hey, whatever. Fans of pure science probably won't be too thrilled because Aldiss' extrapolations of the far future seem to have little to do with actual science, but as I always say, don't let science get in the way of a good story. This is an absolutely fascinating story that ranks with his better works and while it's not his absolute masterpiece, it certainly deserves to be read.

Rating:
Summary: Showcases his imagination
Review: Of all the "New Wave" SF writers that emerged in the sixties and seventies, Brian Aldiss is probably the least flashiest and most consistent. His books have this sort of quiet confidence, as if he already knows they're unique and doesn't need to go about proclaiming it. Most of the time the trick is in the presentation. In this novel we have an Earth millions of years in the future, a planet that has stopped rotating and is thus half light and half dark, a planet where most of the animals have died out and plants have taken over, evolving into all sorts of weird lifeforms, all of which you have to read to believe. Humans are still around but most traces of civilization are gone, they live fairly nomadic and primitive existences. The biggest problem with this book is that the setup is just about all you get, while there is a plot of sorts, it's for the most part episodic and at best ramshackle, lurching from situation to situation. But it's Aldiss' vision of the future Earth, orbiting a sun soon to go nova, and a planet covered in all kinds of fantastic forms of life, that sustains the book. Every time you turn the page something new and bizarre greets you and I'm just amazed the man was able to think of all these things. Granted most of the plot is devoted to showing off these things but when then they're this consistently entertaining I'm not going to argue too much. Honestly there probably is some kind of allegorical aspect to the plot that I'm just missing because I'm too dense but hey, whatever. Fans of pure science probably won't be too thrilled because Aldiss' extrapolations of the far future seem to have little to do with actual science, but as I always say, don't let science get in the way of a good story. This is an absolutely fascinating story that ranks with his better works and while it's not his absolute masterpiece, it certainly deserves to be read.

Rating:
Summary: Hothouse is so different - it is barely Sci-Fi
Review: The novel Hothouse first came to my attention in the picture book/review "Alien Landscapes" by Robert Holdstock and Malcolm Edwards. The art and description contained therein inspired me to read Hothouse, as well as a few other classic sci-fi novels (e.g. Rendezvous with Rama by A.C. Clarke and Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement, both of which I highly recommend). I was not disappointed.

Hothouse is difficult to squarely categorize as sci-fi, as Aldiss does not project human achievement and technological evolution into a plausible future. Instead, he does so with biological evolution, moving mankind into the passive role of bystander. Plants have come to dominate the natural world, assuming the characteristics and ecological functions of the animal kingdom. But it is far from a utopian garden. The main characters are assailed with hostility every step of the way.

The book is an odyssey of sorts, with the main character, Gren, tossed violently about this very green world on a voyage of discovery, both internal and external. Aldiss seems to like this theme. The various plant forms which Gren encounters along the way will stir the imagination with their bizarre nature, although I disagree with another reviewer's comment that their introduction appears to be the only purpose for the book.

Aldiss leaves quite a bit unexplained in the book, which I suppose is my only criticism. But even then, it lends the text a sense of mystery which, when approached with the right perspective, is charming.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

Rating:
Summary: Hothouse is so different - it is barely Sci-Fi
Review: The novel Hothouse first came to my attention in the picture book/review "Alien Landscapes" by Robert Holdstock and Malcolm Edwards. The art and description contained therein inspired me to read Hothouse, as well as a few other classic sci-fi novels (e.g. Rendezvous with Rama by A.C. Clarke and Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement, both of which I highly recommend). I was not disappointed.

Hothouse is difficult to squarely categorize as sci-fi, as Aldiss does not project human achievement and technological evolution into a plausible future. Instead, he does so with biological evolution, moving mankind into the passive role of bystander. Plants have come to dominate the natural world, assuming the characteristics and ecological functions of the animal kingdom. But it is far from a utopian garden. The main characters are assailed with hostility every step of the way.

The book is an odyssey of sorts, with the main character, Gren, tossed violently about this very green world on a voyage of discovery, both internal and external. Aldiss seems to like this theme. The various plant forms which Gren encounters along the way will stir the imagination with their bizarre nature, although I disagree with another reviewer's comment that their introduction appears to be the only purpose for the book.

Aldiss leaves quite a bit unexplained in the book, which I suppose is my only criticism. But even then, it lends the text a sense of mystery which, when approached with the right perspective, is charming.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read.