Comment Re:A bad book by Banks' standards (Score 1) 69
While I realize that individual impressions of Banks' books vary hugely from person to person, I want to take exception to the "gratuitous deus ex machina".
The presence and function of the drone is telegraphed for at least half of the book, and in fact does not save the Doctor, at in that her "quest" is effectively doomed by the event in question. That her ideals live on in the society s a furtherance of the themes of outside cultural influence which the book is about (the direct method fails, but "converting" individuals works)... even though she thinks she's failed.
On reflection, the drone is not "unexpected technology", but is a central element to her character.
I have to say that I was a bit nonplussed by the ending (after a number of enthusiastic moments during the reading), but thinking over it afterwards, I've only revised my opinion upwards. I'll have to see how it fares after a re-read, once the rest of my book pile shrinks a little :)
The presence and function of the drone is telegraphed for at least half of the book, and in fact does not save the Doctor, at in that her "quest" is effectively doomed by the event in question. That her ideals live on in the society s a furtherance of the themes of outside cultural influence which the book is about (the direct method fails, but "converting" individuals works)... even though she thinks she's failed.
On reflection, the drone is not "unexpected technology", but is a central element to her character.
I have to say that I was a bit nonplussed by the ending (after a number of enthusiastic moments during the reading), but thinking over it afterwards, I've only revised my opinion upwards. I'll have to see how it fares after a re-read, once the rest of my book pile shrinks a little
