MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

Donnageddon · 09-20-2010, 02:02 AM

I'm glad I caught this thread. At the risk of appearing a numbskull (well that ship has probably already sailed) I have to admit I found it hard to think of ever reading a whole novel written in the present tense. It sounded absurd.

So I wracked my brain trying to think of such a novel I might have read. Then, I thought about novels I should have loved, but felt frustrated by and never finished.

Saturn's Children. This is a novel that hits every note for me. Sexy robots, and solar System exploration. Even the notion of robots (sexy ones at that!) surviving alone after the demise of humanity. It has everything I want in a novel.

But I just could not finish it...

At least now I know why. It is written in present tense. I did not ascribe this fact for my inability to finish it, but now I am sure that is the reason. Stross is an excellent writer, but this book just died on the page for me, and I am certain present tense is what killed it for me.

09-20-2010, 02:02 AM	#27
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	I'm glad I caught this thread. At the risk of appearing a numbskull (well that ship has probably already sailed) I have to admit I found it hard to think of ever reading a whole novel written in the present tense. It sounded absurd. So I wracked my brain trying to think of such a novel I might have read. Then, I thought about novels I should have loved, but felt frustrated by and never finished. Saturn's Children. This is a novel that hits every note for me. Sexy robots, and solar System exploration. Even the notion of robots (sexy ones at that!) surviving alone after the demise of humanity. It has everything I want in a novel. But I just could not finish it... At least now I know why. It is written in present tense. I did not ascribe this fact for my inability to finish it, but now I am sure that is the reason. Stross is an excellent writer, but this book just died on the page for me, and I am certain present tense is what killed it for me.