The Quantum Thief

by Hannu Rajaniemi | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: 0575088885 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Nell-Lu of Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on 7/27/2011
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9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Nell-Lu from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Thief Jean le Flambeur is rescued from the Dilemma Prison by the mysterious Mieli and her talking spaceship, incurring a debt that can only be repaid in a moving city on Mars. A conspiracy-thriller-heist ensues, incorporating costumed vigilantes, a detective and various gods.

Rajaniemi employs his neologisms without explanation. Some are obvious (I love "millenniaire" -- someone wealthy in a culture where time is money), some less so. It makes The Quantum Thief slow to get into, but allows the reader to play detective. The elaboration of privacy technology "gevulot" is almost, but not quite, as interesting as the page-turning plot.

Nominated for the 2011 Locus Award for Best First Novel.

Guardian interview with Hannu, 9 Nov 2010.

Bookring participants August 2011-September 2012:
Elsiah, US (US preferred, Int if needed)
carelaisa, Canada (Canada/USA ONLY)
TomHl , US (Int) -- looking to be near the top of the list
PJLBewdy, Australia (Int)
Jean-Sol, Australia (Int)
candy-is-dandy, UK (Int)
kiyoitsukikage, UK (Int)
starflash, UK (UK/EU)
Back with Nell-Lu in Scotland

Journal Entry 2 by Nell-Lu at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (8/24/2011 UTC) at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom

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The Quantum Thief is on its way to New Orleans, by surface mail. Happy reading everyone!

Journal Entry 3 by Elsiah at New Orleans, Louisiana USA on Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The book has arrived! I can't wait to get started!

Journal Entry 4 by Elsiah at New Orleans, Louisiana USA on Monday, October 31, 2011
I've fallen a bit behind on my reading. My senior year of college has me completely swamped. I'd like to hold onto this for another month, and if I still haven't finished it then I'll send it along. Thanks!

Update 11.29.11: I'm so sorry, but now I'm completely sucked into this book and cannot stop! I can only catch 10 minutes of reading here or there, but it's fantastic. I'm so so sorry for causing further delay. I've resolved to not join anymore rings or rays until after graduation so this will not happen again. I will definitely have this finished over my winter break.

Journal Entry 5 by Elsiah at New Orleans, Louisiana USA on Saturday, December 17, 2011
What a fascinating read! The way that Rajaniemi throws his readers into his world without much explanation of the tech may throw some readers off. But, once you get a feel for how the Oubliette works, it's quite exciting. What's more, Rajaniemi's storytelling is on par with his imagination. It's a great adventure through his universe.

Thanks for sharing, Nell-Lu. I'll send this along to carelaisa soon.

Journal Entry 6 by Elsiah at New Orleans, Louisiana USA on Thursday, December 22, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (12/22/2011 UTC) at New Orleans, Louisiana USA

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I had to wait until I came home for the holidays, but the book is finally on its way. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 7 by carelaisa at Québec, Québec Canada on Sunday, January 1, 2012
Got the book yesterday!

Looks like a nice read... will get to it after I finished the 2 books I have just started -- it shouldn't take too long for me to read it and pass it along :)

Journal Entry 8 by carelaisa at Québec, Québec Canada on Monday, January 23, 2012
Finally, I finished reading it!!

It’s a remarkable debut from this author, a very well written story. I had, though, a hard time getting the story and its context mainly because it’s pure science-fiction and it’s not my favourite genre. Maybe I would have liked it more if it were less sci-fi and more crime/thriller. Still, the universe created here is well developed and leaves place to learn more as the characters have all a story that deserve to be explored. To be read for those who love science-fiction novels; for the others, you can read it if you want to discover a new genre.

Now, I do have TomHl address so I will send the book this week. I will update this entry to let know on which day it has started the next leg of its journey.

EDIT: the book has been mailed to TomHl on Jan26th, via airmail. It should be there quite soon!!

Journal Entry 9 by TomHl at Pewaukee, Wisconsin USA on Thursday, February 2, 2012
I came home from work today to find this book has arrived. I am currently in the middle of Die Haarteppichknüpfer, and I expect that will take me some more weeks to finish - so I will just finish the next chapter, and then jump the The Quantum Thief. Thanks to Nell-Lu for launching the bookring, and thanks to carelaisa for sending it to me.

Journal Entry 10 by TomHl at Pewaukee, Wisconsin USA on Monday, February 13, 2012
There is a quote on the front cover of this book in which Charles Stross calls this "the next big thing in hard sf". Well, I disagree with that classification. There is plenty of the language of quantum mechanics here, but Rajaniemi uses it in a way I would liken close to magic. In fact, large portions of the post-human society here remind me most of Michael Moorcock's Dancers at the End of Time. So I call this science fantasy rather than hard sf. Probably you could also make an argument for space opera, with the larger-than-life portrayal of the legendary thief Jean le Flambeur.

