Comments on: The Windup Girl: 2010's science fiction "it" book brings poetry and excitement to ecotastrophe http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 06:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: jjasper http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715268 jjasper Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715268 Windup Girl made Publishers Weekly's top books list as well. And yeah, Paolo is a pretty awesome guy. Windup Girl made Publishers Weekly’s top books list as well. And yeah, Paolo is a pretty awesome guy.

]]> By: cornellbox http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715269 cornellbox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715269 He'll gain even greater accolades once people start spelling his name right. It's Bacigalupi. He’ll gain even greater accolades once people start spelling his name right. It’s Bacigalupi.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715792 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715792 I actually bought THE WINDUP GIRL about 6 weeks ago as a Kindle book for $9.99. But when I checked today on Amazon.com, the Kindle version had disappeared. Must be some argument over republication rights between the publisher and Amazon. One thing's for sure, I'm backing up the file so Amazon can't delete it from my Kindle hard drive! I actually bought THE WINDUP GIRL about 6 weeks ago as a Kindle book for $9.99. But when I checked today on Amazon.com, the Kindle version had disappeared. Must be some argument over republication rights between the publisher and Amazon. One thing’s for sure, I’m backing up the file so Amazon can’t delete it from my Kindle hard drive!

]]> By: PsyWiped http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715539 PsyWiped Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715539 doesnt matter you can get it here http://www.webscription.net/p-1121-the-windup-girl.aspx and put it on your nook or kindle or sony reader or what ever device you use for reading ebook because its drm free. doesnt matter you can get it here http://www.webscription.net/p-1121-the-windup-girl.aspx and put it on your nook or kindle or sony reader or what ever device you use for reading ebook because its drm free.

]]> By: angrydroid http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715287 angrydroid Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715287 I seem to recall reading a short story set in this world scenario a year or so back. Something that was here on Boing Boing. I seem to recall reading a short story set in this world scenario a year or so back. Something that was here on Boing Boing.

]]> By: overtonewiz http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-1010722 overtonewiz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1010722 This is a great book. For me, took a bit of effort to get my hooks into it but once I did it was quite rewarding and hard to put down. Now, looking at Monsanto's (Monsatan's) latest victory against life on planet Earth (GMO Alfalfa), the books premise becomes more likely. This is a great book. For me, took a bit of effort to get my hooks into it but once I did it was quite rewarding and hard to put down. Now, looking at Monsanto’s (Monsatan’s) latest victory against life on planet Earth (GMO Alfalfa), the books premise becomes more likely.

]]> By: AndrewLiptak http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715303 AndrewLiptak Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715303 I loved, loved, loved this book. It's a fantastic read, very well written, excellent story. I go over it in a bit more detail in my own review for it: http://jeditrilobite.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/review-the-windup-girl/. What I really liked about this particular story was that it was so plausible, and very well thought out. I hope that this is on track for a Hugo, it certainly deserves it. I loved, loved, loved this book. It’s a fantastic read, very well written, excellent story. I go over it in a bit more detail in my own review for it: http://jeditrilobite.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/review-the-windup-girl/.

What I really liked about this particular story was that it was so plausible, and very well thought out. I hope that this is on track for a Hugo, it certainly deserves it.

]]> By: therealjasonb http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-716583 therealjasonb Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-716583 Let's hope not. I've often wondered if these are books he is asked to write a cover blurb for? I also noticed they all seem to go his Amazon store. Not that a blame a brother for trying to make a buck--I have heard that writing is not the best path to untold riches--but i do find it amusing. That said, I read Boneshaker based on his review, and thought it was entertaining but not quite all that ... Let’s hope not. I’ve often wondered if these are books he is asked to write a cover blurb for? I also noticed they all seem to go his Amazon store. Not that a blame a brother for trying to make a buck–I have heard that writing is not the best path to untold riches–but i do find it amusing.

That said, I read Boneshaker based on his review, and thought it was entertaining but not quite all that …

]]> By: EMJ http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715304 EMJ Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715304 Why does the future look so much like the past? These are the characters according to the review here: Anderson Lake is one such Calorie Man Hock Seng, a former wealthy Malay Chinese Jaidee, a hard-fighting, uncorruptable shock-trooper Three men with distinct identities and professions. And then the token female: Emiko, abandoned by her owner to the brothels of Thailand... Why does the future look so much like the past?
These are the characters according to the review here:
Anderson Lake is one such Calorie Man
Hock Seng, a former wealthy Malay Chinese
Jaidee, a hard-fighting, uncorruptable shock-trooper
Three men with distinct identities and professions. And then the token female: Emiko, abandoned by her owner to the brothels of Thailand…

]]> By: ajkoen http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-723753 ajkoen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-723753 Since I didn't read Mindspring, I can't comment there. However for Bacigalupi's book, I'd almost say the opposite, it was a bit slow in the beginning, and it took me a few chapters to get into it. But once its wheels hit the road, hold on! it really takes off. You won't expect where it takes you, but you will not feel betrayed by it either. Since I didn’t read Mindspring, I can’t comment there. However for Bacigalupi’s book, I’d almost say the opposite, it was a bit slow in the beginning, and it took me a few chapters to get into it. But once its wheels hit the road, hold on! it really takes off. You won’t expect where it takes you, but you will not feel betrayed by it either.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-725811 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-725811 That sounds too bleak to be even slightly entertaining That sounds too bleak to be even slightly entertaining

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715318 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715318 The word play extends into Thai as well. Jaidee (ใจดี)means "kind." The word play extends into Thai as well. Jaidee (ใจดี)means “kind.”

