As great as Star Wars is The Empire Strikes Back is better. Godfather or Godfather part II? Part II. The Well of Ascension is yet another example of the sequel outperforming its precursor.
Espionage and political intrigue drive the plot as a city anticipates its demise. Throw in a love story between an assassin and a king; another love story between a eunuch and a matron who had been forced to breed babies throughout most of her life; then add an insane man who allows his father to believe he is trying to kill him.
If a picture is worth 1000 words, this book is about 50 pictures- very cool pictures. The snapshots of future Earth create little itchy spots in my heart and brain, some get scratched some are still itchy. I'm very interested in sliding this slice of Le Guin's overall story arc into a slot on the bookshelf besides others in the Hainish series. This is the first I've read of that collective and will be reading more. I hope we get to meet up with Falk again.
The layers of intrigue and deceit spliced into an exceptionally well detailed world reverberate throughout the first person narrative. Instances of combat, sex, and torture are as lurid and explosive as the psychological/political manipulations are introspective and illuminating. The cyberpunk setting is not overly analyzed but gives enough detail to satisfy imagination, but you'd think with the pharmaceutical know-how and the advanced technology to transfer consciousness and simulate death someone would have found a cure for the common hangover.
A courageous soldier's journey to the depths of what it means to be a soldier; both in becoming a part of the war machine and returning to life in “normal” society. A personal exploration of how the ruling class ideology transforms everyone, soldiers and civilians, during wartime-how each member of society deals with the brutality and psychic damage caused by the obligation to kill each other at the behest of those “in charge.”
The 1st book, Sleeping Gods, is an excellent opener for a series setting the stage and developing the characters then ends with an intriguing twist. This second novel delivers the action and kept me in suspense throughout, and yet again ends with a deliciously baited hook.
“The end of the world can be cozy at times.”
“Yes, like a cave.”
One of the best non-apocalyptic apocalypse fiction books I've read. A beautiful exploration of unique love where the unimaginable realities of our lives are interwoven with a fantastical element to everyday life. When insanity comes to town the impossibility of leaving makes itself possible, and the things that are meant to tear us apart bring us closer together.
The usual tropes of humanities' salvation in the face of it's demise are set aside but ultimately illuminated in heartfelt illustrations of everyday people.
If you're looking at the reviews it's likely that you're interested in sci-fi and have probably heard of this book already. I will add my voice to the cacophony of voices insisting that “you've got to read this book.” It's phenomenal.