Customer Reviews

The Burning City

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

Unlike Ms. Bartholomew, I found the book charming and quite a bit of fun. And that is how it was written, I believe; somewhat tongue-in-cheek, a fun romp through someone else's garden.

I don't really care that the main themes harken to our own era and Los Angeles's particular peculiarities; it makes for an interesting arc and wrap-up. The characters are intriguing and not overblown; for example, when was the last time a magician character had actual flaws and had to be helped, instead of just being the deus ex machina to pull the hero's chestnuts out of the fire? Gandalf? These characters all have flaws, as well as admirable attributes, making them well-rounded. By the time you finish the book, you want to follow their adventures some more.

If you're reading The Burning City to find the child of Tolkien, you won't be happy. If you take it on it's own merits (instead of grinding a personal axe, as a couple other reader-reviewers obviously have), the book is as good a new fantasy read as you're likely to see this year.

Okay, it's not the Mote in God's Eye. But after all, it's set in a universe that's already been covered with quite a few stories, so it CAN'T have the shock of newness that Mote had. But it's quite an enjoyable story. Yes, it has cool insider references that may annoy some readers and elude others (but so did "Jurgen") but the story stands on its own. What, you read a story of heroic myth and coming-of-age and your disappointed because it fits the genre? I just don't understand these other reviews. I think that most Niven and Pournelle readers will enjoy it. I know I did.

In America today, there seems to be a misconception, that Science Fiction is for children. TO correct that, Science Fiction is not for children, it for anyone who would like to take a look at future possibilities. Sometimes you have to go to the past, or in this case a Mythical one. BURNING CITY does this.

Set 50 years after the sinking of Atlantis on a Major continent half a world away, there is a city that burns itself every few years. A culture of rigidly set societal levels that is strikingly somewhat like those seen in cities today, exists in an almost frightening mirror of what urban life could easily become.

This book is an exploration into the possible and perhaps Probable of urban life as we know it and invites the reader to explore their own attitudes towards what can and cannot be tolerated.

In a satirical vein, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle take a HARD look at where we could easily be going and offer some hope.

If you like Social Commentary wrapped in a whacking good adventure story, complete with rites of passage and fascinating detail, you will enjoy BURNING CITY.

I read it, I liked it, I will reread it to see what I missed the first time through.

Frank Gasperik

Niven and Pournelle have written some of the best science fiction and fantasy there is. I share the late Robert Heinlein's opinion that "The Mote in God's Eye" might be the finest single "pure" science fiction novel ever written. It's an unsurpassed First Contact novel. "Footfall" is an excellent "alien invasion" book. Even "Inferno," which marked Niven's descent into extended travel brochures instead of novels, was fun.

This novel is set in Niven's "The Magic Goes Away" universe and, boy, has the magic gone away. There is little in the story to recommend. The society in which events occur is implausible. The flaws that underpin "mana" as a limited resource for magic stand out like Las Vegas neon. The rigrous logic and plot development that used to be the mark of Niven and Pournelle's work is mostly missing. You may not believe this, but the book is difficult to read. Ponderous and polemic by turns; it's a serious disappointment.

I think I'll re-read "Mote" to get the taste of this out of my mouth and restore my high opinion of these authors.

It must be difficult to write fantasy as science fiction, to address fantasy situations with the same intellectual rigor found in quality science fiction. Done right-- the way Niven & Pournelle do it-- it's a real treat.

_The Burning City_ takes place on Earth, but long ago when the gods still lived and magic still worked. Magic was a science then, and gods were all men needed of government.

Like government today, the god of the Burning City is unknowable and unpredictable. Life in the Burning City is difficult and often all too short for some, luxurious and long for others. Even the wealthiest there have problems of their own to worry about, however, and even the poorest have opportunities to excel-- or escape.

The worst thing about living in the Burning City is the burning. Every so often, the god of fire that controls the city allows part of it to burn. The burnings were once almost festive, but over time they become darker (so to speak), more dangerous.

Enter our hero, who gets caught-- repeatedly-- in conflicts among the social classes and their god. These conflicts and his responses to them form the core of a great story.

Niven & Pournelle have woven assorted subplots into the mix, as they always do; _The Burning City_ is a big book like their earlier collaborations.

It's not a very dynamic book, though there are some great action scenes. The authors have put more work into character development than they've done in some previous books, and I like that.

The book still moves along well, but includes messages along with the motion. This may not be to everyone's taste, but Niven & Pournelle are good at it. You probably won't even notice most of this higher-level content the first time you read the book.

Fortunately this book is worth a second read, and maybe more than that. It reminds me most clearly of _Oath of Fealty_, though the plots and characters in the two books are radically different. Both are (at least in part) about how individuals relate to each other and to the society in which they live-- a popular topic for these authors and many others.

