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City of Diamond
Six centuries ago, the alien Curosa imparted the wisdom of their dying race to Adrian Sawyer and gifted him with three massive intergalactic ships to spread the Curosa Truth across the starways. But now two ships, City of Diamond and City of Opal, have lost their original purpose and struggle for political dominance and the Sawyer Crown.
624 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 29, 2012
I love, love, love this book. I love it so much, that many years after reading it I am still mourning the fact that apparently there is no sequel in the stars. Doris Egan (aka Jane Emerson) seems to have abandoned books permanently in favor of the flickering screen. (Although this probably explains why shows like Smallville and House have been such a success...)
What is it about this book that is so marvelous? For me it's the intricate, fascinating characters that Egan masterfully brings to life. From Adrian, the confident young leader of Diamond, to his sociopath friend Tal, to Tal's warrior by contract, Keylinn (warning: I've listed about 1/8 of the main characters...) they all have depth, personalities, motivations, dilemmas that organically propel the action of the story. Honestly, I have a hard time remembering what actually _happens_, but I know for sure that I burned the midnight to see what these people would do next.
In The City of Diamond, Egan also explores one of my favorite sci fi themes - how different cultures interact and develop, and the prejudices that form vs. the commonalities between people. (Sci-fi is such a great platform for this...)No earth-shattering conclusions, or overly moralistic commentary is made in this book - but it's all very interesting nonetheless.
Well-written, with great dialogue, and oh, did I mention terrific characters? I whole-heartedly recommend reading this book, sequels or no! Incidentally, Egan's other three novels republished together in one volume The Complete Ivory is also fantastic. I sincerely hope that one day (the sooner the better) Doris Egan will get rich, leave Hollywood and return to writing books. And if she starts with the sequels to City of Diamond, even better...
What is it about this book that is so marvelous? For me it's the intricate, fascinating characters that Egan masterfully brings to life. From Adrian, the confident young leader of Diamond, to his sociopath friend Tal, to Tal's warrior by contract, Keylinn (warning: I've listed about 1/8 of the main characters...) they all have depth, personalities, motivations, dilemmas that organically propel the action of the story. Honestly, I have a hard time remembering what actually _happens_, but I know for sure that I burned the midnight to see what these people would do next.
In The City of Diamond, Egan also explores one of my favorite sci fi themes - how different cultures interact and develop, and the prejudices that form vs. the commonalities between people. (Sci-fi is such a great platform for this...)No earth-shattering conclusions, or overly moralistic commentary is made in this book - but it's all very interesting nonetheless.
Well-written, with great dialogue, and oh, did I mention terrific characters? I whole-heartedly recommend reading this book, sequels or no! Incidentally, Egan's other three novels republished together in one volume The Complete Ivory is also fantastic. I sincerely hope that one day (the sooner the better) Doris Egan will get rich, leave Hollywood and return to writing books. And if she starts with the sequels to City of Diamond, even better...
January 7, 2021
Go-to review is Jo Walton's,
http://www.tor.com/2011/07/19/snappy-...
Doris Egan/Jane Emerson, a fine, witty writer, discovered she could make a far better living writing for Hollywood. She's not the first to have noticed that. Hence, this series remains unfinished, 25 years later. She did complete the Ivory series (q.v.), which is first-rate.
Started first reread 1/2/17, off to a slow start....
I did enjoy it on first read, despite the hanging end.
http://www.tor.com/2011/07/19/snappy-...
Doris Egan/Jane Emerson, a fine, witty writer, discovered she could make a far better living writing for Hollywood. She's not the first to have noticed that. Hence, this series remains unfinished, 25 years later. She did complete the Ivory series (q.v.), which is first-rate.
Started first reread 1/2/17, off to a slow start....
I did enjoy it on first read, despite the hanging end.
March 9, 2014
Enjoyed this very much and I wish Egan would write more novels, under any name she wants.
