Re: Clarke Award Finalists 2005

On Wed, 16 Jul 2025 17:30:55 +1200, Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> wrote:

On 15/07/25 08:40, William Hyde wrote:
snip

 
"Cloud Atlas" was a rich, complex, enjoyable read.  I must reread it
some day to see what is was all about.  Or I could see the movie.

>
My turn to envy you.
David Mitchell is one of my all time favourite authors and I loved all
of his books except non SF Black Swan Green, his coming of age tale at

AKA Adrian Mole in a more rural setting

thirteen. Again, I think that they should be read in publication order

Agreed. I read Cloud Atlas straight after seeing the film version,
then a friend advised me to read The Bone Clocks and Slade House
(neither of us knew then about the links between his books) and thus
had several plot elements spoilered as I later filled in the gaps.

even though they are stand alone as there are references to characters
across books as well as events. The evil but minor supernatural element
is consistent across the books.
I thought that the three hour Cloud Atlas film which followed the five
star book closely was brilliant but didn't have the same consistent
impact for all six stories with one seeming weaker than the book to me

Jim Broadbent in the asylum? My feeling is that this was a tribute to
the obligatory comedy segment in virtually every portmanteau horror
film, going right back to Dead of Night. I also appreciated the irony
of it being a revolutionary inspiration in the future dystopia.

but a minor complaint.

At some point I plan a complete reread, this time in strict
publication order.

--
Jerry Brown

A cat may look at a king
(but probably won't bother)