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Just finished Richard K Morgan's "Altered Carbon"

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NewHampshireDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-30-05 06:21 AM
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Just finished Richard K Morgan's "Altered Carbon"
Great book. Think William Gibson's "Neuromancer" but even darker, twistier, and more violent. The plot is reminiscent of "Chinatown," or "The Big Sleep," with so many crosses and double-crosses it is often hard to know who is on which side at any moment.

What it lacks is any depth in terms of the ways it deals with its subject matter. In Morgan's world, people's minds can be recorded and stored, so if they die they can be "resleeved" in new bodies. He doesn't get into the philosophy/psychology of such very much, but in all fairness that ground has already been covered (and covered, and covered).

If you want some good sci-fi action in a grab-you-by-the-throat plot, you should read "Altered Carbon."
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phantom power Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-31-05 11:13 AM
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1. I liked his angle with Kovac's "sleeve" being the body of
Kristin's former lover. Some pretty twisted psychology in that sub-plot :)
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Salviati Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-08-05 12:00 AM
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2. The sequel "Broken Angels" is just as good
Though it's an altogether different type of book. Not so much crime/mystery as "Altered Carbon", but still a good read.
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NewHampshireDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-11-05 06:20 PM
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3. Finish Broken Angels about a week ago and am 100 or so pages into
"Market Forces."

Broken Angels was terrific. Reminded me of "Use of Weapons" by Iain M Banks. The only downside was that since there is a new Takeshi Kovacks novel coming this month--I pre-ordered from Amazon--I knew he was going to make it out alive. :)
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Salviati Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-12-05 12:16 AM
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4. Woken Furies is great...
just finished it the other day, how was Market Forces? I haven't read that one yet...
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SlackJawedYokel Donating Member (446 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-12-05 10:26 AM
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5. Just read Market Forces.
Its different... you need to give it some time to develop.
The ideas are interesting, but I feel like the ending was a bit abrupt.

Not as good as Altered Carbon/Broken Angels, IMO.

Cletus
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porkrind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-20-05 12:12 AM
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6. "Altered Carbon" kicked ass!
Great book! The sequel, IMHO, wasn't nearly as good.
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