Ken Macleod

I read 'Learning the World' last year and finished 'Newton's Wake' a week ago despite starting the novel sometime last year.

The premises of both were intriguing. One was that of a first contact between a generation colony ship and a civilisation just reaching the atomic age and the proceedings after.

The other was about several 'post-human' societies facing awakening war machines from a previous civilisation.

I can't say I find the convoluted stories to be of interest. The stories seem to lack a certain 'dynamism' and protagonists stumble and wander throughout. Plotting weakness? Well, the prose is competent enough, way better than the likes of Niven or Asimov.

I had force myself to finish the two Macleod novels. I won't be reading any Macleod in the near future.

Incidentally, some have claimed that Macleod has embedded his novels with a strident brand of communism. While I did not find the communist elements to be overpowering, I think Macleod's discussion of socialism and communism in his weblog is far more fascinating than his books.