Chung Kuo

The Urth list — 7 messages, 5 voices, 28 Dec 2013
https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/6497

Antonin Scriabin28 Dec 2013, 22:56
Has anyone here read the Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove? It seems intriguing. I was wondering about the reading order, since it is being re-released in a 20 volume version that adds a lot of content to the original 8 volume sequence. I have the first three volumes of the original sequence, and if I like it, I want to read it in the best order. Thanks guys!
entonio at gmail.com29 Dec 2013, 00:06

↳ in reply to Antonin Scriabin

I'd never heard of it, but from WP the rerelease appears not to change the order, only include stuff before and in the middle and the author's original intended ending. Have you read any of it? It sounds like the kind of thing my household would enjoy... unless it is all joyrides and no ideas. No dia 28/12/2013, ?s 22:56, Antonin Scriabin <kierkegaurdian at gmail.com> escreveu:
3 quoted lines
Has anyone here read the Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove? It seems intriguing. I was wondering about the reading order, since it is being re-released in a 20 volume version that adds a lot of content to the original 8 volume sequence. I have the first three volumes of the original sequence, and if I like it, I want to read it in the best order. Thanks guys! _______________________________________________
Antonin Scriabin29 Dec 2013, 00:15

↳ in reply to entonio at gmail.com

Well I only just started the (traditionally) first volume, The Middle Kingdom. It seems so far to strike a balance between big, expansive sci-fi (lots of big ideas to go with the setting) and the personal experiences of a host of characters. Seems worth it so far!
8 quoted lines
On Dec 28, 2013 6:58 PM, <entonio at gmail.com> wrote: I'd never heard of it, but from WP the rerelease appears not to change the order, only include stuff before and in the middle and the author's original intended ending. Have you read any of it? It sounds like the kind of thing my household would enjoy... unless it is all joyrides and no ideas. No dia 28/12/2013, ?s 22:56, Antonin Scriabin <kierkegaurdian at gmail.com> escreveu: Has anyone here read the Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove? It seems intriguing. I was wondering about the reading order, since it is being re-released in a 20 volume version that adds a lot of content to the original 8 volume sequence. I have the first three volumes of the original sequence, and if I like it, I want to read it in the best order. Thanks guys! _______________________________________________
Dan'l Danehy-Oakes29 Dec 2013, 01:16

↳ in reply to Antonin Scriabin

I read the first volume and was reasonably impressed, but never got around to the following v's.
11 quoted lines · 1–2 deep
On Sat, Dec 28, 2013 at 4:15 PM, Antonin Scriabin <kierkegaurdian at gmail.com>wrote: Well I only just started the (traditionally) first volume, The Middle Kingdom. It seems so far to strike a balance between big, expansive sci-fi (lots of big ideas to go with the setting) and the personal experiences of a host of characters. Seems worth it so far! On Dec 28, 2013 6:58 PM, <entonio at gmail.com> wrote:
I'd never heard of it, but from WP the rerelease appears not to change the order, only include stuff before and in the middle and the author's original intended ending. Have you read any of it? It sounds like the kind of thing my household would enjoy... unless it is all joyrides and no ideas. No dia 28/12/2013, ?s 22:56, Antonin Scriabin <kierkegaurdian at gmail.com> escreveu: Has anyone here read the Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove? It seems intriguing. I was wondering about the reading order, since it is being re-released in a 20 volume version that adds a lot of content to the original 8 volume sequence. I have the first three volumes of the original sequence, and if I like it, I want to read it in the best order. Thanks guys! _______________________________________________
David Duffy02 Jan 2014, 00:19

↳ in reply to Antonin Scriabin

2 quoted lines
On Sun, 29 Dec 2013, Antonin Scriabin wrote: Has anyone here read the Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove? It seems intriguing. I was wondering about the reading order, since it is being re-released in a 20 volume version that adds a lot of content to the original 8 volume sequence. I have the first three volumes of the original sequence, and if I like it, I want to read it in the best order.
I did read all eight as they appeared at our local library, but I became a bit disappointed as things progressed, and was glad it finished. So maybe liking the first three volumes wouldn't be enough ;). I didn't think think the plot justified the length, that the technologies needed seemed unnaturally constricted in scope (if one can do X, then Y would be just as easy - if it was fantasy then I wouldn't have this problem), and a few rather nasty scenes. The "meta" worry I had, which might seem weird to some, was whether Chinese culture was being adequately represented - I dislike obvious retellings of historical events (Napoleonic wars anyone?), and of stereotyping of non-European societies. There are a few set pieces from the series that stick in my memory though. Just 2c, David Duffy.
David Stockhoff02 Jan 2014, 01:33

↳ in reply to David Duffy

6 quoted lines · 1–2 deep
On 1/1/2014 7:19 PM, David Duffy wrote: On Sun, 29 Dec 2013, Antonin Scriabin wrote:
Has anyone here read the Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove? It seems intriguing. I was wondering about the reading order, since it is being re-released in a 20 volume version that adds a lot of content to the original 8 volume sequence. I have the first three volumes of the original sequence, and if I like it, I want to read it in the best order.
I didn't think think the plot justified the length, that the technologies needed seemed unnaturally constricted in scope (if one can do X, then Y would be just as easy - if it was fantasy then I wouldn't have this problem), and a few rather nasty scenes. The "meta" worry I had, which might seem weird to some, was whether Chinese culture was being adequately represented - I dislike obvious retellings of historical events (Napoleonic wars anyone?), and of stereotyping of non-European societies. There are a few set pieces from the series that stick in my memory though. _______________________________________________
I also read only The Middle Kingdom, and had he same concerns---not weird at all.
Antonin Scriabin02 Jan 2014, 02:16

↳ in reply to David Stockhoff

I'm nearing the end of volume 1, and like it. There are only so many ways the story can go, however.
12 quoted lines · 1–2 deep
On Jan 1, 2014 8:34 PM, "David Stockhoff" <dstockhoff at verizon.net> wrote: On 1/1/2014 7:19 PM, David Duffy wrote:
On Sun, 29 Dec 2013, Antonin Scriabin wrote: Has anyone here read the Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove? It seems intriguing. I was wondering about the reading order, since it is being re-released in a 20 volume version that adds a lot of content to the original 8 volume sequence. I have the first three volumes of the original sequence, and if I like it, I want to read it in the best order.
I didn't think think the plot justified the length, that the technologies needed seemed unnaturally constricted in scope (if one can do X, then Y would be just as easy - if it was fantasy then I wouldn't have this problem), and a few rather nasty scenes. The "meta" worry I had, which might seem weird to some, was whether Chinese culture was being adequately represented - I dislike obvious retellings of historical events (Napoleonic wars anyone?), and of stereotyping of non-European societies. There are a few set pieces from the series that stick in my memory though. _______________________________________________
I also read only The Middle Kingdom, and had he same concerns---not weird at all. _______________________________________________

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