Book: Desolation Road
Jun. 28th, 2003 12:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
livAuthor: Ian McDonald
Details: (c) 1988 Ian McDonald; Pub Bantam Books 1988; ISBN 0-553-27057-5
Verdict: Wow. One of the more bizarre things that I've read recently, but incredibly well done.
Reasons for reading it: M lent it to me without explaining why he thought it worth reading. I think it's a good thing that I came to this book with no preconceptions, because I think any I might have had would have been, not disappointed, more subverted.
How it came into my hands: M
I really hardly know what to make of Desolation Road, though I most certainly enjoyed reading it.
Part of it I think is being thrown by finding magic in a high tech setting; I expected the bizarre happenings to have a tech explanation, only they never quite do. Well, I'm used to fantasy existing almost always in a Mediaeval tech setting (with a couple of post-tech exceptions but they come to the same thing in practical terms), and magic realism in a modern tech setting, so I suppose it's not unreasonable to have some magic in an extreme future tech sort of context. Perhaps DR is playing on the Arthur C Clarke's idea that
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
In general DR seems to be playing with, almost juggling, a whole slew of ideas, some of which I most likely missed because I'm not that well up on SF conventions. Everything is pretty much up for grabs in this book. At times I thought I was reading something like Steinbeck's Cannery Row, where the cast of characters completely overshadow any hint of structure, but DR kept surprising me by having a plot after all.
There are some really touching romantic interludes (that fall short of being soppy); there is a battle scene almost straight out of [what is the male equivalent of 'chick-lit'?] some stupid action man novel, complete with blood and gore and loving descriptions of ultra-sophisticated weaponry. But to my amazement I was interested enough to actually read that section properly rather than skimming it. There's something of an undercurrent of parody (as the viewpoint character is very much a caricature of the sort of person who would get off on this kind of literature). And just about everything in between, time travel paradoxes, metaphysics and theology, small-town character play, a Dilbert-esque satire on corporate culture, you name it. Yet DR rarely feels crowded or jumbled, everything fits in to the whole (even though it's sometimes hard to see how at the time of a particular scene).
DR is also quite simply enjoyable to read; I got caught up in the story and not distracted by ostentatious cleverness. It made me laugh out loud in several places; it's funny in the way Pratchett is funny, messing with language and the absurd and poking fun at all kinds of conventions. But unlike Pratchett, McDonald's humour is understated and blends in with the story; I didn't feel I was reading the script of a stand-up comic's show.
I constantly had the feeling I was missing something, I was doing the literary equivalent of catching glimpses out of the corner of my eye. Like the names, for example; I'm almost positive the characters' names mean something clever, only I never actually managed to catch one out directly as being significant. And some of the time I thought, what's the point of this? DR seems in many ways like art for it's own sake; it doesn't appear to be making any point at all, just expressing the sheer exuberance of writing and creating people and situations.
Details: (c) 1988 Ian McDonald; Pub Bantam Books 1988; ISBN 0-553-27057-5
Verdict: Wow. One of the more bizarre things that I've read recently, but incredibly well done.
Reasons for reading it: M lent it to me without explaining why he thought it worth reading. I think it's a good thing that I came to this book with no preconceptions, because I think any I might have had would have been, not disappointed, more subverted.
How it came into my hands: M
I really hardly know what to make of Desolation Road, though I most certainly enjoyed reading it.
Part of it I think is being thrown by finding magic in a high tech setting; I expected the bizarre happenings to have a tech explanation, only they never quite do. Well, I'm used to fantasy existing almost always in a Mediaeval tech setting (with a couple of post-tech exceptions but they come to the same thing in practical terms), and magic realism in a modern tech setting, so I suppose it's not unreasonable to have some magic in an extreme future tech sort of context. Perhaps DR is playing on the Arthur C Clarke's idea that
In general DR seems to be playing with, almost juggling, a whole slew of ideas, some of which I most likely missed because I'm not that well up on SF conventions. Everything is pretty much up for grabs in this book. At times I thought I was reading something like Steinbeck's Cannery Row, where the cast of characters completely overshadow any hint of structure, but DR kept surprising me by having a plot after all.
