Reading in Science Fiction, April 2020

[Matthew Hughes]

I came across No Blade of Grass by John Christopher in the basement where I'm hiding out from the virus. It's copyrighted to 1956 and I read it sometime in the mid-sixties. I vaguely remembered it as an early apocalyptic novel, like Earth Abides and Day of the Triffids. I started rereading it after I saw that the first couple of pages have scenes set in the little village of Stavely (then in Westmorland, now in Cumbria), where my wife's stepmom lives.

The story is about a virus that starts in China then spreads around the world. But instead of killing people, it kills all forms of grass, including rice, wheat, barley, rye -- all the staple grains that have underpinned human existence since the neolithic revolution --leading to mass starvation and social collapse.

Interesting stuff to be reading at a time like this.

 

[Westy]

I came across No Blade of Grass by John Christopher

That's one I've had on my TBR pile for a while, I should push it up (originally published as The Death of Grass, I believe?)

 

[Hobbit]

Yes. Reviewed it here a long while ago. Was very hard to get but was republished by Penguin a few years back.

On similar themes (and mentioned in the recent Pandemic thread) I've picked up a copy of Christopher's A Wrinkle in the Skin, which talks of global earthquakes, including where the hero of the story lives in Guernsey.

As a geographer I know that its pretty unlikely, and, if nothing else, shows us how far we've come in such matters of earthquake monitoring and prediction since 1965, but good fun, if rather quaintly middle class and resolutely British.

 

[Matthew Hughes]

That's one I've had on my TBR pile for a while, I should push it up (originally published as The Death of Grass, I believe?)

No Blade was the US title. It was also serialized under that title in a magazine.

 

[Av Demeisen]

Actually it looks genuine to me too - it can be pre-ordered on both Book Depository and Amazon UK (April 21). But it also looks like another non-fiction book on politics which really doesn't interest me!

OK. I was confused by the given publication date, 1 April, 2021. I will buy the book to support him, but this doesn't dispel the concern that his well of great sff ideas has dried up. It's been a long time since he published a succesful novel. October was good and the Russian Revolution, like Hitler coming to power, is a subject that fascinates me. I know less about the period he will be writing about this time.

 

[Av Demeisen]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1249695918321881090

 

[AtramentousFlux]

That's one I've had on my TBR pile for a while, I should push it up (originally published as The Death of Grass, I believe?)

Oh, and there's a 1970 movie version, which may or may not be terrible.

Finished Paul McAuley's Something Coming Through, about which @Hobbit asked earlier on regarding whether or not it was worth sticking with. For me, yes - the twin story arcs meet up neatly at the conclusion and set things up for Into Everywhere, which is up there on my list. I'm up for more.

Also read George R. Stewart's Earth Abides, which hasn't aged that well, and wasn't masterfully written in the first place. Some interesting ideas though, even if I did skim here and there.

And, since we're doing pandemics, Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven. Also skimmed this one a bit (mainly some of the pre-pandemic stuff), but enjoyed it, particularly as things would up towards the end.

 

[Hobbit]

Oh, and there's a 1970 movie version, which may or may not be terrible.

If I remember right: not good. Seem to remember lots of somethings about motorbike gangs.

Finished Paul McAuley's Something Coming Through, about which @Hobbit asked earlier on regarding whether or not it was worth sticking with. For me, yes - the twin story arcs meet up neatly at the conclusion and set things up for Into Everywhere, which is up there on my list. I'm up for more.

Thanks for the update, Darkflow: might need to try it again...

Also read George R. Stewart's Earth Abides, which hasn't aged that well, and wasn't masterfully written in the first place. Some interesting ideas though, even if I did skim here and there.

Yup: due for a reread here. But it is positive, even if it does err towards religious lectures, which I had forgotten about, strangely.

nd, since we're doing pandemics, Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven. Also skimmed this one a bit (mainly some of the pre-pandemic stuff), but enjoyed it, particularly as things would up towards the end.

But not sure what to make of her new one. Not grabbing my attention - a bit dull, frankly.

 

[krisbslick]

Just got John Scalzi's Last Emperox downloaded and started. Bring on the snark!

 

[krisbslick]

Okay, done... no spoilers from me, but WHAT THE HE**!

Back to Moon Rising now.

 

[Ropie]

I came across No Blade of Grass by John Christopher

Great little book, as is Christopher's similar Empty World. There's a very nice recent BBC audio dramatization of The Death of Grass if you like that sort of thing too.

 

[Aldroud]

I started Moon Rising by Ian McDonald (book 3 of the Luna series), it's okay so far - same vein as the first two books. It's hard to care about the characters for some reason, but I can see how the writing might be considered... appealing to those who appreciate stylized prose. I unfortunately, I seem to lack the trait. Just finishing up the series for OCD purposes.

I have the same opinion. First book was enthralling, second was okay-ish. Third I've read 18% and haven't touched in months.

 

[Aldroud]

This one's been on the list for a while - Lexicon by Max Barry.

Oh this is a clever tale! I lived this book. Brooks doesn't write enough. Nothing I've read disappointed me.

 

[krisbslick]

Has anyone read Coyote by Allen Steele? It's a little dated, but I think it's pretty good so far.

 

[Aldroud]

Has anyone read Coyote by Allen Steele? It's a little dated, but I think it's pretty good so far.

I read them. Interesting up to a point. Seemed like Steele was trying to cram a couple genres into the same story line. I prefer his near future Orbital Decay.

 

[krisbslick]

I read them. Interesting up to a point. Seemed like Steele was trying to cram a couple genres into the same story line. I prefer his near future Orbital Decay.

Good to know, thanks! We'll see if I get the urge to move onto the next one when I finish the first.

 

[Hobbit]

Has anyone read Coyote by Allen Steele? It's a little dated, but I think it's pretty good so far.

Read the first four or so. Really liked them, but they are (perhaps deliberately) old-fashioned in that they are space exploration/colonisation stories, like those from Heinlein and co in the 1950's and early 1960's, but slightly more contemporary. Not particularly deep or flashy in style, but good page turners.

 

[Hobbit]

Today's reading:



There are copies of this out on ebay for £100+/$125+.

My copy was £2.81/ $3.51 - including postage! Nice to get a bargain.

 

[Westy]

I've been reading War of the Maps - it's OK, but to be honest I'm finding the pace fairly plodding. I'm about 30% through but might put it down and try something else, I may come back to it...

 

[dannymcg]

I've been reading War of the Maps - it's OK, but to be honest I'm finding the pace fairly plodding. I'm about 30% through but might put it down and try something else, I may come back to it...

I got maybe halfway but it was a DNF for me as well.

I'm now having a go at Providence by Max Barry but it's nothing outstanding either tbh