Empty Space

author: M. John Harrison

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.93

book published: 2012

rating: 4

read at: 2013/07/16

date added: 2013/07/16

shelves:

review:

When I first picked this book up, I assumed it was a sequel to Light, which came out in 2002. It's actually the third book in a trilogy, with book 2 being Nova Swing. I read Light ages ago, and hadn't read Nova Swing, so I found myself foundering through a good chunk of this book trying to figure out what was going on. Having read other reviews, it appears to be this way even for people who are more familiar with the preceding books.



The story flips between a few storylines. One set in the near present and the others set further in the future when great hulking ships run between planets. This is not an easily accessible book and the reader will find themselves with a bit of a struggle on their hands to grasp what is going on. After finishing, I'm still not entirely sure of all the plot details. There is a mother and daughter who have drifted apart. There is a ship doing recovery work. There are floating ghosts that can't communicate. Much of it is about being adrift and the empty space in our lives.



What I do know is that Mr. Harrison rights lovely prose that is descriptive and feels a little stream of consciousness at times. I kept reading because I found the writing to be outstanding. I let the words take me along and I'm glad I took the journey. Probably not for everyone, but it was a pleasant surprise for me.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/556624503?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss