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So I picked up Charles Stross's The Family Trade at the library, and was soundly disappointed. I dug the hell out of Accelerando and the first two Laundry stories, but this one (the only fantasy work of his I've read) pretty much failed to do it for me.
Basically, I blame it on the characters. They're all quite dull, and I didn't care much for the way they talk. (Stross's mode of dialogue works much better in SF and spy-horror, I think. If there are computer dorks taking part in any given conversation, it becomes quite plausible; between two non-technical people, it gets a little strained.) And people kept doing things seemingly because the story told them to — I actually found myself skipping past a sex scene because I just didn't buy it. First time in a while that's happened.
What else...? The world-switching mechanic (reality-tearing petit-mal seizure triggered by a specific visual interference pattern; results in splitting headache on the other side, which can be mitigated with beta-blockers) was sort of interesting, as was following through and recognizing that, yes, of course people are going to use this sort of thing for drug-running. So the worldbuilding was decent, but not nearly good enough to carry a whole book.
Verdict: Didn't finish it, won't check out the rest of the series. But I will read The Jennifer Morgue, because Bob Howard is the shit.
Basically, I blame it on the characters. They're all quite dull, and I didn't care much for the way they talk. (Stross's mode of dialogue works much better in SF and spy-horror, I think. If there are computer dorks taking part in any given conversation, it becomes quite plausible; between two non-technical people, it gets a little strained.) And people kept doing things seemingly because the story told them to — I actually found myself skipping past a sex scene because I just didn't buy it. First time in a while that's happened.
What else...? The world-switching mechanic (reality-tearing petit-mal seizure triggered by a specific visual interference pattern; results in splitting headache on the other side, which can be mitigated with beta-blockers) was sort of interesting, as was following through and recognizing that, yes, of course people are going to use this sort of thing for drug-running. So the worldbuilding was decent, but not nearly good enough to carry a whole book.
Verdict: Didn't finish it, won't check out the rest of the series. But I will read The Jennifer Morgue, because Bob Howard is the shit.
