Chung Kuo

David Duffy · 02 Jan 2014, 00:19 · from 2014-January.txt.gz

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From: David.Duffy at qimr.edu.au (David Duffy)
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2014 10:19:18 +1000
Subject: (urth) Chung Kuo
In-Reply-To: <CAM0v-i5RRPa0uHDuQwjNtFSS5vPkDJU4Qg8yOQXAvkOzEOhf1A at mail.gmail.com>
References: <CAM0v-i5RRPa0uHDuQwjNtFSS5vPkDJU4Qg8yOQXAvkOzEOhf1A at mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <alpine.LMD.2.00.1401020956020.12221 at orpheus.qimr.edu.au>

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.

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