]]> By: the_dannobot http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715322 the_dannobot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715322 I just realized that he's the same guy who wrote "Pump Six". I love that one. I just realized that he’s the same guy who wrote “Pump Six”. I love that one.

]]> By: flapdragon http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715332 flapdragon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715332 Jaidee's female lieutenant is actually more critical to the book's plot than Jaidee, and IMO better "fleshed out" (pardon the pun) than Emiko. Jaidee’s female lieutenant is actually more critical to the book’s plot than Jaidee, and IMO better “fleshed out” (pardon the pun) than Emiko.

]]> By: Ketzirah http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715353 Ketzirah Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715353 How is this not available on Kindle? You have yet to steer me wrong on a book recommendation. I want to read this! How is this not available on Kindle? You have yet to steer me wrong on a book recommendation. I want to read this!

]]> By: Kerouac http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-718170 Kerouac Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-718170 Can't believe how many people bitch about book reviews. Can’t believe how many people bitch about book reviews.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715360 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715360 <I>Why does the future look so much like the past?</I> There's nothing new under the sun. Why does the future look so much like the past?

There’s nothing new under the sun.

]]> By: knottyboy http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715373 knottyboy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715373 Any chance that this will be offered on the Nook as in ebook? Any chance that this will be offered on the Nook as in ebook?

]]> By: eltonbong http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-719216 eltonbong Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-719216 Just finished reading this(thank you public library) and found it to be most excellent. Like all great speculative fiction, it is a great combination of survival stories and a hella scary brave new world. Fans of William Gibson will dig it for certain... Just finished reading this(thank you public library) and found it to be most excellent. Like all great speculative fiction, it is a great combination of survival stories and a hella scary brave new world. Fans of William Gibson will dig it for certain…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715640 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715640 It sounds like he got an Environmental Issue of the Economist and turned each of the stories into characters. In other words, I can't wait to check this out. It sounds like he got an Environmental Issue of the Economist and turned each of the stories into characters. In other words, I can’t wait to check this out.

]]> By: noahpoah http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715910 noahpoah Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715910 Mainspring is quite good for the first half or so, and now that I've gone back to re-read Cory's (briefer than I remember) review, I suppose it's not inaccurate to say that the review is "spot on." But it's also wildly, terribly, reader-betrayingly incomplete. Mainspring goes astonishingly far off the rails in the second half. It's fascinating to me that a book could start off so strong and then go so badly awry. Is the Windup Girl like this? It sounds like the prose is top notch, and the story interesting. But I'm skeptical of Cory's ability to judge a book in its entirety, given that he didn't even give a hint of a warning about the awful, awful end of Mainspring. Mainspring is quite good for the first half or so, and now that I’ve gone back to re-read Cory’s (briefer than I remember) review, I suppose it’s not inaccurate to say that the review is “spot on.” But it’s also wildly, terribly, reader-betrayingly incomplete. Mainspring goes astonishingly far off the rails in the second half. It’s fascinating to me that a book could start off so strong and then go so badly awry.

Is the Windup Girl like this? It sounds like the prose is top notch, and the story interesting. But I’m skeptical of Cory’s ability to judge a book in its entirety, given that he didn’t even give a hint of a warning about the awful, awful end of Mainspring.

]]> By: bwcbwc http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-718485 bwcbwc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-718485 Usually it's the authors. I don't think you can call this one a review. It's more a blurb by Cory for one of his esteemed colleagues. And no, I don't think there's any deception here. Unless something is explicitly called a review, authors rarely "review" other authors. Usually it’s the authors.

I don’t think you can call this one a review. It’s more a blurb by Cory for one of his esteemed colleagues. And no, I don’t think there’s any deception here. Unless something is explicitly called a review, authors rarely “review” other authors.

]]> By: noahpoah http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715463 noahpoah Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715463 Does this book start strong, building a compelling, richly drawn alternate reality, only to destroy any goodwill the reader may have by introducing numerous pointless new characters and settings, giving the protagonist some monkey-nookie, and repeatedly bringing the villain back in increasingly improbable ways at increasingly improbable places and times, capping it all off with an afterthought of a Stephenkingy deus ex machina resolution? 'Cuz that's what happened in Mainspring, the last book I partook of after reading a glowing Doctorow review. Does this book start strong, building a compelling, richly drawn alternate reality, only to destroy any goodwill the reader may have by introducing numerous pointless new characters and settings, giving the protagonist some monkey-nookie, and repeatedly bringing the villain back in increasingly improbable ways at increasingly improbable places and times, capping it all off with an afterthought of a Stephenkingy deus ex machina resolution?

‘Cuz that’s what happened in Mainspring, the last book I partook of after reading a glowing Doctorow review.

]]> By: mdh http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715249 mdh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715249 Calorie Man is a very clever play on words. Calorie Man is a very clever play on words.

]]> By: Rick York http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-715766 Rick York Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-715766 So, first, Noahpoah, if you didn't think Mainspring was brilliant, don't bother with The Windup Girl. I'm surprised this is only being reviewed by Cory now. It came out this past September. It is well written and astonishingly conceived and, Cory's review of it, as well as his review of Mainspring, is spot on. Windup Girl is a brilliantly conceived and beautifully written book. Read it. So, first, Noahpoah, if you didn’t think Mainspring was brilliant, don’t bother with The Windup Girl.

I’m surprised this is only being reviewed by Cory now. It came out this past September. It is well written and astonishingly conceived and, Cory’s review of it, as well as his review of Mainspring, is spot on. Windup Girl is a brilliantly conceived and beautifully written book.

Read it.

]]> By: Blaatann http://boingboing.net/2010/02/17/the-windup-girl-2010.html#comment-993278 Blaatann Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-993278 In one word, no. In one word, no.

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