Back in the waning days of 2009 (when civilization lay in ruins), Your Humble Blogger picked up Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker as an airplane book. I must admit, I judged the book by its cover. It really is an excellent cover.
I had seen the cover image on John Scalzi’s blog when the book came out, probably over one of those moderately-irritating Big Idea publicity essays, and so when I was browsing through the specfic paperback in the local Barnes and Whatsit, I recognized it and was charmed again. And, you know, I needed an airplane book. So a purchase was made.
The whole internet-pr thing, which I usually discuss when I read Mr. Scalzi’s own books, is becoming a greater and greater part of my purchasing decisions. The combination of the Whatever and the Unshelved site and a small handful of other sites (as I don’t spend a lot of time in Specfic Blogovia) have made me aware of new authors and new books in a way I wasn’t, ten years ago. On the other hand, ten years ago I was working in Harvard Square and wandering into Pandemonium on my lunch hour, so I was finding out about the Next Big Thing that way.
And I suspect that I would eventually have read this book anyway, what with the cover being so good, and the book being good and all, too, as an added bonus. It has already started showing up on year’s-end lists, which is another way for me to find out about books I might like. But I might not have actually purchased a copy that way, just read it from the library.
Tolerabimus quod tolerare debemus,
-Vardibidian.
I just finished this book, and really didn’t like it. The setup made little sense, and the characters were so passive, they did hardly anything for themselves. I’m curious to know why you liked it.
I’m also relieved to know that I’m not the only one who doesn’t adore The Big Idea — they tend to make even books I know I like sound stupid and pretentious.
Hmm. The flaws you point out are definitely flaws in the book. Well, and I didn’t mind that much that the setup was nonsensical, because it was fun nonsense. But there was a stretch in the middle of the book where I did complain to my Best Reader that our main characters were being pushed around too much, and it would be much better if they made plans, even if those plans didn’t work out. Still, I liked the mother particularly, and her odd multi-faceted character: young ditz who becomes a pariah who becomes a drudge who becomes a hellcat. I liked that there wasn’t an inevitability or anything about it: she becomes the person that the circumstances require at the moment. Which totally works for that book.
And I mostly just liked the outrageousness. Somehow, in the month or so since I read it, the irritating bits have faded away, and the fun parts stuck with me.
Thanks,
-V.