The Quantum Thief, by Hannu Rajaniemi

[mrissa]

Review copy provided by Tor.

"What are you reading?" said timprov. "This Finnish physics nerd moved to Scotland and wrote a modern British-style space opera," I said. "...I think I want to read that," he said. "Yah, I think you do," I said.

There is this sentence in the middle that just made me grin: "Fighting a cabal of planetary mind-controlling masterminds with a group of masked vigilantes--that's what life should be all about." It is, at the very least, what this book should be all about. Or substantially about, with cool excursions along the way.

I think one of the things The Quantum Thief does that puts it above other current space opera for me is that the cool side bits, the interesting interludes and awesome stuff, is substantially better at being cool, interesting, awesome than average. It intersects better with the set of stuff I consider awesome. Some of that might be attributable to the "Finnish physics nerd" thing, but some of it comes out in other ways--the dead chocolatier, for example, and how he plays into the rest of the stuff going on in this book.

Whatever he writes next, I'll be reading it. Good stuff.

Comments

[fiddledragon]

I don't think I've said this before, but I love your reviews. I really like this one. Thank you :)

[avitzur.livejournal.com]

Yes! I had to order this book from the UK before it was available here in the US, and it was an amazing romp. Time to go back and read it again.

[apis-mellifera.livejournal.com]

I hearted this book so much. Rompity romp romp romp.

[seabream.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in seeing where he takes it next. Some backstory would be welcome. I did like the various approaches to identity taken through portrayals of both major and minor characters.

[seanbseanb.livejournal.com]

thanks for the recommendation!