Chung Kuo

David Stockhoff · 02 Jan 2014, 01:33 · from 2014-January.txt.gz

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From: dstockhoff at verizon.net (David Stockhoff)
Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2014 20:33:58 -0500
Subject: (urth) Chung Kuo
In-Reply-To: <alpine.LMD.2.00.1401020956020.12221 at orpheus.qimr.edu.au>
References: <CAM0v-i5RRPa0uHDuQwjNtFSS5vPkDJU4Qg8yOQXAvkOzEOhf1A at mail.gmail.com>
	<alpine.LMD.2.00.1401020956020.12221 at orpheus.qimr.edu.au>
Message-ID: <52C4C206.2090300 at verizon.net>


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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