/lit/ - Literature

>>21647897
Pushing Ice - Alastair Reynolds (2005)

Despite its title Pushing Ice isn't about pushing ice, though the characters do like using the phrase as a call back to their profession at various times. Saying what it's about would be a spoiler, or at least the narrative seems set up that way, which I find to be a risky idea, as it may require a lot of trust from the reader that the story is eventually going to go somewhere. There's a central idea that's explored, the fermi paradox but it's not evident that that's the idea until late in the book, so it may be inaccurate to say that's what the book is about. There's also a persistent aquatic motif which doesn't seem to tie into anything else in the book. It's something Reynolds seems to have done for aesthetic effect as far as I could tell.

The relationships among the crew of initially almost 150 on the space mining vessel is mostly what's focused on. Unfortunately, I have several complaints about Reynold's characters and I don't think it's one of his strengths. I didn't like any of them and the relationship that has the most time devoted to it is petty, overwrought, and unpleasant. There are quite a few named characters, though none of them really matter. I felt like the narrative was rather detached from the characters even though they were the focus, which was an odd feeling and may have just been me. Surprisingly for a Reynolds novel, identity issues were not a major part of the plot, though they're still present in other ways.

The story is divided three parts. I didn't like the first, the second was ok, and third was almost enjoyable, but not quite. I wouldn't have read through the first part if this wasn't something I read and discussed together. Those who don't like the first part, which is mostly arguing about whether they ought to be chasing a moon, may like the the second and third parts more, as they are about trying to establish a sustainable society on a moon and then contact with alien species. These are ideas that with other authors I have liked more, though there's often dissonance between what I think I'd like and reading it in practice.

Overall, it's fine, even though this early standalone Reynolds features most of the problems I tend to have with him. The pacing is sluggish as it takes far too long before its premise is realized. I would've preferred it be a few hundred pages shorter and there are various subplots that could've been omitted. It does however provide for thoughtful consideration, fun speculation, and has generally interesting ideas, even though most of them are mostly in the background. This is the 10th book by Reynolds that I've read, almost all of which I've either read and discussed with others, or at least read at their behest. He's not an author that I would seek out. If I'm asked to read more of him though, I will, because they are sufficiently worthwhile to read and discuss together.

Rating: 3/5