Tuesday 27 April, 2004
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
'When they ask you how I died,' I said, 'tell them: still angry.'
What does one do when they are ill, except sleep and read? Exactly.
So I finished Richard Morgan's Altered Carbon today. This is his first novel, but not that it shows in any way. Morgan has chosen one of the most difficult genres in sci-fi: cyber punk, and has created convincingly his own world and although it's full of typical cyber punk elements, the result is unique enough to hold interest which in cyber punk is not a trivial task.
It's a detective story: the narrator, ex-elite soldier Takeshi Kovacs is brought to Earth from penitentiary by a rich and powerful business man whose recent death police has judged as a suicide, but who refuses to believe the verdict and wants Kovacs to find out what really happened. This is a world where real death can be eliminated as one's consciousness is stored in a cortical stack and can be planted to any body (referred to as sleeves).
It's a gripping and with over 500 pages a very satisfying read. Plot is very clever, and although I guessed bits of it there were surprises on the way too. It's full of very gory action and lot of characters - most of the main characters are (surprisingly?) female, but my favourite supporting character was probably The Hendrix, Kovacs' hotel AI.
Now I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel, Broken Angels.
Posted by kolibri at 27 April 19:58, 2004Heh, I've been recommending AC to people for months now, it's a great book - and yes, I've also told people "one of the best characters is a hotel" :).
Broken Angels is different and almost as good. Hard to compare them, AC is a film noir detective thingy while BA is more straight science fiction.
# 2 - Kolibri (on April 28, 2004 10:11 AM):
Sir, you obviously have a good taste in books ;)
Anything else you'd like to recommend would be appreciated, lately I've been in the mood for trying new things. So far I've tried Amazon and what it recommends to me, and I've also been following the "other customers bought this" links to find new books and authors. Nothing beats human recommendations though :)
# 3 - RelFexive (on April 28, 2004 10:48 AM):
AC is just ace. BA is really good too.
I'm currently reading 'Cryptonomican' by Neil Stephenson. Now *that* is a good book. Can't wait to read the prequels too. Highly recommended.
And as an aside... I've seen the first batch of Firefly eps now too. Love it.
# 4 - RelFexive (on April 28, 2004 10:49 AM):
Oh, and did you know there are plans to make an 'Altered Carbon' film?
# 5 - Kolibri (on April 28, 2004 10:52 AM):
While I loved Snow Crash, I haven't been able to finish Cryptonomicon. I've tried several times, but I just get bored every time - it's been several years since the last try so maybe I should try again :|
I did read about the film - and I have to say it could make quite a good film too... but I wonder what they would do about the Catholics issue. Seems to me that would just be too political for a Hollywood movie.
# 6 - RelFexive (on April 28, 2004 02:40 PM):
Yeah, that would make things rather tricky...
That and confusing people with needing four actors to play Kovacs.
Face the facts. Then act on them. It's the only mantra I know, the only doctorine I have to offer you, and it's harder than you think, because I swear humans seem hardwired to do anything but. Face the facts....
Read more on Broken Angels by Richard Morgan as tracked on June 26, 2004 08:39 PM
You can't add any more comments, but if you wish you can email the author.