Kevin's Watch

Well, I've finally finished the Gap saga, and I've gotta say it was really good overall. I'll have to give it some time before I reread, but I'm curious to see how The Real Story goes now that I understand its place in the saga. I really didn't like that book.

Oh heck no. I couldn't even get past the first book. For some reason, it was completely incomprehensible to me. I even tried again later to read it with a bit more success.. (think I read the whole first book that time) and was left with a 'what the hell was that' feeling. I have no idea why Gap missed me by a mile.

myst

I really enjoyed Julian May's Pliocene Exile series, but it couldn't be any further from Gap if it tried. In fact, it could possibly be called Science Fantasy, though there is a fair amount of technology in it.

I plan to read the gap series again, soon.

Hi, this is my first post, I have read the series three times now, and I had no idea there was such a message board for people to discuss this story, I thought I was the only one who has read it.

Not only is this my favorite sci fi, its my favorite work of fiction. Used to be 'The Dark Tower', until the last book's ending. Epic tales are always hard to end, but that Darktower ending.....

I've only read two works of SF, unless you want to count The Lathe of Heaven.

First I read the Gap, then I read the first pair of Hyperion books. I didn't think I was likely to read any SF that could beat the Gap, but in some ways Hyperion did. Remarkable.

I have both Ender's Game and Neverness sitting on my shelf, so perhaps my opinion will be further revised in time.

I was riveted by the "Gap" series. Yeah, I think it rates up there with the "gods of Sci-fi", aka John Wyndham and Ray Bradbury!

greyy wrote:Hi, this is my first post, I have read the series three times now, and I had no idea there was such a message board for people to discuss this story, I thought I was the only one who has read it.

Not only is this my favorite sci fi, its my favorite work of fiction. Used to be 'The Dark Tower', until the last book's ending. Epic tales are always hard to end, but that Darktower ending.....

Welcome to the Gap forum, greyy!

Yes, welcome!

The Hyperion Cantos for me is the best thing in sci-fi ever written. I have read everything else Donaldson has written but still have not gotten around to the Gap. I will take that journey soon.
For me Simmons is sci-fi including the latest Illium.

While I rank the Hyperion Cantos and the Neverness series at the top (along with Metaplanetary/Superluminal, Aristoi and Dune) I'd have to say the last two books of the Gap Sequence include the most thunderous cresendos, intrigue and stunning ending I've ever seen. Yes it's very hard to beat the ending of the Neverness books...but SRD, at least, ties it. The Amnion are the coolest aliens ever created. While the Hyperion books are breathtaking in scope and language--I thought the ending happened too quickly and conveniently...

I haven't read lots of science fiction, but of the ones I have read, I'd say Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion are the best, closely followed by the Gap.

I have just finished my second reading of the Gap series...it has been 8-9 years.

A masterpiece. I was wowed, moved, disgusted, revolted, afraid, hopeful, hungry, ready for the reaper to claim me, exhausted, twitterpated, verklempt (sp?), freaked out, sad, thrilled, and that was just be the end of book 2.

SRD truly came of age as a writer in this series (never a slouch of course) as his characterizations, establishing of motivation and complex emotive content and action(without copious adverbs, mind you) brings tears to my eyes.

The end of book 2, the middle of book 3, and the last of book 5 were the most tension filled of any books I have ever read. It is a head-shaker.

SRD, I love you, man!

And the end of book 4.

I've only just read the first two books of the Gap series for the first time.

A Dark and Hungry God awaits.

At this stage I still rate Julian May's Galactic Milieu trilogy higher. I don't really empathise with any of the main Gap characters like I did with "Jack the Bodiless" I feel sorry for Morn. Nick was spawned in the same pit of Hell as Angus, he only thinks he's better, IMHO.

At this stage I see the Amnion as pathetically misguided. (Surely you want our genetic mods, I mean, of course you would!) Although I suspect that's not the case...

I'll get back to y'all when I've read further...

Sorus wrote:And the end of book 4.

You said it sister!

Cjr wrote:Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion

when I said the ending I meant The Rise Of Edymion (the forth book)...

danlo wrote:

Cjr wrote:Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion

when I said the ending I meant The Rise Of Edymion (the forth book)...

Yeah, that ending did happen to quickly. While I like the Endymion series, the books are disappointing.

My first post (ignoring the noob "Hi, it's me" thread)

Being a reader of fantasy I don't do much SciFi, but the Gap series is mind blowing for me, mainly due to;

1) Angus: One of my favourite fictional characters. I have no rational reason for this since he is a despicable(sp?) sociopath who if you saw him for real on fire you wouldn't p**s on, but hey, that's how good SRD is at writing.

2) Warden (notice the name ): What a brilliant strategist. If only we had real people like him (especially in politics).

3) Holt: The power hungry politician who everybody wants to see come to a very bad end (the series kind of failed in this aspect as more pain was needed ).

Just for the record the other SciFi I have read (so you can judge my opinion);
Saga of the Exiles
The Galactic Mileau
Dune(the original 6 books, not the prequals)
2001 series

The only real sci fi ive read is The Ender series and the Gap, and though I havent read enders game in ages Id put that one book above the gap series, though not all the rest of them.

Ive also read a short sci fi story by donaldson? soes that count?