New Crobuzon to HERO

[Curufea]

Just found out that he's won the Arthur C. Clarke Award again this year (this time for Iron Council) ... congrats!

http://www.appomattox.demon.co.uk/acca/winners.htm

[Savinien]

I'm reading the first book now and got it at the library.

I hope you haven't given up on the conversions.

[Susano]

I need to order IRON COUNCIL now that it's out in softback.

[Curufea]

Sorry, since then - Western Shores has kind of taken over, now that I'm actually GMing again. Oodles of background material and world design to do..

Also recently sidetracked into making steampunk papermodels for a free website
(on a side note - someone has been hacking the site - http://www.paperworlds.com which gets me really irritated)

However - I will get back to it when I have less other distractions - and if anyone wants to do their own content or conversions, I'm happy to host it and give credit.

[Savinien]

Finished the first book.

Interesting and a good read.

[Susano]

Finished the first book.

Interesting and a good read.

75% through IRON COUNCIL.

Whew... it's really an odd read.

[Curufea]

It really is more of a political manifesto than a standard quest adventure

I really think his style is similar to William Gibson at times, or other writers of cyberpunk genre.

[Susano]

I really think his style is similar to William Gibson at times, or other writers of cyberpunk genre.

Funny, I thought the same thing!

[Savinien]

I haven't read Gibson, yet. I might take a quick break for Half-Blood Prince... Jump back into the 2nd New Crobuzon novel... Then Gibson?

[Curufea]

Gibson is, to me, half way between Mieville and Terry Dowling (Wormwood)...

But William Gibson is definitely a classic writer - being on the forefront of the cyberpunk movement. It is from his works than many of the cyberpunk roleplaying games come.

[Savinien]

I haven't read Dowling either. The name reminds me of Planetary, though!

I have The Scar and have started reading it.

[Curufea]

Wormwood is the most jargon-laden, unexpositionable and weirdest book I've read so far. I loved it

But I should point out - it's science fiction, rather than fantasy.

[Savinien]

The difference between sci-fi and Fantasy is an ill-defined line.

I finished The Scar and ordered 'Iron Council'.

China certainly has some original concepts.

[Susano]

The difference between sci-fi and Fantasy is an ill-defined line.

I finished The Scar and ordered 'Iron Council'.

China certainly has some original concepts.

That he does. However, I will admit, I wasn't impressed with Iron Council the same way I was with the first two. It seemed to meander for more than it needed to and lacked a strong ending -- it just sorted of (ahem) ran out of steam.

[bcholmes]

Wow. Great collection.

China's a fascinating guy. I got to hear him at a convention a few years ago. I've only ever read _Perdido Street Station_, though.