Another chance for Richard Morgan?

[Coragem]

Hi there:

A couple of years ago I read and absolutely loved Altered Carbon. I rushed out and bought all the Kovacs novels, and also Black Man. And then I read Broken Angels.

I hated it. Nothing much seemed to happen until the end. It was depressing. I don't mind dark characters if they entertain me, but these didn't.

I finished up heading straight for my local Oxfam bookshop and giving all my Morgan books away. I didn't want to risk a repeat of my Broken Angels experience.

However, as I've said a lot here at Chrons, these days I struggle to find recent sci-fi that I really like (specifically I struggle to find sci-fi with a portrayal of characters – voice, emotion – that engages me) so I've been looking around a lot for options. Richard Morgan has come back to my attention.

E.g.,
http://fantasyhotlist.blogspot.co.uk/2007/05/black-manthirteen.html

Should I give him another try, and if so where should I begin?

Coragem.

 

[zaltys13]

Mmmmm,

I love all of Richard Morgan's work, but to be honest, I think your going to struggle.

I don't see that much difference between the Takashi Kovac novels, although a lot of readers do. I see a tradditional trilogy, in that the first novel introduces us to a great character, the second puts him through hell, and the third offers some kind of redemption. Morgan has said that the second one was hard as f**k, and that the characters and story where supposed to be bleak. The third one, Woken Furies is less so, it has a glimmer of hope, there is optamism, it ends on a kind of high, the characters are compelling.

Market Forces, I would say is a brilliant novel but, again, maybe not for you. the characters are well realised and the plot is good, but rereading it recently I realised that not one of them was likeable and it was a pretty depressing world they lived in.

I think that the way to go for you is Black Man, it won the Arthur C Clarke award and is the most highly regarded of his works apart from Altered Carbon of course. There is humour in this work, all be it Very Dark, I enjoyed it's near future setting and it's political relevence.

One thing I would say about Morgan's work is that he is a reader of politics, he is pretty pesimistic, he extrapolates intelligently and he pulls no punchs. Go to his website, check out his Blog, I think he is one of the best Science Fiction authers working today but he is also A Very Angry Man. In my opinion anyone who has read The New Rulers Of the World by John Pilger or The Demon Lover: The Roots Of Terrorism by Robin Morgan (no relation) would agree. I mention these because they are mentioned as sources in more than one of his novels along with works by Naom Chomsky and Michael Moore.

As an aside he has also written two fantasy novels, in a projected trilogy, The Steel Remains and The Cold Commands, these are also very good, not much of a fantasy reader myself but he manages to bring the same Noir sensibility to these as he does his Sci/Fi work. If you are not a fan you can always change the word Noir for the words dark and depressing of course

I would not recomend these as your next forray into his work.

I hope this helps, all the best,

Paul.

 

[Ursa major]

Market Forces, I would say is a brilliant novel but, again, maybe not for you. the characters are well realised and the plot is good, but rereading it recently I realised that not one of them was likeable and it was a pretty depressing world they lived in.

I would agree that the characters don't always seem to be very likeable. However, the book is definitely worth a look, if one is prepared to read all the way to the end. (I can't say why: that would involve giving spoilers.)

I think that the way to go for you is Black Man, it won the Arthur C Clarke award and is the most highly regarded of his works apart from Altered Carbon of course. There is humour in this work, all be it Very Dark, I enjoyed it's near future setting and it's political relevence.

Again, well worth reading.

 

[MeldedByThePlague]

Black Man was my first book by Richard Morgan, and loved it. It was a very well-written story, and I liked the political undertones as well this time.

I bought the Kovacs series after that but was a bit disappointed. Altered Carbon was all right, I finished Broken Angels, but never made it through Woken Furies. Seemed like he was trying to fit a bit too much into each novel, not all of which was necessary.

Market Forces I quite enjoyed, although I haven't read his fantasy series yet- I prefer SF over fantasy and wasn't quite prepared to go into another genre after the other books.

 

[Coragem]

Black Man was my first book by Richard Morgan, and loved it. It was a very well-written story, and I liked the political undertones as well this time.

I'm still undecided. I like to be able to trust an author, to pick up a book and know I'm in for a great read.

My problem with Broken Angels was that it felt more than dark. More like nihilistic. I actually enjoy "bad" or amoral characters provided they seem alive and motivated – eager to carry out their evil projects! In Broken Angels the characters seemed to have a sense that life is just seedy and pointless … and at the end life is cheap.

I can't face that again, if Black Man is similar.

I actually went on Amazon ready to buy Black Man, but hesitated when I saw that the reviews are quite divided. Yes, some love it, but a few hate it.

Coragem.

 

[MeldedByThePlague]

Well, you never know- you could be in the half that likes it!

 

[Connavar]

Woken furies and black man you just must like if you liked altered carbon. They are similar sf techno thrillers with awesome vivid action and hardcore lead characters.


Broken angels is by far his weakest book not that it's bad. It's so so military sf with forgettable characters and frankly waste of Kovacs book. I thought similar as you until I read the other two books I mentioned and Morgan was back in good form.

 

[Coragem]

Well, you never know- you could be in the half that likes it!

Woken furies and black man you just must like if you liked altered carbon. They are similar sf techno thrillers with awesome vivid action and hardcore lead characters.

I'm reading Black Man now, and yes, it's good! I'm really enjoying it so far.

Looks like I'll be re-buying all the Morgan books I gave away after reading Broken Angels.

Coragem.

 

[Rodders]

Market Forces was my first Richard Morgan book and I enjoyed it enough to want to read his other books? Altered Carbon and Black Man (Thirteen) are my favourite books of his so far. I didn't rate Broken Angels either but I'd get another Kovacs book if it came out.