Conscious Bob
Well-Known Member
Iain had mostly finished writing about a man dying of cancer before he himself was diagnosed with terminal cancer. On receiving the diagnosis and prognosis, Iain went back to the draft and added a further ten thousand words and it shows.
The last two non-Culture books that Iain had published were IMHO a bit rough, The Quarry is polished up to the standard of the science fiction and it took me right back to why I started reading Iain's books in the first place.
A big old house is again chosen for the setting but unlike Iain's other big fictional houses this one's falling to bits and on borrowed time. A party with a purpose is scheduled for Guy, the owner of the house. He's dying and he's got an old videotape that all the guests have an interest in.
As well as a videotape Guy has Kit, a teenage son with Asperger's Syndrome. Kit is the story's narrator.
Although there's an assumption given the circumstances that this book would be all about Guy this story is actually about Kit, the hard work he has being Guy's main carer and the difficulties Guy creates for him through financial neglect and his efforts to have Kit certified incapable of handling his own affairs.
Guy isn't a monster but he's not stoic and while there's fear, rage and a feeling of injustice there is also a clear message, life goes on.
The last two non-Culture books that Iain had published were IMHO a bit rough, The Quarry is polished up to the standard of the science fiction and it took me right back to why I started reading Iain's books in the first place.
A big old house is again chosen for the setting but unlike Iain's other big fictional houses this one's falling to bits and on borrowed time. A party with a purpose is scheduled for Guy, the owner of the house. He's dying and he's got an old videotape that all the guests have an interest in.
As well as a videotape Guy has Kit, a teenage son with Asperger's Syndrome. Kit is the story's narrator.
Although there's an assumption given the circumstances that this book would be all about Guy this story is actually about Kit, the hard work he has being Guy's main carer and the difficulties Guy creates for him through financial neglect and his efforts to have Kit certified incapable of handling his own affairs.
Guy isn't a monster but he's not stoic and while there's fear, rage and a feeling of injustice there is also a clear message, life goes on.