Discontinuity
15th October 2003, 23:58
While this isn't -directly- socialist in nature, it covers a lot of very interesting topics.
Basically, the story is about the first 100 colonists of Mars, and then their lives and how they shape the planet (physically, culturally, etc.). A very good read, and one of my favourite books of all time, because KSR seems to speak intelligently about -every- topic that he mentions, whether it's construction or philosophy or organic chemistry.
From the very beginning of the story, one of the characters (Arkady Bogdanov, of the Russian contingent) establishes himself as an extreme revolutionary character. He also heavily believes in a socialist system, in terms of complete equality on Mars rather than a continuation of capitalist social divisions as well as ecological considerations and ethical use of technology. He is, quite possibly, the perfect socialist (which isn't too hard for a literary character, but inspiring nevertheless).
It's fairly long, maybe 6-800 pages (I can't remember exactly), but I found that KSR has a profound understanding of ideological conflict, and that the story plays out very realistically despite it's somewhat futuristic setting. Arthur C. Clarke hailed the book as excellent work, and said it should be "required reading for the colonists of the next century". The characters are easy to empathize with, and KSR manages to somehow switch from personality to personality and allow the reader to see how each individual is perfectly justified and correct in their opinion, until you see the other side, and the -other- side, and so on.
I recommend it to anyone who has a basic interest in science-fiction, even though I find the non-science aspect of the book quite excellent... If a person doesn't understand the technology (which exists today) that is being used to travel to and colonize Mars, then they'll be wading through a few pages of nonsensical boredom. If you do understand, however, go pick it up, and you'll feel much smarter when you finish it, if nothing else :P .
I've read it half a dozen times myself, maybe more, to the point where my copy is falling apart from repeated use. Not everyone likes it, even people who (in seperate conversations) have agreed with many of the viewpoints expressed in the novel, but I see that there's a somewhat lively discussion on space colonization going on in another forum, so I thought it might be worth mentioning.
Anyone who's read it, I would love to discuss it.
Basically, the story is about the first 100 colonists of Mars, and then their lives and how they shape the planet (physically, culturally, etc.). A very good read, and one of my favourite books of all time, because KSR seems to speak intelligently about -every- topic that he mentions, whether it's construction or philosophy or organic chemistry.
From the very beginning of the story, one of the characters (Arkady Bogdanov, of the Russian contingent) establishes himself as an extreme revolutionary character. He also heavily believes in a socialist system, in terms of complete equality on Mars rather than a continuation of capitalist social divisions as well as ecological considerations and ethical use of technology. He is, quite possibly, the perfect socialist (which isn't too hard for a literary character, but inspiring nevertheless).
It's fairly long, maybe 6-800 pages (I can't remember exactly), but I found that KSR has a profound understanding of ideological conflict, and that the story plays out very realistically despite it's somewhat futuristic setting. Arthur C. Clarke hailed the book as excellent work, and said it should be "required reading for the colonists of the next century". The characters are easy to empathize with, and KSR manages to somehow switch from personality to personality and allow the reader to see how each individual is perfectly justified and correct in their opinion, until you see the other side, and the -other- side, and so on.
I recommend it to anyone who has a basic interest in science-fiction, even though I find the non-science aspect of the book quite excellent... If a person doesn't understand the technology (which exists today) that is being used to travel to and colonize Mars, then they'll be wading through a few pages of nonsensical boredom. If you do understand, however, go pick it up, and you'll feel much smarter when you finish it, if nothing else :P .
I've read it half a dozen times myself, maybe more, to the point where my copy is falling apart from repeated use. Not everyone likes it, even people who (in seperate conversations) have agreed with many of the viewpoints expressed in the novel, but I see that there's a somewhat lively discussion on space colonization going on in another forum, so I thought it might be worth mentioning.
Anyone who's read it, I would love to discuss it.