Rating: 
Summary: How can a six hundred page novel survive in the marketplace
Review: of ideas without any ideas? The writing is laborious, the characters are simplistic stereotypes, the plot reeks of deus ex machina, or shall I say David Wingrove ex machina since I believe this "novel" to be the result of a writing group/therapy session that Mr. Wingrove was deluded into thinking had literary merit. Its O.K. to be in love with yourself, just don't ask me to subsidize you. My hands feel sticky after reading it. Yuck.
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Uncomfortable Read
Review: Reflecting on this book (I read it when it first came out) I remember that the imagery of the setting is amazing. I could feel the oppression of the levels of population. The characters of the story were horrid & horrifying. I was just beginning to explore science fiction as a genre, so maybe this wasn't the best book to read at that beginning stage.Even though all these many years have passed, I will occassionally reflect on Chung Kuo--certain scenes are indelibly etched into my mind. And, ultimately, isn't that what a good book should do? Still, I would prefer that literature not haunt me like this.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best science fiction novels out there
Review: Based on reading the complete Chung Kuo series, I'd have to say it's one of the best science fiction series there is. I've read many science fiction novels, but none that has kept me engrossed or contemplating what's going to happen next. There are moments in the series that leaves you wondering whether if it will get any better but if you get past those few moments, it just gets better until you reach the stunning finale. It's refreshing to see a future that doesn't fit the "Western" view. Instead, it's an interesting blend of infusing ancient China with the future. What's also fascinating is the "City" as it is known in Chung Kuo. Very original idea. The greatest strength of the series lies in the multitude of characters. Each are distinct and it's quite pleasant to actually see well developed Chinese characters for once. Sometimes, they almost seem too real and one moment you may like them and another not. My only complaint with the series in general was that with so many characters, there were bound to be some that didn't get enough attention. I think the Chung Kuo series could have been longer than it is. Each of the novels in the series brings something different and adds more depth to the Chung Kuo world. I find it funny that some people take offense to the portrayal of women and the stereotypes that it supposedly has in the novel. If all novels were written to please everyone, you'd probably see very few original stories. It's gotten to the point where if something doesn't agree with you, it's politically incorrect. It's a science fiction novel that depicts an alternative future that may not be to everyone's liking, especially if you're used to nice, optimistic Western dominated futures. If you don't like books that provokes you to think or evaluate how you see things then don't read this. I can't wait to see what Wingrove's next project is.
Rating:
Summary: Expand your Horizons
Review: Small minds prefer books which have a moral messages comparable to ice cream. But for just a moment try to broaden your horizons. Wingrove's writting is inspired. While it's not exactly literary it just crushes 99% of the SF genre. The Middle Kingdom and the series in general goes beyond conventional concepts of good and evil (but sometimes validates them). Some places the author takes you may revolt you, offend your sense of right deeply. But if you are willing to question what it means to live in society, and see the value of examining the human condition from a vantage point unobscured by the usual feminization then you have to read this series.
Rating:
Summary: If a book could be a drug than this is it.
Review: You'll either really like this book, or you'll really hate it. It is a definately a male-orientated book. This book and indeed this entire series has countless injustices in it, but there is also some truth to some of the authors ideas. It is a book about power, and intrigue. It's about life and murder, senseless and practical. It holds within it the power to warp a person's personality so severely that at times I found myself questioning the ingenuity of my own mother. The good guys are sometimes hard to identify because the author apparently believes all men have dark sides and no one walks without corruption. The plots are always playing with each other. One of my favorite quotes from the book was "The relations of men cannot exist without the bitter consequences of power." True that. True that. A splendid novel worthy of your cash and time. I give it the Bradylee McGeough seal of approval.
Rating: 
Summary: A boring racist, sexist trash disguised as a sci-fi novel
Review: David Wingrove uses the premise of a China-dominated future to fill this book with unsavory characters and NO heroes or heroines. Almost all female characters are professional prostitutes. Most white male characters are nazi-type fascists, and Asian characters are continuously-bowing stereotypes from the middle ages. Most characters are despicable and are always getting killed off, and as the reader you don't care about their (always) violent and bloody deaths. Don't waste your money and time on this series.
Rating:
Summary: Overlong adolescent male fantasy encumberbed by sadism.
Review: How would you like a novel whose only intelligent and sympathetic characters are women? How would you enjoy a book whose only profoundly creative characters are female? How would you react to a 600 page tome whose only male characters are simply servants of women? Such is CHUNG KUO by sex-role inversion. There is so little science fiction here that one wonders why the author bothered. A Chinaphile, he revels in a futuristically posed Asian hegemony, replete with mountains of degeneracy to be cleansed by some future hero. If he can find a palatable character to play hero. I'm glad I got this book from the library; all I wasted was my time, and lots of it I'm afraid. Yup, I read the whole tedious thing.
Rating:
Summary: Addictive, but....
Review: This, the first in David Wingrove's epic series about a future in which Chinese culture has become dominant, is plotted well enough to keep you reading. That's on the plus side. The minuses include a sexist and racist point of view, even taking into account that Wingrove has portrayed a dystopia. The women are portrayed as subservient or manipulative, and racial differences are stereotyped. There is ample opportunity for character development over the course of this long book and its successors, and yet most of the characters are little more than cardboard cut-outs. Dialog is stilted. In spite of all this, I keep reading, hoping that there will be redemption in the end. The books are addictive, but be forewarned.
Rating: 
Summary: Engrossing, imaginative--why the obsession with rape/torture
Review: If you find yourself saying, "I love good, imagitive science fiction, but most contemporary authors just don't mix sex and torture enough for me," then this is the book for you. Personally, I like my sex WITHOUT the torture and rape, so I found some passages unreadable. It seems like there have to be better ways to make the whole "bad people--good ideas" dichotomy clear. Still, I keep reading, so who am I to criticize? However, as I get further into the series and more and more of the characters through whose eyes I saw the action are killed, I have less and less incentive to keep reading.
Rating:
Summary: Two words..
Review: The best ! Simply put, this is almost as good as Asimov's and Herbert's. Wow, I love it. Someone wrote you could look up to the many books to read, I started reading slower to not get finished with them too soon ! P.S. Anyone who likes this as much as I do: I'll be making a page which includes some on Wingrove and his books, I'd really appreciate anything helpful to me for this ! P.P.S. I've heard some things 'bout a game called "BlackOps" by microsoft... seems like we'll be able to play INSIDE a world like Chung Kuo's !!!! Bye bye, Jorma
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