Review: The Years of Rice and Salt

The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, but for some specific reasons that may not operate for everyone.

First, I really do enjoy historical fiction as thought experiments and this one is a fascinating one. It is based around the hypothesis of a wave of the Black Death which wipes out 99.99% of the population of Europe, leaving all of mediaeval Europe a wasteland. The rest of the book explore how the world would develop entirely without the European influence. The answer, of course, is that Islam and China become the dominant powers in the world, while a revived Indian and a powerful Haudenosaunee confederation gain ground later. And the hook is that we follow several reincarnations of a group of souls which stick together, ending each session in a Buddhist afterlife, the bardo. That allows us to have characters who develop over the length of the novel. It is a fascinating, if complex and, occasionally, perplexing premise. And it is done, not creating a utopia, nor entirely a dystopia, one that does have a sense of moral and personal progress.

Second, I really enjoyed the shifts in style as Robinson shifted from one time to the next. I'm sure I didn't pick up the nuances, but the feel of the sections are different and, where I could judge it, parallel to the times. That shows greater versatility and was an interesting element.

Third, history geek as I am, I'm fascinated by the reflections on history that show up in the discussion. The concept tends to be cyclical, but with a sense of teleology or an kind of moral progress. It is heavily influenced by Buddhism, which isn't a faith that I follow, but it is fascinating to me for that reason. The stress on progress, especially the value of technological progress in ensuring moral progress is sometimes a bit optimistic, but more often more nuanced than that. This element alone makes me want to read it more.

All this being said, the reviews of this when I started was giving the book an average of 3.75. And, without looking at the other reviews, I get why. This is a complex book thematically and stylistically. It is also a rather foreign sounding book to Western ears. That is probably a reason why I'm so enthusiastic about it, but, still, I can see why that is off putting. still, I really recommend trying this book for your yourself. I don't think you'll regret it.

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Review: Operation Pedestal: The Fleet That Battled to Malta, 1942

Operation Pedestal: The Fleet That Battled to Malta, 1942 by Sir Max Hastings
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I ran into this book in my library app and was interested because I knew the battle. It is an epic one, with lots of drama and lots of opportunity for human interest. By itself, the saga of the tanker Ohio makes for riveting reading. So, I was looking forward to a interesting read.

And I wasn't disappointed. Hastings masterfully combines official accounts, historical archives and personal accounts into a sweeping, dramatic narrative of this last ditch attempt to resupply the fortress island, Malta. He engages with the controversies of the scholarship and of the experience of the convoy, giving his own informed opinion. He comes heavily down on the need for the convoy, as opposed to those who thought the effort wasn't worth the cost. But he does pay attention to the cost of the campaign, highlighting both the successes and failures of both sides. The result is a vivid narrative with a lot of human interest as well as examples of the best and worst of those in the battle.

This is really a superb book, deserving a place with the best war narratives. It is both deeply researched and profoundly human.

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