• The Difference Engine

    From Blakdeth@VERT/MASQBBS to All on Saturday, April 05, 2008 12:34:00
    Has anyone read "The Difference Engine" by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling? I am almost finished with it.

    The novel really assumes you know quite a bit about the Victorian era. Of course this makes it fun to reasearch the sub-text.

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  • From Angus McLeod@VERT/ANJO to Blakdeth on Saturday, April 05, 2008 23:40:00
    Re: The Difference Engine
    By: Blakdeth to All on Sat Apr 05 2008 12:34:00

    Has anyone read "The Difference Engine" by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling I am almost finished with it.

    I believe I've read and own pretty much everything that Gibson has done, including the "Sprawl" and "Bridge" trilogys, "The Difference Engine" and "Pattern Recognition". So far, I have not yet acquired a copy of his
    latest book".

    The novel really assumes you know quite a bit about the Victorian era. Of course this makes it fun to reasearch the sub-text.

    Absolutely. :-)

    Some other authors you might enjoy: Richard K. Morgan; Neal Stephenson.
    If you enjoy reasearching the sub-text, you will *LOVE* Stephenson's
    "Baroque Cycle".



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  • From Blakdeth@VERT/MASQBBS to Angus McLeod on Sunday, April 06, 2008 08:57:00
    Some other authors you might enjoy: Richard K. Morgan; Neal Stephenson. If you enjoy reasearching the sub-text, you will *LOVE* Stephenson's "Baroque Cycle".

    Can I say that Stephenson is an excellent writer if I've only read "The Diamond Age"? Actually, I read that back in college so it has been a while ;)

    I'll be looking to pickup something after I've finished "The Difference Engine". I was thinking of Neuromancer as I consider it a hugely influential book that, unfortunately, I have not read since high school.

    Blakdeth
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  • From Angus McLeod@VERT/ANJO to Blakdeth on Sunday, April 06, 2008 13:12:00
    Re: Re: The Difference Engine
    By: Blakdeth to Angus McLeod on Sun Apr 06 2008 08:57:00

    Some other authors you might enjoy: Richard K. Morgan; Neal Stephenson.
    you enjoy reasearching the sub-text, you will *LOVE* Stephenson's "Baroqu Cycle".

    Can I say that Stephenson is an excellent writer if I've only read "The Diamond Age"?

    You sure can!

    Actually, I read that back in college so it has been a while ;

    "Diamond Age" is good, but "Cryptonomicon" is an ESSENTIAL read, and so is "Snow Crash". And don't discount "Zodiac".

    I'll be looking to pickup something after I've finished "The Difference Engine". I was thinking of Neuromancer as I consider it a hugely influential book that, unfortunately, I have not read since high school.

    "Neuromancer" was certainly a seminal work. You'll want to follow that
    with the other two members of the "Sprawl" trilogy. Also, discounted by
    some due to it being a collection of short stories, "Burning Chrome" is
    highly recommended.



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  • From Jame Clay@VERT/ROCASA to Angus McLeod on Sunday, April 06, 2008 23:29:00
    If you enjoy reasearching the sub-text, you will *LOVE* Stephenson's "Baroque Cycle".

    That's something I've been thinking of starting...



    Jame

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  • From Angus McLeod@VERT/ANJO to Blakdeth on Monday, April 07, 2008 01:17:00
    Re: Re: The Difference Engine
    By: Blakdeth to Angus McLeod on Sun Apr 06 2008 08:57:00

    Your original post on this subject came just as I finished my last book,
    so I dug out my copy of "The Difference Engine" and started to read it
    again.

    Regarding knowledge of the Victorian Era -- you have to be careful with
    this book and others of similar nature. The era that the book describes
    is often *different* to the reality. For example, in "The Difference
    Engine" the Duke of Wellington is described as a tyrant, and the Napleonic wars 'misunderstandings', while Napoleon himself continues to rule
    Imperial France, Britains staunchest ally. In reality, Wellington was the hero who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, and exiled him to St Helena.

    Other subtle changes in the literary work are less obvious, particular to someone who was such a poor scholar of history that the school refused to
    allow me to sit for the history O-level!

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  • From Blakdeth@VERT/MASQBBS to Angus McLeod on Monday, April 07, 2008 09:40:15
    Re: Re: The Difference Engine
    By: Angus McLeod to Blakdeth on Sun Apr 06 2008 01:12 pm

    "Diamond Age" is good, but "Cryptonomicon" is an ESSENTIAL read, and so is "Snow Crash". And don't discount "Zodiac".

    Cryptonomicon... now that is one that I haven't thought about in a long time. I always wanted to read that. You may have found my next book ;)

    "Neuromancer" was certainly a seminal work. You'll want to follow that
    with the other two members of the "Sprawl" trilogy. Also, discounted by some due to it being a collection of short stories, "Burning Chrome" is highly recommended.

    I did get a chance to read "Burning Chrome", but again, it was in my high school days. I will say this though, I enjoy reading Gibson's work quite a
    bit more now that I am older and have a bit more perspective.

    Thanks!

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  • From Corey@VERT/TSGC to Jame Clay on Monday, April 07, 2008 14:38:03
    Re: Baroque Cycle
    By: Jame Clay to Angus McLeod on Sun Apr 06 2008 11:29 pm

    If you enjoy reasearching the sub-text, you will *LOVE* Stephenson's "Baroque Cycle".

    That's something I've been thinking of starting...



    Jame


    I dropped my phone the other day, and now it's baroque.

    Caput meum major podice meo.
    This message has ended, go in peace...

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  • From Blakdeth@VERT/MASQBBS to Angus McLeod on Friday, April 11, 2008 14:18:09

    Thanks for the insight Angus.

    So, I'm about 30 pages from the end of the book and something is just nagging at me. Who's side is Oliphant on? Is he on a side? I suppose you could just tell me to finish the damn thing already :P

    Thanks!
    Blakdeth
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