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The Inverted World
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Christopher Priest - The Inverted World - Sept 2014
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Aug 31, 2014 09:58AM
I'm on the fence about this book. I haven't picked up a copy yet to read even though the blurb and comments talk about what a wonderful classic it is. I'm just not sure. Tell me what you think about this one so I'll better know which way to fall on this one. :)
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I'm about 80% through and digging it. It's not much on complex characters or pulse pounding action, but it's gripping in a way that the strange mystery of a world is unraveled and slowly revealed.
Interesting. So, this one is more about world building than characterization and Plot? I love a well built world ...
I read it and enjoyed it ages ago (over 10 years) - in two minds about re-reading although I remember enjoying it at the time.
I first read this about 20 years ago and have just re-read. It is very much about the world-building. There is certainly a plot, and some of the characters are a little - dare I say - two dimensional. The thing I love about this book is that I just find it so clever. In a way it's reminiscent of J.G.Ballard - outwardly very simple, almost utilitarian language, but the slow reveal of the world and the story is just done so elegantly.
Finished a short time ago. This is the type of science fiction I like most. I was tempted to give it five stars - just because - but I think it lacks the near perfection needed for that ranking. I have a few technical questions - which would be spoilers - so I'll hold back a few days until more have read the book.
I just finished. I'm glad I read it because it's different and it's thought provoking and altogether rather trippy in that "I wonder if he dreamed this up while on LSD?" sort of way. I ended up giving it three stars. I just had so many questions on the science of it that kept me from totally buying in to the premise that I never got sucked into the world as completely as I wanted to.I thought the afterward was very interesting, particularly in its comparison of post-WWII British and American SF writing.
P.S.
Michael wrote: "There is certainly a plot, and some of the characters are a little - dare I say - two dimensional..."
:)
Michael wrote: "[spoilers removed]"Well now that's even funnier.
I just finished this today and my feelings about it are ambivalent. I agree with the comment about the characterization being 'two-dimensional', in fact the characters are, for me at least, secondary to the plot. It also helped when I stopped trying to make sense of the science behind the work and just concentrated on the story. There is definitely a 'British' quality to the writing and by that I mean it's a bit grey (It's ok, I'm British so I can say that:P), and that is not a criticism it's just the style.It's thought provoking and does include some social commentary too - I won't elaborate in case I reveal too much - but as I say, my thoughts about it are mixed.
I finished the book yesterday. I really, really loved the book. I would have given 4.5 but that's not possible on GoodReads, so that will be a 5.The world is just so well built. I found the pace was perfect and I loved to discover about the world at the same time as Helward. It's certainly very original and thought-provoking.
I would have preferred if the characters' relationship was a bit more elaborated (not sure I really appreciate Helward's ways with women for instance) but that's it.
My beef (at the end) is that I don't think the science rang true. I like the fact it was all supposed to be perception caused by energy distortion. But does physical time slow down or speed up depending on the direction someone travels on the track?
