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Finished:
Walton, Jo The Just City. Borrowed from fivemack (thank you fivemack) because it isn't e-published in the UK (yet? at all?). 1-of-3 (rest unpublished, wah). Absolutely brilliant. When I really want to *be reading* a book I read it so fast, when I'm reading something I want *to have read* it's a bit slower...

A brief summary is that Athene decides to instantiate Plato's Republic; the book is basically a discussion of the merits and otherwise of the Republic. I have to confess to not having managed to read the Republic (I started it in translation many years ago, but found it very hard going; I don't read Greek at all) so I have to assume that Walton truthfully reports its contents. Plato (it seems) was keen to suppose that humans could be brought up to ignore all the more messy bits of humanity, like romantic and familial bonding, in some ways I wish Plato was right (it's all *messy* and *unequal* and rubbish), that it is unrealistic would seem to be the main de-merit explored in the novel; teaching men and women equally and banging on about Equal Significance and Value the main merit. Walton's writing is as ever engaging and hard to put down.

Current
Hurley, Kameron Rapture. Couldn't resist the NEW SHINY in favour of the rest of the to-read. Anyway it is 3-of-3 and reading it before I forget what happened in the other two seemed like one of those good plans. The further adventures of Nyxnissa, more people to kill, more plots and intrigue, more places to explore...

Next
Er, dunno. Probably Dance Til Dawn.

(no subject)

Date: 2015-03-12 10:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ghoti.livejournal.com
I loved the Republic in the translation I found - to me it had the same dry wit as Utopia, which I read about the same time. So if you like that, maybe try another translation, and if not, don't bother?

(no subject)

Date: 2015-03-12 10:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] naath.livejournal.com
Maybe I had a bad translation? or perhaps I was just too young. I could try again at some point.

I've not read Utopia at all.

(no subject)

Date: 2015-03-12 11:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ghoti.livejournal.com
Or it's possible that it's just not a thing you like.I can't think of a more modern similar thing.

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