- Hardcover: 240 pages
- Publisher: Orbit (2 May 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1841491446
- ISBN-13: 978-1841491448
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 14 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,549,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
Brian Aldiss is one of the most influential - and one of the best - SF writers Britain has ever produced (Iain Banks )
Black, bitter and darkly unforgiving, this is classic Aldiss (The GUARDIAN )
Unlike many satirists, Aldiss does not run out of steam, producing a finale which is as provocative as it is unexpected. Super-State is a rarity: a book remembered not for characters or plot but rather for its funny, committed engagement with the issues of this day and its tomorrow (SYDNEY Morning HERALD )
Expansive, speculative fiction (ZONE-SF.COM )
Black, bitter and darkly unforgiving, this is classic Aldiss (The GUARDIAN )
Unlike many satirists, Aldiss does not run out of steam, producing a finale which is as provocative as it is unexpected. Super-State is a rarity: a book remembered not for characters or plot but rather for its funny, committed engagement with the issues of this day and its tomorrow (SYDNEY Morning HERALD )
Expansive, speculative fiction (ZONE-SF.COM )
Review
'Brian Aldiss is one of the most influential - and one of the best - SF writers Britain has ever produced' - Iain Banks 'Full of widsom lacking from even the most percipient works of younger authors' - SFX 'Black, bitter and darkly unforgiving, this is classic Aldiss' - Guardian 'Unlike many satirists, Aldiss does not run out of steam, producing a finale which is as provocative as it is unexpected. Super-State is a rarity: a book remembered not for characters or plot but rather for its funny, committed engagement with the issues of this day and its tomorrow' SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 'Expansive, speculative fiction' ZONE-SF.COM
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I don't know whether this meant to be pro-Superstate or Anti-Superstate, but certainly all the recognisable contemporary elements are there: Xenophobia, Racist Mobs, Daahling Sybaritic Rich Folk, Warmongering Generals, Dodgy Politicians, Liberal Academics, Hordes of Would Be Asylum Seeking Immigrants, Well Intentioned Brussels Master Plans gone horribly wrong, WMDs, Anti-Establishment rebels, and finally lots of sly references to Britain's debate on the Euro. Each element is as hilaious of the next. Aldiss may have billed this as a novel of a future Europe, but all the big questions on the issue are here. Even if your not a fan of Sci-Fi and are just interested in how the world works READ THIS. Whether you are Pro or Anti Europe you'll still laugh!
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book hoping to find some clever insight into the future of Europe from the point of view of the author. Sadly, this didn't do for me. The book basically tries to be some sort of political thriller against a very light background of technology intrigues that goes nowhere and ends inconclusively.
I think the author missed the chance to elaborate and speculate more on political evolution and the interaction between it and technological cutting-edge tech. Maybe he could have explored the fringes and the dark corridors of the Powers that Be with more insight and vibe.
I don't agree with the previous reviewer. It is true that most of those issues (s)he mentions are there, but hardly any of them get explored or thought over. They merely paint the background. Props. Scenery.
Basically, it bored me with some of the characters, weak and pointless, or maybe I was just simply expecting something else, or maybe I didn't get the humour here.
I think the author missed the chance to elaborate and speculate more on political evolution and the interaction between it and technological cutting-edge tech. Maybe he could have explored the fringes and the dark corridors of the Powers that Be with more insight and vibe.
I don't agree with the previous reviewer. It is true that most of those issues (s)he mentions are there, but hardly any of them get explored or thought over. They merely paint the background. Props. Scenery.
Basically, it bored me with some of the characters, weak and pointless, or maybe I was just simply expecting something else, or maybe I didn't get the humour here.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
Waste of time
11 Jun 2007
Format:Paperback
There seldom is a book which after you read you wish you had the time you spend on it back. But this book really is one of those. On the cover it says it is a sience fiction but apart from other names for telephone and TV it offers no insights into the future. Of course it has robots in it but hey, is it really science fiction?!
And the social climate in Europe is painted with such haste it leaves you completely untouched. Of course in the book the EU has a president but you do not need a crystal ball to see that that will happen one day.
As this was the only book by Aldiss I have read I cannot say with any degree of certainty that he is a bad writer but this book gets a clear 'avoid' rating.
And the social climate in Europe is painted with such haste it leaves you completely untouched. Of course in the book the EU has a president but you do not need a crystal ball to see that that will happen one day.
As this was the only book by Aldiss I have read I cannot say with any degree of certainty that he is a bad writer but this book gets a clear 'avoid' rating.
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