It's New Zealand. It's home (albeit home 200 years ago), and it was perfectly realised.
I did enjoy the moriori bit. And I liked how it was reflected, mirrored in Sloosha's Crossing, as the main character's people mirror the customs of the moriori (what caught my eye in particular was the precise prohibition on killing and the idea of the killer as tainted. I think even the same words (almost) were used to describe it), while they are threatened and killed off (except for one lone escapee who catches a boat ride to safety) by a tribe willing to use war. So while I did not think the narrative was terribly exciting, it had to be there.
Edit: of course, this is particularly interesting in view of Frobisher's narrative's focus on Nietzsche's ideas of the eternal return and that sort of thing. The more I think about it the better constructed it is.
It took me a while to get into the Sloosha's Crossing bit as well. I had to start it again. But once I settled into the language I really enjoyed it.
Yes, it had real rhythm.
Re the moral: I think it's not meant to be taken seriously. I got the feeling there was a gentle mockery of other ... distopian writers there. I think he was having fun with the genre.
Agreed. I think.
Edit: regarding this. It is a little like The End of Mr Y in that respect. Thrilling and innovative narrative, but the end had me cringing a little.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
This message last edited by Camilla on 30/07/2010 at 11:31:18 AM
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
- 30/07/2010 10:50:08 AM
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I think the reason why the first story worked so well for me is the setting.
- 30/07/2010 11:25:22 AM
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Quite possibly.
- 30/07/2010 11:29:21 AM
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