Comments on: Bruce Sterling's Kiosk: geniunely 21st century science fiction http://boingboing.net/2008/01/15/bruce-sterlings-kios.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 02:47:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Nix http://boingboing.net/2008/01/15/bruce-sterlings-kios.html#comment-110649 Nix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-110649 I'm afraid I didn't think very much of it. As is so often true of Sterling's work, the *ideas* are great, but the *execution* makes me go `bleah'. The principal problem is that the narrative voice is *exactly the same* as that in countless other Sterling works, so I can't read it without wondering why I've fallen into _Bicycle Repair Man_ yet again. It really saps the characterization: I read this yesterday and already the character of Borislav has blurred in my memory into the protagonist of every single other near-future Sterling story. (I was hopeful that the `wounded veteran' thing might indicate a change of narrative voice. No such luck.) I still read Sterling's stuff, but I'm very close to saying 'no more'. He seems to be writing the same story over and over again: a sort of standardized characterization template into which you can plug new ideas to generate a new story. I’m afraid I didn’t think very much of it. As is so often true of Sterling’s work, the *ideas* are great, but the *execution* makes me go `bleah’. The principal problem is that the narrative voice is *exactly the same* as that in countless other Sterling works, so I can’t read it without wondering why I’ve fallen into _Bicycle Repair Man_ yet again.

It really saps the characterization: I read this yesterday and already the character of Borislav has blurred in my memory into the protagonist of every single other near-future Sterling story. (I was hopeful that the `wounded veteran’ thing might indicate a change of narrative voice. No such luck.)

I still read Sterling’s stuff, but I’m very close to saying ‘no more’. He seems to be writing the same story over and over again: a sort of standardized characterization template into which you can plug new ideas to generate a new story.

]]> By: craig1st http://boingboing.net/2008/01/15/bruce-sterlings-kios.html#comment-106310 craig1st Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-106310 <i>Clicking away to go read Kiosk now!</i> Clicking away to go read Kiosk now!

]]> By: Jeff http://boingboing.net/2008/01/15/bruce-sterlings-kios.html#comment-106337 Jeff Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-106337 Fabrikators and Fax machines...I'll have to see if this new story has been copied yet and is free to read on some pirate site based in some place untouchable like Siberia. Fabrikators and Fax machines…I’ll have to see if this new story has been copied yet and is free to read on some pirate site based in some place untouchable like Siberia.

]]> By: Cory Doctorow http://boingboing.net/2008/01/15/bruce-sterlings-kios.html#comment-106338 Cory Doctorow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-106338 Um, why would they bother? It's already on the web for free. Um, why would they bother? It’s already on the web for free.

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2008/01/15/bruce-sterlings-kios.html#comment-106602 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-106602 Good story. I'm still not clear on why the European crowd bought Boris' kiosk . . . market research? Good story.

I’m still not clear on why the European crowd bought Boris’ kiosk . . . market research?

]]> By: Jeff http://boingboing.net/2008/01/15/bruce-sterlings-kios.html#comment-106358 Jeff Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-106358 I was trying for irony, making a point about nano and replication of stuff...ideas and what not. I know it's availalbe with a CC download, but that's not Nearly as much fun as finding a pirated version! I was trying for irony, making a point about nano and replication of stuff…ideas and what not. I know it’s availalbe with a CC download, but that’s not Nearly as much fun as finding a pirated version!

]]> By: yendi http://boingboing.net/2008/01/15/bruce-sterlings-kios.html#comment-106364 yendi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-106364 It is a great story, but one small correction: It's not new. F&SF published it (in print, at least) last January. It's great that they put it online, though, as it's one of my favorite things I've read in F&SF in a long while. It is a great story, but one small correction: It’s not new. F&SF published it (in print, at least) last January.

It’s great that they put it online, though, as it’s one of my favorite things I’ve read in F&SF in a long while.

]]> By: MrPeach http://boingboing.net/2008/01/15/bruce-sterlings-kios.html#comment-106710 MrPeach Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-106710 I read this story some time ago, and I totally loved it. I think I'll just have to read it again! ^_^ I read this story some time ago, and I totally loved it.
I think I’ll just have to read it again! ^_^

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