George Mann's Affinity Bridge Follow Up

After reading the numerous glowing reviews adorning this book's dust jacket, I looked forward to enjoying the new so-called steampunk novel. No sooner was I a chapter or two into reading this book that I stopped to check the reviews on Amazon. Immediately I confirmed others were noting the same concerns as was I: additional editing wouldn't hurt. Some sections run rough, a few passages would benefit from refinement and a few phrases and themes are repeated a little too often (enough with "organizing" the "Earl Grey" tea, "finding purchase" when grasping desperately for an item in one of the too frequent and often exaggerated superhuman fights, dense debilitating fog always at the perfect moment, etc.).

Based on the dust jacket reviews, I was expecting something sensational. I love it when a novel arrests my attention and prompts me to think in new and creative ways, such as was my experience when reading Cory Doctorow's Little Brother, Douglas Coupland's Microserfs, William Gibson's Neuromancer, or Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. I did not have that experience with this book. But then again, that's a tall order.

All that said, Mann develops an interesting story. The characters have some depth. I found myself sticking with the plot, which made the impulse purchase worthwhile. But to enjoy this book I had to set critical thoughts aside and just read the novel as one would a library book at the beach. I chose to let myself just be entertained. In other words, by lowering my expectations (which, it should be noted were set by the lofty recommendations found on the book's jacket), I was able to enjoy Mann's story.

It's clear Mann is setting up a detective series, of which The Affinity Bridge is to be the initial work. The characters show promise, and properly developed, Newbury and Hobbes' future exploits will be worth reading. I just hope a little additional care is taken in preparing future installments before they're released to the printer.

Sampling Some Steampunk

I just finished up a couple very good books, completing my 22nd book of the year this morning. Read while the rain pounded the skylight off our bedroom; a glorious Saturday morning.

I needed something new. I've only got one other book (Isaacson's biography of Einstein) going. I considered 10 or 12 novels. I settled upon George Mann's The Affinity Bridge. I chose it for three reasons. One, it's a TOR title, and they've published several of the last science fiction books I've read that I've really enjoyed. Two, I was in the mood for a good steampunk/cyberpunk novel. Three, the story was very different from what I've been reading.

After knocking out the first couple chapters, I found myself thinking some of the writing stilted. Almost clumsy. So I gave a look at the Amazon reviews. Not good. I just dumped $26 on this hard back, and I'm afraid it's going to suck. I should have read the Amazon reviews first. Lesson learned.

That said, I'll keep going. Maybe it'll get better.

I almost bought Neal Stephenson's The Big U. I hope I don't regret passing it up.