The Fractal Prince

I'm not good at doing traditional reviews. My mind is too parallel and my thoughts on work too tangled. So instead of doing a review, I'm going to vomit up my thoughts on The Fractal Prince cause PEEPS NEED TO KNOW.The Fractal Prince is the most important science fiction book of 2012 in the same way that The Quantum Thief was of 2011. Hannu Rajaniemi is the most important science fiction writer since Gene Wolfe was forged from the primordial godfire and gifted unto us, and his first series is the most important series since The Book of the New Sun. Yes, you read that correctly. I'm not being hyperbolic about this either. You only need to read his excellent short (set in the same universe) "The Server and the Dragon" to recognize the depth of genius this young man has. I mean it is good. As a reader, it melts your brain with its depth and complexity. As a writer, it's intimidating just to imagine someone writing it.Fractal Prince improves on the almost near-perfect Quantum Thief in almost every way. The characters are deeper; the settings more wild; the plot more complex; the themes more abundant. Fractal Prince uses multiple POVs, multiple types of POV, multiple tenses, nonlinearity of main plots, an Inception-level of stories within stories, and the prose of a Nobel laureate to paint a vivid, concrete dreamland of a post-Singularity Solar System. Living representations of code and mathematical formulae obfuscate the meatspace reality from the far more real spimescape and virtual realms that populate the system. The concept of a "gray goo scenario" is twisted and explored to a conclusion that no one could for-see. There is also a heavy influence of The Arabian Nights, somewhat reflecting the influence of neo-noir on Quantum Thief.It would be false to say that the main theme is identity, although it's the closest words can express. Whether it's the morality of creating a million slave-copies of yourself only to feed them to a ravenous digital virus or occupying the mind of others, Fractal Prince really messes with your sense of who's who, right up to the final pages of the book.The difference between these books and the other "Hard" science fiction books being published is that Hannu has created a future that is at once plausible and whimsical, extrapolated from our modern world in a very realistic way. However, even as I look around and think about when these concepts will come to pass, I can only help thinking that when (and I do mean when) some transhuman in the year 2500 downloads the thoughtform of this book into their diamond mind, they'll also wonder when these miracles will come to pass. He has made a future-proof science fiction novel, which I didn't believe possible.In The Fractal Prince doesn't win every major genre award next year, I will be incredibly disappointed. Genre needs to wake up and be smacked in the face by what these books have accomplished. They are brave and innovative and beautiful and hopeful. They are helping to fix everything that's wrong with genre literature, and yes, they're difficult reads, but that's what makes it worth it. They don't look back like so many genre books (including many award winners) providing homage after allusion after trope; they don't have a thousand references to Asimov and Clarke and Heinlein; they don't poke fun at cliche, nor delve into that shallow well that is satire. This series has torn science fiction apart and is serving to remake it in its own image. Let's hope that the community will allow it to succeed.In the most succinct way I can put it, the writing of Hannu Rajaniemi leaves all other science fiction impotent. Now go read while I nurse a serious case of post-book depression.

First up, it burns me that the Kindle version of this novel cost MORE than the hardcover version! Crazy stuff...Equally crazy - but in a good way - is Rajaniemi's follow up to his outstanding " The Quantum Thief ".Now I won't pretend that I understood everything that was going on, or was able to visualise everything from Rajaniemi's fecund imagination, but this is a top notch 'wheels within wheels' sci-fi thriller that combines cutting edge technology concepts with the ages old Persian legend of Hezar-afsana, or the "Thousand Myths".It is a sequel to "The Quantum Thief" and while some aspects are retold (fortunately, Rajaniemi has the story teller gift and manages to indirectly infuse critical elements without you feeling that you are rehashing a previous novel) you should read "The Quantum Thief" before you launch into "The Fractal Prince".And if you have already read "The Quantum Thief" then you know what to expect - warring metaminds running on q dot substrates the size of planets; uploaded humans who jealously guard their immortality; made to order military spec bodies with relexes to shame a clowder of cats; and the thread that holds it all together, a very canny thief who is the very embodiment of the ghost in the machine.If you haven't read "The Quantum Thief" and all this sounds like good stuff, rest assured that it is.So I'm waxing lyrical, but still, there were some niggling aspects to "The Fratcal Prince".I personally don't like novels that bounce between first person and third person perspective. Rajaniemi does a much better job than most, but it seems to be cheating to me, when the author literally steps out of a character to provide that God-like narrative viewpoint.And I really, really, really did find it hard to conceptualise/visualise much of what is going on, esp. on Earth where the very land itself has been transformed into dreaming nanomachines that need to be tamed using a digital version of the magical powers of naming. In this aspect the style reminded me of a China Miéville novel, with its flowing prose and anthiesis of technology being deployed. (And I'll happily admit that my imagination is lacking here, because my failings should not put anyone off.)Still, this is a novel of such depth that it will reveal more of itself with each read, and there are precious few like that these days. It is rich, and wide and thought provoking and if you like being challenged as much as entertained by a book, then "The Fractal Prince" is one to buy.

