The Matrix is an old trope in speculative fiction, and even non-fiction--it was invented by Descartes ("I think therefore I am" is the one thing he could definitively know of his own volition even if he was in a Matrix--see Discourse on the Method). But it's not nearly mined out as a thought provoking starting point. Brandon Sanderson's Perfect State is a fine entry of this archetype, and a Hugo nominee this year.
The protagonist inhabits a world of which he is the master. He has friends and exciting challenges to overcome, things to learn, and pleasures to indulge in. Even a very powerful nemesis named Melhi. All as a brain in a jar, controlled by an organization called The Wode. His journey toward broader self-awareness--somewhat--begins when he is called by The Wode to meet with the avatar of another Liveborn (real person, as opposed to the simulated people of his world) to virtually have sex, supposedly as part of the ritual of procreation.
Sanderson goes on to begin to explore what life would mean if we were aware that all we perceived was an illusion, all triumph and suffering arranged for the benefit of our character. His protagonist ends up wanting to go beyond those contrived spaces--but after all, at least some (inspired by Descartes and Bishop Berkeley) believe this to be true philosophically, and others technologically.
In the end, we might as well act as if it is all real. Even if we know better. 4 stars
Showing posts with label Brandon Sanderson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brandon Sanderson. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell, by Brandon Sanderson
I greatly admire Brandon Sanderson's fantasy. All the stories I have read seem very complete and well-developed, and this story is no exception. I just discovered why--he has them all tied together under the Cosmere, an overarching structure of "Shardworlds" that allow for different world structures but fit together. You learn something every day.
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell is set in a world where some manner of fantastic tragedy has created a place where the dead turn into dangerous "shades" that require careful preparation to deal with. Fortunately they follow some logical rules. Our protagonist, Silence, owns an inn in the middle of Shadow territory, and is a bounty hunter as well as an inkeeper. Tough life, since her fence is a government agent putting the squeeze to her. This makes a good setup for a strong story, with lots of action and a world that has a nasty potential beauty, just a little like Sean McMullen's Greatwinter trilogy, though it's kind of a stretch.
3 stars from me. Fun to read.
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell is set in a world where some manner of fantastic tragedy has created a place where the dead turn into dangerous "shades" that require careful preparation to deal with. Fortunately they follow some logical rules. Our protagonist, Silence, owns an inn in the middle of Shadow territory, and is a bounty hunter as well as an inkeeper. Tough life, since her fence is a government agent putting the squeeze to her. This makes a good setup for a strong story, with lots of action and a world that has a nasty potential beauty, just a little like Sean McMullen's Greatwinter trilogy, though it's kind of a stretch.
3 stars from me. Fun to read.
Monday, March 17, 2014
A Memory of Light, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Wheel of Time series was 23 years old when it concluded last year. I did not start reading the series when it first came out, though I did hear about it--I began it around the turn of the millenium, and then purchased the books as they came out. So partly free. And I am part of a legion of fantasy SF readers for whom the series has been part of life, for 14 years now.
It was never a compulsive part, as even when I am not a free SF reader, I am a cheap one. I got the final volume, A Memory of Light, for Christmas this year and spent close to three months reading it. Coming to the end of such a series, I was bracing for disappointment. Bringing a series to a close is a truly difficult affair. So many classic works have ended poorly. Brandon Sanderson had done a very good job of getting the series from the death of Jordan to the ending, but still...
Not this time, though. A major series spanning many years comes to a full and satisfying conclusion. Jordan gets only partial credit, since he didn't manage to conclude it in his own lifetime. But it was really good to see such a fine strong ending. Sanderson says Jordan had most of the ending written, and I can buy that, since it's heavy on battle scenes. Those were his strength before he undertook this series. But the pacing is definitely Sanderson.
Really, in the end it delivers what was promised all the way at the start. Rand Al'Thor leads the forces of the Light into the Last Battle, as promised. All the major characters are there, and get their say one way or another. Rand becomes rather larger than human, even as he tries to hold on to his humanity--pretty much what you would expect of the Savior.
But while this, like so many of its kind, bears a resemblance to the Bible, this isn't really a Christ allegory. In the end, Rand is still human, with some special power. The ending underlines this well.
No tricks or gimmicks here. The heroes of the end of the Third Age step up and play their part, as do the villains. The series never was about complex personalities, though they do have flavor. If you have never picked it up, I would say it's worthwhile to spend a year (or however long it takes you to read 14,000 pages) and read it. It sets a good expectation for what a fantasy series can deliver. I give this one my rare Five Stars, in the special category of Long Series With A Real Ending.
It was never a compulsive part, as even when I am not a free SF reader, I am a cheap one. I got the final volume, A Memory of Light, for Christmas this year and spent close to three months reading it. Coming to the end of such a series, I was bracing for disappointment. Bringing a series to a close is a truly difficult affair. So many classic works have ended poorly. Brandon Sanderson had done a very good job of getting the series from the death of Jordan to the ending, but still...
Not this time, though. A major series spanning many years comes to a full and satisfying conclusion. Jordan gets only partial credit, since he didn't manage to conclude it in his own lifetime. But it was really good to see such a fine strong ending. Sanderson says Jordan had most of the ending written, and I can buy that, since it's heavy on battle scenes. Those were his strength before he undertook this series. But the pacing is definitely Sanderson.
