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From: Mark Carroll <mtbc@ixod.org>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.books
Subject: Re: What are the best books you've read in 2024?
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:12:52 +0000
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On 03 Jan 2025, Mark Carroll wrote:
(snip)
> I just paid a princely £4 for a used copy of Zebrowski's
> "Macrolife" (also new to me)
(snip)

This turned out to be engaging enough to keep me reading, and the
premise that the author's exploring is interesting (large space habitats
that are self-sufficient and able to reproduce), it's decent for ideas.
I wouldn't say the characters are strong and, goodness, the narrative's
a bit heavy at times: there are long passages in which characters
expound on or read about theoretical musings on this and that, basically
explaining things to each other in detail rather than simply letting the
story show us things. So, it needs a bit of forgiveness (or a good
editor!) but I'm glad I bothered anyway. It reminds me of later in War
and Peace when Tolstoy takes an occasional break from narrative to muse
about, er, war or somesuch. I can't help but think Zebrowski a bit
optimistic about advanced human society.

Currently I am enjoying Adrian Tchaikovsky's "Alien Clay" which is
engaging, agreeable, and rather less long and more easygoing. It also
feels appropriately cynical in a way that the above didn't.

-- Mark