There are some really touching romantic interludes (that fall short of being soppy); there is a battle scene almost straight out of [what is the male equivalent of 'chick-lit'?] some stupid action man novel, complete with blood and gore and loving descriptions of ultra-sophisticated weaponry. But to my amazement I was interested enough to actually read that section properly rather than skimming it. There's something of an undercurrent of parody (as the viewpoint character is very much a caricature of the sort of person who would get off on this kind of literature). And just about everything in between, time travel paradoxes, metaphysics and theology, small-town character play, a Dilbert-esque satire on corporate culture, you name it. Yet DR rarely feels crowded or jumbled, everything fits in to the whole (even though it's sometimes hard to see how at the time of a particular scene).
DR is also quite simply enjoyable to read; I got caught up in the story and not distracted by ostentatious cleverness. It made me laugh out loud in several places; it's funny in the way Pratchett is funny, messing with language and the absurd and poking fun at all kinds of conventions. But unlike Pratchett, McDonald's humour is understated and blends in with the story; I didn't feel I was reading the script of a stand-up comic's show.
I constantly had the feeling I was missing something, I was doing the literary equivalent of catching glimpses out of the corner of my eye. Like the names, for example; I'm almost positive the characters' names mean something clever, only I never actually managed to catch one out directly as being significant. And some of the time I thought, what's the point of this? DR seems in many ways like art for it's own sake; it doesn't appear to be making any point at all, just expressing the sheer exuberance of writing and creating people and situations.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2003-07-07 09:37 am (UTC)I have bought this book for, or otherwise brought it to the attention of, more people than I can remember, M definitely being among that number. I've really been looking forward to your reaction, and am very glad you appreciated it.
I think it has a very clear structure, which is that of the birth, growth, maturation and death of the titular town. It never felt like that was being lost to me; not sure how well that connects to your comment on plot almost hiding behind character at times.
There's a fair bit of it that throws echoes off other SF - I think most strongly the Martian war machines bit with that idiot POV character - but your reaction confirms my suspicion that the book doesn't lose much if one fails to recognise them. I do think that most of the impact of the making it rain scene - which as you know has a lot of weight for me - does depend on recognising the Viking probe's appearance.
As for there being an underlying rational explanation or lack thereof - Ares Express, which came out in the last couple of years and is in the same setting, does one much more explicitly, which is not IMO supported from the text of DR; I have only read Ares Express once and am far from sure whether I like it, I have difficulty imagining a book less in need of a sequel or suchlike than DR, and I'd have to read it again before I have an opinion on the explanation.
It's a book I will reread again and again, because of the sheer intoxicating mastery of the words. If I could write like that I'd die happy.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-07-07 03:37 pm (UTC)I think it has a very clear structure
I didn't mean to imply that I think it structureless; I think I didn't express myself very clearly. A lot of the time I felt that I was way too close up to see the structure, and only appreciated it in retrospect. It's almost more an experience of living than an experience of reading; obviously one's own life doesn't have narrative structure at the time, only when regarded with hindsight. And believe me, if I compare something to Steinbeck, I intend it as high praise.
the impact of the making it rain scene
That is indeed an incredibly impressive piece. High art evoking high art, properly, rather than just having to take on trust that what's being described is magnificent, is really quite rare.
recognising the Viking probe's appearance
Which I completely failed to spot. But now you've pointed it out, so now I know.
the sheer intoxicating mastery of the words
It's funny, I'm usually incredibly drawn to language, but I didn't particularly focus on the words of Desolation Road. Again, as with not always being able to see the plot, I was too involved to notice the construction. I felt I was experiencing the atmosphere much more directly than I usually do when reading, the whole thing was very immediate to me. And that's why I think I was confused some of the time; the people within the story would have been similarly confused.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-07-07 03:39 pm (UTC)I've never quite understood the idea that the natural consequence of a great achievement is a happy death; me, if I ever achieved something I was really proud of, I'd want to stick around as long as possible to bask in the glory!
(no subject)
Date: 2003-07-08 08:17 am (UTC)