_Oath of Fealty_ is my favorite Niven & Pournelle book, and _The Burning City_ may well rank right up there with it. I'll know better after I've read it a few more times. If you'll excuse me...

I seldom review books, but felt I had to add my two cents in favor of this recent Niven/Pournelle collaboration. I hate it when people don't say anything about the book itself, but choose instead to compare it to other books. No, it isn't The Mote In God's Eye--few books are that superb. But The Burning City is a very good coming-of-age story, with several nice touches involving coherent magic, well planned world building, and strong character development. I especially appreciate the last, which another reviewer seemed to think was of little account.

The parallels with modern society did not detract at all from my enjoyment, rather the reverse--I did not find it heavy handed or moralistic.

So--the basic story revolves around one Whandall Placehold, a Lordkin "gatherer" (thief) who gradually learns to reject the values of his culture. The scene in which he casually participates in a rape, contrasted with a later scene when he saves the Ropewalker/Miller children nicely delineates his disenchantment with his lot in life. Whandall sets off with the children he rescues, finds a new life, and, of course, must come full circle. A number of excellent characters contribute to Whandall's development: his Placehold "gang", especially his brother; the Lordkin self styled Lord Pelzed; the Lord child Shanda; the magician Morth of Atlantis; Kettle Belly of the Bison Clan; and of course, the Kinless (low class) girl, Willow Ropewalker.

The quality of writing is excellent, the story well developed, the characters engaging and well rounded, the "ambiance" interesting and enjoyable. I wish I had a fantasy/SF book this good to read every month

I have to admit that I was initially reluctant to purchase this book, as it did not appear to be the kind of story I normally like. But, since Niven and Pournelle have never disappointed before, I gave it a shot. I'm glad I did! The setting of the story was well done (ancient, but still recognizable). The story was engaging and entertaining, with believable and interesting characters. Even more remarkable, they managed to present the idea of a society based on magic in such a logical and believable manner. (As well done as Heinlien's stories Waldo and Magic Incorporated)

I tripped over this book in a second hand bookstore bargain bin and figured "hey, if it's Niven and Pournelle it can't be bad."

When I got home and read the synopisis I realised it was fantasy, and not their usual sci-fi. I was gutted, and almost didn't read it.

But I gave it a go, and it turned out to be a really refreshing read. If you forget what Niven and Pournelle are famous for and drop all your assumptions at the door, you will be pleasantly surprised. If you are expecting "The Mote in God's Eye" or "Ringworld" you will be disappointed.

The Burning City explores the uneasy life in a City ruled by lords who remain as separate and distant from the populace as they can. Below the Lords are the defeated populace of the original city - the Kinless - who do all the work, and the Lordkin. The Lordkin are the people who put the Lords in power, fighters, but not tradesmen or farmers. They live like parasites off the Kinless. They roam in gangs, stealing, fighting with each other for territory, and dying young. They drink wine and take drugs and then set the city on fire.

So, things in LA haven't changed much since the end of the last Ice age. :) In the World of Niven and Pournelle you have a mirror of modern society. A small elite class (Beverly Hills = Lords), a productive middle class (Citizens = Kinless) and an underclass (Gangs = Lordkin) who all live in an uneasy stasis. Enter Rodney King - or the Fire God - and things explode.

I know this book has been lashed by some, but I found it a really good and very enjoyable read. It is a clever satire on modern SoCal society.

There is no doubt that Larry Neven and Jerry Pournelle are two extremely talented writers that have demonstrated they can work magic together. THE BURNING CITY isn't in the same class as THE MOTE IN GODS EYE but after a slow start it turns out to be a fairly entertaining little story.

Be warned though it does start slow, very slow. It is worth struggling through the first couple of hundred of pages, although sometimes you have to wonder.

The land they create is in our distant past where magic is still viable, gods aren't just myth and Atlantis is real, or at least it was until its destroyed. The characters and their culture are unique and sometimes bizarre but once you get accustom to them interesting and enjoyable to follow.

Not their best but there is a lot worst. I RECOMMED it but be advised it does take some work on the readers part to get past the initial groundwork they lay and into the meat of the story.

After reading all of Niven and Pournelle's collaborations over the years I was excited to see this book on the shelf. Unfortunately, there just isn't much to this book. The theme of the story is an obvious attempt to introduce social commentary about our present-day society, which is fine, but it just wasn't interesting. No profound thoughts are shared and there are no plot twists to keep you hanging on. It's very predictable and the characters forgettable.

In fact, the entire story can be read in the first 3 paragraphs of Amazon's editorial review. All other details are superfluous.

Maybe they were just due a mediocre one. They've had so many that were phenomenal.