310 pages
English language
Published Nov. 19, 2004 by Bantam.
[Comment from Jon Courtenay Grimwood][1]:
> Light is the kind of novel other writers read and think: "Why don't I just give up and go home?" That was certainly my first reaction on reading its mix of coldly perfect prose and attractively twisted insanity. It's also the only book to bring me unpleasantly close to sympathising with a serial killer. But this is M John Harrison: so antihero Michael Kearney is a mathematically brilliant, dice-throwing, reality-changing hyper-intelligent serial killer haunted by a horse-skulled personal demon.
> Harrison's genius is to tie Kearney's narrative thread to those of Seria Mau – a far-future girl existing in harmony with White Cat, her spaceship, surfing a part of the galaxy known as the Kefahuchi Tract – and Chinese Ed, a sleazy if likeable cyberpunky chancer with a passion for virtual sex.
> This is not a kind book, or even a particularly likeable …
[Comment from Jon Courtenay Grimwood][1]:
> Light is the kind of novel other writers read and think: "Why don't I just give up and go home?" That was certainly my first reaction on reading its mix of coldly perfect prose and attractively twisted insanity. It's also the only book to bring me unpleasantly close to sympathising with a serial killer. But this is M John Harrison: so antihero Michael Kearney is a mathematically brilliant, dice-throwing, reality-changing hyper-intelligent serial killer haunted by a horse-skulled personal demon.
> Harrison's genius is to tie Kearney's narrative thread to those of Seria Mau – a far-future girl existing in harmony with White Cat, her spaceship, surfing a part of the galaxy known as the Kefahuchi Tract – and Chinese Ed, a sleazy if likeable cyberpunky chancer with a passion for virtual sex.
> This is not a kind book, or even a particularly likeable book. But then I suspected it was never intended to be, and the author wouldn't want the kind of people who want to like characters as his readers anyway. What it is is stunningly written, meticulously plotted, hallucinogenically realised and brutally honest. No one who reads it could doubt that Harrison might win the Booker if he could be bothered.
> Light is also the book that novelist and critic Adam Roberts was so sure would win the Arthur C Clarke award, he offered to change his name to Adam Van Hoogenroberts if it didn't. We're still waiting . . .
[1]: www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/may/14/science-fiction-authors-choice
The book that Infinite Jest tries to be. On the final quarter of the book it runs out of the crazy energy that conceals the fundamental dispassion of all the characters; would have an extra star otherwise.
I decided this year to work through some SF Masterworks I had missed along the way and this was the first I picked to try.
I am afraid this one didn't really work for me. It is deliberately opaque, told in a Burroughs-esque style that makes it very difficult to follow. It jumps all over the place in it's timeline with some parts not being clearly signposted as to where they fit. It also jumps PoV very often and none of the PoV characters are very relatable imo.
The main plot driver is only revealed in the last chapter with no organic grounding previous to that setting up the big reveal.
I did finish this, out of curiosity and a certain bloody mindedness and some parts are well executed. Thus, three stars. I don't think this is necessarily an objectively bad book, it wouldn't be a Masterwork if it was, …
I decided this year to work through some SF Masterworks I had missed along the way and this was the first I picked to try.
I am afraid this one didn't really work for me. It is deliberately opaque, told in a Burroughs-esque style that makes it very difficult to follow. It jumps all over the place in it's timeline with some parts not being clearly signposted as to where they fit. It also jumps PoV very often and none of the PoV characters are very relatable imo.
The main plot driver is only revealed in the last chapter with no organic grounding previous to that setting up the big reveal.
I did finish this, out of curiosity and a certain bloody mindedness and some parts are well executed. Thus, three stars. I don't think this is necessarily an objectively bad book, it wouldn't be a Masterwork if it was, it just made some choices that didn't work for me.
Cannot recommend though and I won't be finishing the series.
