"Ken Macleod - Fall Revolution 3 - The Cassini Division" - читать интересную книгу автора (MacLeod Ken)

by Ken MacLeod
Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
With his third novel, Ken MacLeod elaborates on the future timeline from his first two works, The
Star Fraction (1995) and The Stone Canal (1996). Most relevant is book two, which established a
colony on the remote world of New Mars via a spatial wormhole created by superhumans--
transcendent machine-hosted intelligences called the "fast-folk." The original fast-folk crashed
from too much contemplation of their metaphorical navels, but their descendants on Jupiter still
harass Earth with virus transmissions that have killed off computers and the Internet. Enter heroine
Ellen May Ngwethu of the Cassini Division, an elite space-going force created to defend against
the fast-folk. Her wild doings in the 24th century's anarcho-socialist utopia make for fun reading--
everyone will covet her smart-matter clothing that can become a spacesuit, combat outfit, evening
gown, or satellite dish at will. But the Division's political philosophy is brutally tough, with
alarming plans to use a planet-wrecking doomsday weapon against "enemies," who may not be
hostile at all. In a climax of slam-bang space battle, MacLeod crashes the ongoing ethical debate
into a brick wall and leaves you gasping. Witty, skillful, provocative, but just a trifle too glibly
resolved. --David Langford, Amazon.co.uk --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable
edition of this title.


From Library Journal
As an agent of the elite Cassini Division, Ellen May Ngewthu conceives of a bold plan to stop the
incursions of godlike posthumans, whose arrogance nearly destroyed humankind and whose
existence still threatens the safety of the Solar Union. Set in the 24th century, MacLeod's third
novel features nonstop action and a tough-as-nails protagonist. Large libraries should consider this
title for their old-style sf adventure fans.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable
edition of this title.


Spotlight Reviews
Slow - Boring - Lacks Creativity, October 17, 2000
Reviewer:
The Cassini Division "doesnt" read like Iain M Banks or Vernor Vinge despite what a few [...]
reviewers have claimed. Banks creates exotic locations/charactes better - while Vinge has no
trouble mapping out scope and a "sense of wonder." This book seemed more like a "bad" novel
from Stephen Baxer or Charles Sheffield - authors who "can" write brilliantly at times.
So why did I bother with this book knowing that it has recieved poor reviews? If you read the
back cover, the premise for the novel is actually quite interesting. A soldier and leader of the
Cassini Division has to stop God-Like beings who disintegrated Ganymede. These beings punched
a wormhole into Jovian space and are bombarding the inner solar system with powerfull data
viruses.
While some of the science and technical parts of the Cassini Division are interesting, the details
were always glossed over. And it takes a good 100 pages before the science is really mentioned
anyway.
 Ken Macleod doesnt put much emphasis on the military aspect of the lead character - Ellen May
Ngewthu. All she really does throughout the novel is converse with other characters about how
humanity "must" commit mass genocide against the superior beings. Now I have no problems with
the "morality" issue that some reviewers complained about, but it is here, that the Cassini Division