Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
I thought I'd mention, I'm about 1/4 of the way through listening to "Containment," by Christian Cantrell (which I found free thanks to THIS POST. Thanks again, MR!)
I'm enjoying it so far, and it is make effective use of this non-linear technique (I guess that term makes more sense...I'll reserve 'temporal discontinuity' for the jarring effect I get from POOR non-linear narrative....).
The book starts with a character in a hospital recovering from surgery, the goes back and forth between the hospital, previous events, and also to historical exposition.
There are no special devices used (in the audiobook, at least) like flash back indicators, or datelines, or changes of voice or background. But it's not been confusing or jarring at all so far. It's not a 'gimmicky' use, like Memento, or Pulp Fiction. Merely two story threads, which I expect will eventually converge, plus the exposition. It's very well done.
NFI.
ApK |
So I recommend 'Containment' to my wife, as it's not terribly hard scifi, and I thought she'd like the story.
She didn't. There were a couple things she found unsatisfying, but the main thing: "All that jumping around in time was confusing. I couldn't keep track of what was going on."
Oh well. Can't please everyone, I guess. I still liked it.
