Monday, September 8, 2008

This book made me dream that Denver was invaded by Communists.

I think the most poignant, yet the most subtle thing about Cosmonaut Keep has to be the idea of contrast that Macleod weaves into, well, everything. In Matt's chapters there are multitudes of "x vs. y" all over the place; in one of the previous blog posts someone mentioned Yanks vs. Communists, but there's also old vs. new - specifically pertaining to the geeks (who I loved, but more later). The nature of information is cleverly hidden away in the Microsoft vs. Linux jokes (the boot up screen with Tux was awesome and exactly what I'd want from an author from the UK: cheeky snark) and though this idea starts out light hearted in those chapters, it does evolve gradually and carry over into Gregor's story in a very important way. 

The problems that are posed by the lapsing of time during space travel or what have you are present in equally subtle ways; Elizabeth's hunt for a dress and inner reflection about the history presented by the available options was a wonderful way to illustrate the ways that the future culture has both fallen behind and advanced, equally. 

Also, Macleod's take on how information and technology are going to change culture, in the nearer future portions of the book, is well done and believable. So much of the literature commonly accepted to be the great stuff is grounded on information or idea revolutions and given that science fiction as a genre, typically at least, is based on grand interpretations of what those shake-ups will involve, it is surprising that more science fiction works are not viewed with a bit more respect. Macleod crafts his version(s) of what is in store for us as a race rather well. 



2 comments:

Muon Particle said...

I agree with the view he takes about humanity; I have to disagree though with the enjoyment of microsoft vs. linux, the whole thing was very...annoying, I suppose that it also is not changing as rapidly, because now there are the google lovers as well.

Interesting points you had about the themes, to me it ultimately was a political thing, since Camila basically let that stop her from apparent love [if that is what it was...], I didn't think about it in that way though, interesting.

messenger_of_death said...

Isn't there a humans vs. saurs thing eventually too? Of course that conflict doesn't get too heavy but it's still there somewhat, and it's significant because the saurs could've been what ruled the Earth in our place.