Really, in the end it delivers what was promised all the way at the start. Rand Al'Thor leads the forces of the Light into the Last Battle, as promised. All the major characters are there, and get their say one way or another. Rand becomes rather larger than human, even as he tries to hold on to his humanity--pretty much what you would expect of the Savior.
But while this, like so many of its kind, bears a resemblance to the Bible, this isn't really a Christ allegory. In the end, Rand is still human, with some special power. The ending underlines this well.
No tricks or gimmicks here. The heroes of the end of the Third Age step up and play their part, as do the villains. The series never was about complex personalities, though they do have flavor. If you have never picked it up, I would say it's worthwhile to spend a year (or however long it takes you to read 14,000 pages) and read it. It sets a good expectation for what a fantasy series can deliver. I give this one my rare Five Stars, in the special category of Long Series With A Real Ending.
Monday, July 22, 2013
The Emperor's Soul, by Brandon Sanderson
The Emperor's Soul is the last of the Hugo Nominees for me to read this year. Brandon Sanderson is getting a lot of eyeballs these days for completing the Wheel of Time series, but hasn't landed one of the really big awards yet. He might do it here. This item was a good, engaging story. It took a little time to grow on me--very little, which is a good thing since it's a novella. But once it did, I couldn't put it down. It's a story of magic, and the magic is Forgery--making a perfect replica of an existing item by causing the history of the replica to change to match the original. Or for the object to believe it did, rather. The philosophy is complex, and Sanderson makes use of the complexity--the powers that be don't understand it either. It's also a nice interplay between Shai and Gaotona, the ultimate con artist and the Last Honest Man. Quite a lot in a little package, and well worth taking a couple of hours to read. I give it a strong three stars, and figure he might follow it up since he likes to write in series.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The Towers of Midnight, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
We are so very near the end. This series has been going on for a HECK of a long time. Long enough to kill the author. But this review is not for A Memory of Light. It's for the book before it, The Towers of Midnight.
Things are really progressing at this point, and that's something to like--more on that later. And as events progress, the characters grow and change (mostly). Egwene, Rand, and especially Perrin are becoming defined more by the roles they play. Perrin and Rand are very conscious of the process, but it's not clear that Egwene is. That kind of writing is very advanced and makes me appreciate the book on several levels. Mat is still a bit of a caricature, but he figures in a very exciting sequence so it's OK. All in all, this book really gripped me all the way through.
We don't see much of the Forsaken or other Dark Side folks, though. Just little snips here and there. They tend to resemble each other, all 100% backbiters who would seem to stand every chance of success except that they spend so much effort on each other. Possibly that's because there is really only one featured in the book. That's evil for you.
What makes this whole series stand out for me is the very clear point of the book, and the strong sense of progress. Now, the pace of the plot has varied--some of the later Jordan volumes hardly moved--but in each one, the good guys gain new insights into how to fight, and they overcome one or more of the Forsaken. Many fantasists get stuck in a cycle where the hero loses and loses, suffers and suffers, then finally pulls it out at the end. Or gains a victory only to see it be a small one. The foe is definitely getting stronger in the Wheel of Time, just as prophesied. But Rand and company steadily hack away. And of course the point is clear all along--it's all for T'armon Gai'don, the Last Battle.
I have tried to recall when I started reading the series. I believe it was in the late 90's, and by then seven novels were out. I went through them quickly from the library, then bought some of them. It doesn't really break new writing ground, but it's been great fun and I'll get around to the ending soon. I give this one four stars.
Things are really progressing at this point, and that's something to like--more on that later. And as events progress, the characters grow and change (mostly). Egwene, Rand, and especially Perrin are becoming defined more by the roles they play. Perrin and Rand are very conscious of the process, but it's not clear that Egwene is. That kind of writing is very advanced and makes me appreciate the book on several levels. Mat is still a bit of a caricature, but he figures in a very exciting sequence so it's OK. All in all, this book really gripped me all the way through.
We don't see much of the Forsaken or other Dark Side folks, though. Just little snips here and there. They tend to resemble each other, all 100% backbiters who would seem to stand every chance of success except that they spend so much effort on each other. Possibly that's because there is really only one featured in the book. That's evil for you.
What makes this whole series stand out for me is the very clear point of the book, and the strong sense of progress. Now, the pace of the plot has varied--some of the later Jordan volumes hardly moved--but in each one, the good guys gain new insights into how to fight, and they overcome one or more of the Forsaken. Many fantasists get stuck in a cycle where the hero loses and loses, suffers and suffers, then finally pulls it out at the end. Or gains a victory only to see it be a small one. The foe is definitely getting stronger in the Wheel of Time, just as prophesied. But Rand and company steadily hack away. And of course the point is clear all along--it's all for T'armon Gai'don, the Last Battle.
I have tried to recall when I started reading the series. I believe it was in the late 90's, and by then seven novels were out. I went through them quickly from the library, then bought some of them. It doesn't really break new writing ground, but it's been great fun and I'll get around to the ending soon. I give this one four stars.
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