Moderator: I'm Murrin
I read radix in the eighties, then found it again a few years ago. I loved it -- the images and characterization, expecially of the young protagonist as "Rat" and then how he grows and changes throughout the book. I think more character growth in this book than most. I wont give away anything, but well worth reading, and Very memorable.Wayfriend wrote: Have you ever seen a book by A.A. Attanasio called Radix?
I'm stunned by statements like that. I honestly don't understand this opinion, because you're clearly well read. All Bardo does is complain that Mallory's ideas are dangerous, screws women, drinks a few beers, and farts when he gets nervous (I'm serious--there are multiple instances of this "character development"). Other than that, he adds absolutely nothing to the story. His character doesn't change, even after all the brutal events he finds himself tagging along (despit his whining). He's the Gimli of Neverness (movie Gimli, not the book).Bardo, for one, is one of THE most fleshed out (pun intentional) characters ever created in literature.
I can give nothing else but my interpretation, just as you. As for spoiling this book, well, I come here to talk with other interesting and intelligent people about books (among other things). What's the point of reading them if we don't discuss them? Besides, perhaps the "controversy" will only spark more interest. But I don't mind at all if the admins want to spoiler tag my posts here.oh by the way what's the point of encouraging others to read it now that you've blabbed out 1/2 of the plot (as YOU interperate it).
he also smokes tolache, loves Yakonian Firewine and is a great conissuer of intergalactic art and music.Malik23 wrote:All Bardo does is complain that Mallory's ideas are dangerous, screws women, drinks a few beers, and farts when he gets nervous
I prefer to let my words be my avatar. A picture is so static and limited. How can one image represent me? I supposed I could just post a picture of myself--but if I did that, I'd be tempted to post one of my shirtless, muscles flexed, self-indulgent pictures. And that might be too intimidating in places like the Tank.Malik23 - get an Avatar. Just curious as to what you'd have. Go on, join the club!
We sometimes need to be reminded of such things.-Oh, ho, listen, Man, and we'll tell you everything! Do you hear the waves whispering the secret? We know you know, Man. The secret of life is just sheer joy, and joy is everywhere. Joy is what we were made for. It is in the rush of the nighttime surf and in the beach rocks and in the salt and the air and in the water we breathe and deep, deep within the blood. And the sifting ocean sands and the wriggling silverfish and the hooded greens of the shallows and the purple deeps and in the oyster's crusty shell and the pink reefs and even in the muck of the ocean's floor, joy, joy, joy!
Like when Sargon takes over Kirk's body. etc.What is mathematics? Where does mathematics come from? How is it born? What is inspiration? From where does it come? Why do the Darghinni, who are as alien as aliens can be, think according to the same logic as human beings? What is life? What exactly was a Lavi set? What was a point-source? Was I sure I understood the difference between a Lavi set and a discrete Lavi set? How could I show the mappping was one-to-one? Where does the flame go when the flame explodes? Why should man seek justice in a universe which is manifestly unjust?
You are probably right. If I were just starting out in my own philosophical journey, then these questions might resonate with me more deeply. I used to think it was truly amazing that the universe can be described with something as abstract and "pure" as mathematics, that something so utterly physical fits the patterns of something completely immaterial. In the days before I became a nihilistic skeptic, it was a beautiful mystery. Now I think it's merely an example of the weak anthropic principle--i.e., since lifeforms complex enough to ask such questions exist in this universe, this is necessarily a universe in which such serendipitous correspondance exists; a universe that DIDN'T conform to such order wouldn't produce life--no mystery, just a fantastic, meaningless coincidence. Perhaps there are billions of other universes in which such a correspondance does not exist. However, in those universes, creatures like us will not develop to ponder their meaninglessness.To me asking those questions are starting points for the reader to start thinking, become a Journeyman themselves and be pulled into the process.
Zindell introduces us to so much so quickly that the pace of the book may seem a little headstrong-almost a new language in terminology-boom: the Quest, incredible descriptions of the city, the concepts of Earth being so lost in time as to be mythical, life without the wheel and weapons, how thickspace came to be and how to manage it, things going on on other planets, the intrigue of family histories, the histories of pioneering pilots (such as The Tycho and Jemmum Flowtow) and how humans became intelligence field god-entities. Not to mention all the different alien races, religions and lifestyles. 