An outstanding read, Hannu takes current digital trends and warps and pushes them to the edge of, well I cant even think of a word that does it justice and then wraps it all round a loveable but fallible hero. Avatars, wearable tech, bionics, they are all here and referenced to by the characters in a way that of course you would if they were an integral part of your daily life.His vision of what could be looks like a modern day Arabian nights complete with magic and he is mercilessly unforgiving, don't read this if you like being spoon-fed, you are left to work it all out for your self and as you read what is at first baffling becomes slowly clear. While reading it I remembered Arthur C Clarke who said "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and that was something of a breakthrough moment for me.I absolutely loved it, I haven't been this excited about a book (well, this one and the preceding related book, Quantum Thief by Hannu) since I discovered Jon Courtenay Grimwood.I think this book is going to be one of those that I return to again and again and always get something new.

I was hugely excited by vol 1, The Quantum Thief. I thought that only 3 other books had opened things up for me like this one did: ( they are, Gibson's Neuromancer, Robson's Natural History and Stross's Accelerando). So when this came I jumped at it but was disappointed - at first ! I did not finish it the first time. I realised that I was not smart enough to read it and get my head around the story. Then I was angry, thinking the author could have made a bit mor effort to help out a slow-coach like me. But I persevered and finished it, and very glad I did too. There are some fascinating ideas here well clothed in literary skill. I like the ideas part of my brain being pushed as well as the entertainment receptor enjoying a good story. This delivers plenty of both. I am still left with a nagging sense that I did not fully 'get' all that was happening - I still need a spoiler! But I would advise all to keep on because there is a big richness here worth exploring . . . . And vol 3 is due soon . . .

An absolute tour de force of inventiveness.Fascinating worlds, beautifully rich technology and great characterisation makes the Fractal Prince into a must read.You'll need a little patience at first, but stick with the somewhat disorienting lore and language and you'll be richly rewarded. As the texture and subtlety of this well-realised reality gradually reveals itself you'll be gripped, swept up in the journey and completely immersed in the almost magical technology.In fact, because it is so seamlessly stitched into the lives of the people we're following, you soon understand why Rajaniemi doesn't just explain it - that would break the reality of the world he's created.Get hold of this and dive in.

The Fractal Prince is interesting, but sometimes difficult to read. It leans heavily on extending current digital concepts into a future space, and you are never quite sure if some of the analogies work...but they provoke thought! I also found it difficult to follow some of the names used, this might be my own dyslexia, or just the writer choosing bizarre names that I find impossible to pronounce. I think there is a hint on this in the authers name, obviously not from Wales I would guess. It makes the writing tough goping at times, but it is worth sticking with, as now and again some very original ideas pop up and suprise you.

Brilliant book and one of the best SF series of the last 30 years. Imaginative and detailed with worldbuilding and detail to die for. Its only flaw is that the author assumes you understand everything from quantum computing to 19th century Russian mysticism. I love that sort of thing personally but its only on about the fifth read i feel i actually understand the plot. Just a glossary and a couple of maps would make it easier, and probably get enough readers to give it the respect it deserves. Having said that i know i will re read the three books at least once a year and get something new from them.