Jimmy Brewster
I wanted to read Tower by Bae Myung-hoon because I have been making an effort to read more international science fiction writers.
Tower is basically a compilation of related short stories. The stories all take place in Beanstalk Tower, a tower so large that is has become a sovereign nation. While each story stands alone, there are references to previous stories as you progress through the book.
The stories all contain very obvious political commentary. In this case, there are a lot of references to living in a divided region with a large DMZ between neighboring nations. There are also elements of labor organizing, power structures, political unrest, and war. While addressing these heavy concepts, the author maintains a fair dose of humor throughout.
The stories are interesting and I enjoy Bae Myung-hoon's writing style. Most of the characters are forgettable, with several having simple, almost placeholder-like names.
Overall, I recommend Tower and I think that fans of Ursula Le Guin will especially enjoy this novel.
I wanted to read Tower by Bae Myung-hoon because I have been making an effort to read more international science fiction writers.
Tower is basically a compilation of related short stories. The stories all take place in Beanstalk Tower, a tower so large that is has become a sovereign nation. While each story stands alone, there are references to previous stories as you progress through the book.
The stories all contain very obvious political commentary. In this case, there are a lot of references to living in a divided region with a large DMZ between neighboring nations. There are also elements of labor organizing, power structures, political unrest, and war. While addressing these heavy concepts, the author maintains a fair dose of humor throughout.
The stories are interesting and I enjoy Bae Myung-hoon's writing style. Most of the characters are forgettable, with several having simple, almost placeholder-like names.
Overall, I recommend Tower and I think that fans of Ursula Le Guin will especially enjoy this novel.