Rating: 
Summary: Egan should stick with physics
Review: this is a pretty good book, and it's not hard to get through but egan really doesn't know much about molecular biology. if you don't either it may be enjoyable, otherwise be prepared for some problems. also it would have been cool to know how the virus thing he leads up to resolves itself.
Rating: 
Summary: A change of pace for Egan
Review: Tiranesia was a significant change of pace from the previous works of Egan, which showcased dazzling speculations in physics, but only artificial intelligences as characters. Tiranesia is a strongly character-oriented book, about Prabir, who was raised by biologist parents on a distant tropical island in the ocean near Malasia. They are trying to solve a biological mystery-- why are the butterflies of Tiranesia evolving so rapidly?-- but Prabir is more interested in exploring his little island and playing with his baby sister. When war comes to the island, however, everything in Prabir's world changes. Don't be mistaken-- there *is* some science in the book, with a few lectures about biology, and some far-out speculation about quantum mechanics. But first and foremost, it is a character oriented story about Prabir, and how his experiences change his life and his viewpoint about the world.
Rating: 
Summary: When he's good, he's very, very good, but when he's bad...
Review: Whereas Greg Egan can outshine any writer when he lets his imagination flow, he can be absolutely terrible when he tries to restrict himself to more mainstream sci-fi. Fundamentally, what makes Teranesia so bad in comparison to, say, Diaspora or Permutation City is that it is so didactic. There is a message of science/rationalism = good, religion/superstition = bad, that is so unsubtly broadcast at you from every page that it becomes unbearable even if you, like me, have great sympathy with this position. Oh, and to make sure that this isn't seen as too western or neo-imperialist, Egan makes the central character firmly 'other' - both Indian and gay. There's absolutely nothing wrong with having characters other than traditional white male heroes, indeed just about all of my favourite books are based around 'other' types of protagonist; it is just that in Terranesia it is just a blatant and cynical device to further 'the message'. What's more, Egan's writing is not up to scratch in this book, and the plot is recycled Ballard. My partner in fact thought Teranesia was so badly written that she is now refusing to read any more of his books despite my assurances that he can be brilliant. The combination of the patchy writing and preachy tone end up having the effect of subverting the core ideas. I am a very politically-engaged person, however I firmly believe that serious political messages should never overwhelm the beauty of great writing, an engaging story and sympathetic characterisation; indeed these qualities allow a message to be conveyed in a more subtle, persuasive and emotionally-satisfying way. Diaspora helped me recover my ability to wonder at the possibilities of science and human potential, whereas Teranesia almost makes me want to hate scientists! My advice to Greg Egan if he ever reads this: let yourself go, you are infinitely better when your imagination is not so artificially constrained.
Rating:
Summary: When he's good, he's very, very good, but when he's bad...
Review: Whereas Greg Egan can outshine any writer when he lets his imagination flow, he can be absolutely terrible when he tries to restrict himself to more mainstream sci-fi. Fundamentally, what makes Teranesia so bad in comparison to, say, Diaspora or Permutation City is that it is so didactic. There is a message of science/rationalism = good, religion/superstition = bad, that is so unsubtly broadcast at you from every page that it becomes unbearable even if you, like me, have great sympathy with this position. Oh, and to make sure that this isn't seen as too western or neo-imperialist, Egan makes the central character firmly 'other' - both Indian and gay. There's absolutely nothing wrong with having characters other than traditional white male heroes, indeed just about all of my favourite books are based around 'other' types of protagonist; it is just that in Terranesia it is just a blatant and cynical device to further 'the message'. What's more, Egan's writing is not up to scratch in this book, and the plot is recycled Ballard. My partner in fact thought Teranesia was so badly written that she is now refusing to read any more of his books despite my assurances that he can be brilliant. The combination of the patchy writing and preachy tone end up having the effect of subverting the core ideas. I am a very politically-engaged person, however I firmly believe that serious political messages should never overwhelm the beauty of great writing, an engaging story and sympathetic characterisation; indeed these qualities allow a message to be conveyed in a more subtle, persuasive and emotionally-satisfying way. Diaspora helped me recover my ability to wonder at the possibilities of science and human potential, whereas Teranesia almost makes me want to hate scientists! My advice to Greg Egan if he ever reads this: let yourself go, you are infinitely better when your imagination is not so artificially constrained.
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