This is an extremely imaginative creation, that just never stops throwing new concepts. That said, I have to admit that I found a lot of the characters indistinguishable, and secondary to the drive to continuously stress the reader with new understandings of what has been going on. So, a great challenge to read (I like that), but not so good from a purely entertainment point of view. It will be interesting to see what Rajameini does next.

This book traveled with me to Maho Bay on St. John Island in the US Virgin Islands where I read it in an "eco-cottage" built into the upper forestation on the side of a bluff overlooking the bay. It did not, however, accompany me on my numerous coral reef snorkeling adventures.

Journal Entry 11 by TomHl at Pewaukee, Wisconsin USA on Thursday, February 16, 2012

Released 12 yrs ago (2/16/2012 UTC) at Pewaukee, Wisconsin USA

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The book was posted today from the Pewaukee Post Office to PJLBewdy in Australia. It was send "First Class Mail International Parcel", and should be delivered in approximately ten days.

Journal Entry 12 by PJLBewdy at Smiths Lake, New South Wales Australia on Friday, February 24, 2012
Received today - thanks for sharing.
Looking forward to reading this book.

Journal Entry 13 by PJLBewdy at Smiths Lake, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Rajaniemi holds up a whole new universe for us to behold and it is entertaining and quite fascinating. While I'm not sorry that I read this book I'm afraid it doesn't pass the 'I wish it would never end' test. I was, in fact, quite pleased to finish reading it. The reader is asked to absorb new concepts at a taxing rate and it can be tiring - maybe don't try to get it all in one book?

Journal Entry 14 by PJLBewdy at Smiths Lake, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, March 4, 2012

Released 12 yrs ago (3/5/2012 UTC) at Smiths Lake, New South Wales Australia

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This book will now make its way South on the next leg of its travels

Journal Entry 15 by wingJean-Solwing at Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Sunday, March 11, 2012
The book arrived a few days ago, sorry for not registering it earlier and thanks for PJLBewdy for sending it. I have a couple of books ahead of this one then I'll get on to it. It sounds very intriguing and I'm looking forward to it.

Journal Entry 16 by wingJean-Solwing at Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Saturday, April 14, 2012
I finished this book over Easter. I'm not a sci-fi fan at all but now and again the genre surprises me. This was one instance. What probably did it for me was the Arsene Lupin theme, complete with character names and hints to Lupin plots.I was a massive Lupin fan in my early teens and still have all the books on my bookshelf. It's a very impressive work of creation, well written and full of humour. I can't wait to read the next instalment!

In the meantime I have been PMing the next person on the list and awaiting a reply.

Journal Entry 17 by wingJean-Solwing at Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (4/26/2012 UTC) at Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia

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This book is leaving Australia and on its way to the UK. Happy travels!

Journal Entry 18 by candy-is-dandy at Braintree, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, May 3, 2012
Arrived safely in the northern hemisphere. Thanks.

Looks interesting though rather hard work for someone with a rusty scientific brain.

Journal Entry 19 by candy-is-dandy at Braintree, Essex United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
It's so long since I read any science fiction that I really struggled to get my head around this book. I enjoyed bits of it but then couldn't understand vocabulary or concepts and felt rather lost. I'm sure it is very good if I had time to settle into it but life is so hectic at the moment that I can't read more than a few pages at a time which hasn't helped with the flow.

I've contacted the next in line and will pass it on. Thanks for sharing.

Released 11 yrs ago (6/12/2012 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

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Sent to the next recipient of this bookring

Journal Entry 21 by kiyoitsukikage at Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Received, thank you!

Journal Entry 22 by kiyoitsukikage at Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Just an update to say sorry for the delay, I have started but unfortunately a few things got in between. :( I will try to finish as quickly as I can.

Journal Entry 23 by kiyoitsukikage at Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, August 9, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (8/10/2012 UTC) at Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom

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FInally finished! I'm sorry again for falling behind.

The book was a bit difficult to get into at first, but once I did, I really enjoyed it, all the technology described/involved and the mysterious Revolution...

Thank you for sharing! The book has been sent on.

Journal Entry 24 by starflash at Redhill, Surrey United Kingdom on Friday, August 17, 2012
Collected at work on my return today. I'm halfway through a book at the moment, this will be my holiday read first week of September.



16.9.12

I just can't get on with this. I'm at page 100 and it's still a chore. I don't think its particularly well structured and life is too short not to enjoy what I'm reading. Appreciate you including me but this one isn't for me. I will move it on this week.

Journal Entry 25 by Nell-Lu at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The Quantum Thief just arrived back in Edinburgh, its envelope in tatters, within a plastic bag printed with an apology from the Royal Mail. I was worried... but the book is in great shape.

Thanks, everyone, for taking part in this bookring. I'm going to keep this copy in my permanent collection.

By the way, sequel The Fractal Prince was published this month in the UK.

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