Roundtable: Ian McDonald's Developing Economies Stories
Karen Burnham
Does anyone have any final thoughts to wrap things up?
Paul Graham Raven
I think I’m all out of clever stuff to say, really, beyond reiterating my belief that McDonald is one of the most important British writers of sf working at the moment. Great storytelling, exciting ideas, and an enviable mastery of language as a musical instrument; what more could you ask for, really?
Lou Anders
I’d only say that it’s an honor to work with one of the finest writers of science fiction in the field.
Fabio Fernandes
I would add that it’s wonderful to live in this day and age, in all its blooming diversity, with Ian McDonald at the vanguard of a truly global science fiction.
(I do think some of the arguments are based on uncharitable [and in my view, unsupported] readings of this essay.)
Thanks for saying that, Rachel. I totally agree – although as to the gender politics (and I haven’t read The Windup Girl yet, just a lot of his short fiction), I’m not sure they still aren’t troubling.
And thanks to all for an interesting discussion of one of my favourite authors!
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Very interesting discussion. I wish there’d have been time to explore this theme of “exoticism” (particularly from Fabio’s novella description of “the city is not much of a character in the story” and that the setting is more or less a more generic near future city rather than an attempt to confront the reader with “exotic” Sao Paolo). On the theme of “getting some non-fiction in my literary fiction” — I like this idea. Thanks for a good roundtable!
“Chaga” (aka “Evolution’s Shore”) is another, and earlier, Mcdonald novel, set mainly in Kenya. It’s really good, although perhaps the author’s style shows less streamlining than in “River of Gods”, and with a well-rounded main character.
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