CHUNG KUO : THE MIDDLE KINGDOM

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Summary: This is one of the most though provoking books I have read
Review: THis book is the product of hard work and an exdrodinary imagination. I started read sci-fi when I was about 9 with Tom Swift books. I have gone from victor appleton to asmiov, to heinlien(I even went as far to write my junior theme about him!) I read the entire deathstalker series, read the gap cycle, and now I have started the Chung kuo, and I have to say that this is a specimen of literary perfection. If you ever wished for a world in whcih no one stepped out of their place, then you must read this book, and you would learn how dangerous that really would be.

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Summary: It's a good thing Sino-and-other-'phobes don't read sci-fi
Review: You don't find very much "terra-fi" (sci-fi based right here at home) that's all that coherent except to a Lit major. Some examples are "Blade Runner" and "Clockwork Orange", whose authors forget that not everyone has an easy time with obscure metaphor or narrative in a vernacular spoken in a future that ain't happened yet. That's what makes Wingove's "Chung Kuo" series fairly easy going despite the length of each volume. But it's a good thing that the bunch who think that the difference between the Chinese and the Ebola virus is merely one of degree aren't space opera geeks like me. Wingrove postulates here a Chinese domination or Earth in the late 21st century that results in a resurgence of a Medieval life-is-dirt-cheap ethos that is sort of a reverse-Clavell scenario. The crowd who are into this neo-Yellow Peril hypothesis would have a field day. Wingrove's sentence structure suggests that he's British, so maybe it's understandable that Germans come off less villainous only by comparison here. Tycoon Hans Ebert, for example, reminds me of the Wolf Stoller character from Wouk's "Winds Of War". It's a shame, because this book and its following volumes are a dual rarity--an epic saga that's not really all that much of an overdose (hey, a big story takes a long time to tell, okay?), as well as a "future shock" yarn in which you can tell what the hell people are talking about.

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Summary: A Terrible Disappointment
Review: This book was one of the worst science-fiction novels I have read in years. The characters were totally unbelievable and the entire book lacked any sort of rising action or believable plot. If you want epic sci-fi, read the Dune series, if you want Asian intrigue, pick up Shogun or Noble House, but don't waste your time with Chung Kuo.

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Summary: A thought provoking but disturbing read
Review: Chung Kuo paints A very detailed and engaging future world, peopled by characters that appear at first glance to be shallow and stereotypical, but on A closer look are deep and frequently disturbing individuals. This is not A book for youngsters or those easily offended, but to those that can tell the difference between fantasy and reality, and have the time to read this work throughly I reccomend it.

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Summary: Great idea, interesting concepts, and terrible delivery.
Review: I have to confess, I've been trying to finish this book for over two years. I keep picking up again and again hoping I'll find it more compelling this time, so I can go on to read more books in the series. But the writing is tedious, and the multitude of characters make it extremely difficult to follow. I loved the idea of the book, but the delivery leaves much to be desired.

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Summary: Simply Incredible.
Review: Those with a capacity to understand complex story telling and a multitude of characters will keep these books on the shelf for a future read. Wingrove's writing is inspired and disturbingly realistic in its exploration of a troubled future world. Those of you with brain rot can continue to read your juvenile romps through candy land...just don't burden us with your drivel.

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Summary: Unbelievably cruel and depressing.
Review: Warning to readers, especially female ones: this book contains scenes of graphic cruelty, in particular one especially disturbing and explicit scene of the sexual torture of a woman. The book is interesting, but gets bogged down in the author's obvious enjoyment of the oppressive world he has created and the evil men that inhabit it.

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Summary: I liked it and screw everyone who thinks otherwise!
Review: Hey, I liked this book. True, there were a few sexist and racist views, but keep in mind that those views were only dominant when taken from a character's point of view. Those of you who think that they may be Wingrove's actual beliefs really should get out more. There were stereotypes, but everyone who fit into a stereotype was just acting that way so they could go forward with their hidden agenda. All the smiles concealed daggers, so to speak. I read all the books except the last, which won't be in the US until a long time from now. I highly recommend this series to anyone who isn't offended easily, and screw everyone else.

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Summary: Boring, slow start, and it never gets better
Review: I picked this book up on a friend's reccomendation, and have learned to get a second opinon on any book he wants me to read. This was a miserable, boring book. Technically, it's science fiction since its set in the future, but if that's what you're looking for, go pick up one of the cookie-cutter Star Trek novels. You'll enjoy it more, and waste less time.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant...an inspired peice of work.
Review: After reading the whole of the Chung Kou series I found them to be enthralling and inspired. I have been reading the other comments on this book and am somewhat dissapointed of the slander it has recived in the way of being accused as sexist ect. I accept that they are personal views but really...the world we live in is sexist and fulled with not very nice people. Mr wingrove portrays this well I feel, his work should not be slandered for a view of the world.(note. Im not in anyway condoning the sexism or sadism in the book)