[j. d. worthington]

Hmmm. After the previous post, I may want to rethink this.....

I just finished reading the novel this evening, and I can't say that I thought it was as good as I'd expected; for one thing, in the earlier (and some later) parts of the novel, the descriptions, especially of movement with King Rat and Saul, were done in such a way that I simply had trouble visualizing some of it -- other times they were quite brilliantly done. Also, I simply had trouble with the way the premise was handled at times; I suppose the concepts, with their fairy-tale elements (especially things like Loplop being able, more or less, to fly for certain distances) jarred for me with the very modern urban and realistic background; and I found myself being jarred out of the book at such times.

That said, as a first novel it really is an amazing piece of work; very imaginative, and with very colorful characters and -- contrary to some comments I've seen -- I rather thought the ending worked quite well; it kept up a certain irony without damaging the bizarrerie of the whole. There are also some excellent passages of writing, as well; the opening pages of the second section, especially those describing Natasha's work with her mixes, is very well done, for one thing; and I was quite struck by the phrasing of the line (later in the book): "Saul and King Rat moved like liminal figures, hovering between evolutionary strata, bestial and knowing." That final phrase really pulled me up short and -- to me -- gave worlds of insight into the world of King Rat himself.

So, while overall I was a little disappointed -- too high expectations, I think -- nonetheless I found it a good read; but from the story collection I've read earlier, I'd say he's certainly grown since this. I look forward to the others, when I have a chance.

Thanks for all who suggested this and gave feedback.