Viriconium
by M. John Harrison
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Book Summary Information
Author: M. John HarrisonIntroduction: Neil Gaiman
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Format: Deckle Edge
Published: 2005-10-25
ISBN: 0553383159
Number of pages: 480
Publisher: Spectra
Book Reviews of Viriconium
Book Review: "I am possessed by Time"
Summary: 5 Stars
Other than an ancient copy of The Pastel City my library lacks any of M. John Harrison's works. Not out of any question of like or dislike, but out of the simple fact that he is not a prolific writer, and gets little exposure on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Recently I purchased a copy of Light for future reading, and pickup up this collection of the tales and stories of Viriconium in an effort to 'catch up.'
The contents are the three longer Viriconium stories (The Pastel City, A Storm of Wings, and In Viriconium) plus the range of shorter tales that surround these, often providing a peculiar form of continuity, where a story is the introduction to its predecessor. Time, for Viriconium, perched somehow at the far end of a degenerating world, is worn so thin that characters seem to wander from stage to stage almost as if they were themes rather than personalities. The flow of events is something of Gordian knot, inviting the reader to remain focused on the moment or only read the works a slice at a time.
At the tale of Viriconium progresses you will find a number of haunting similarities to the New Crobuzon of Mieville's Perdido Street Station, which was clearly influenced byHarrison's work. In addition there are dashes of Michael Moorcock, Jack Vance, and even Mary Gentle. The city is set at the end of civilization, where the elements of technology are mostly forgotten only to make appearances with unnerving effect.
Whether a queen defends her city against a false claimant, or hordes of insectoid creatures descend from the moon, or a plague threatens to make art extinct, Harrison writess with a sharp and detailed pen. He has a knack for detailed description, humorous names, and grotesque situations, with plenty of sarcasm and irony mixed in. He is a writer's writer, very sensitive to language choices and less committed to the action of a plot. Certainly worthwhile reading for a fantasy buff, and this inexpensive volume is a great way to find out what he is about.
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