This is a long, loosely plotted, character-driven story. It’s about a group of people who have been living for centuries in huge interstellar spaceships that they refer to as “cities”. It’s soft sci-fi and so there is some serious hand-waving of technology; for instance, their ship’s “flux drive” was presented to them long ago, as a gift with religious overtones, by aliens who then glamorously disappeared.
The society on board the ships is highly stratified, nearly feudal, and they have a repressive pseudo-Christian religion in which the role of Jesus has been replaced with those long-vanished aliens. The religion should have been more interesting, but it isn’t fleshed out very well except to portray it as having the worst aspects of traditional religion (hellfire and damnation, misogyny and persecution of “vices”) without any of the better principles (love your neighbor, take care of the weak).
While the characters are more than interesting enough to float the story, the plot is pretty scattered, and the author doesn't follow up on all of the elements she introduces. In particular, towards the very end of the book there is a significant plot twist that has no time to go anywhere. Maybe she planned to write more books in this universe - maybe she will one day.
This is a long, loosely plotted, character-driven story. It’s about a group of people who have been living for centuries in huge interstellar spaceships that they refer to as “cities”. It’s soft sci-fi and so there is some serious hand-waving of technology; for instance, their ship’s “flux drive” was presented to them long ago, as a gift with religious overtones, by aliens who then glamorously disappeared.
The society on board the ships is highly stratified, nearly feudal, and they have a repressive pseudo-Christian religion in which the role of Jesus has been replaced with those long-vanished aliens. The religion should have been more interesting, but it isn’t fleshed out very well except to portray it as having the worst aspects of traditional religion (hellfire and damnation, misogyny and persecution of “vices”) without any of the better principles (love your neighbor, take care of the weak).
While the characters are more than interesting enough to float the story, the plot is pretty scattered, and the author doesn't follow up on all of the elements she introduces. In particular, towards the very end of the book there is a significant plot twist that has no time to go anywhere. Maybe she planned to write more books in this universe - maybe she will one day.
July 8, 2007
Good solid storytelling. I liked all the main characters, which surprised me because a few of them followed a pattern that usually really, really doesn't work for me -- I'm generally automatically on the side against the charming, amoral dude (see: my fondness for Clark in Smallville, Klaus in From Eroica With Love, etc.; the exception to this is Methos from Highlander, because Methos is hot like burning), but that wasn't a problem here. I suppose it was 'cos I didn't really believe they would do anything to alienate my readerly affections, so I was perfectly happy to luxuriate in my liking of them. Possibly I am wrong to think so. Won't know till the next book is out.
I do hope there'll be a sequel some day. I would like to read the next books even if it is highly unlikely that there'll be NC-17 scenes of Hartley and Will gettin' it on.
Character I ended up liking more than I expected to in the beginning: Spider
Character I liked less than I thought I would: Iolanthe
I do hope there'll be a sequel some day. I would like to read the next books even if it is highly unlikely that there'll be NC-17 scenes of Hartley and Will gettin' it on.
Character I ended up liking more than I expected to in the beginning: Spider
Character I liked less than I thought I would: Iolanthe
July 22, 2021
This is an excellent space opera full of intriguing characters, superb world-building, and political intrigue.
These characters jumped from the pages and never bored me with misplaced motivations or actions.
There are touches of noir, especially with Tal and Hartley. Keylinn's background adds so much to the greater picture of the universe. Even the short amount of time with Diamond's ghosts add layers of humanity to this ark starship in efficient detail. I loved the sense that we just don't know what most of these characters are willing to do or what they are truly seeking.
Egan has a great ability for writing multiple perspectives while keeping the main plot moving along nicely.
I hope she does continue this series at some point because she created an enigma with the Curosa. I would love to see it played out!
These characters jumped from the pages and never bored me with misplaced motivations or actions.
There are touches of noir, especially with Tal and Hartley. Keylinn's background adds so much to the greater picture of the universe. Even the short amount of time with Diamond's ghosts add layers of humanity to this ark starship in efficient detail. I loved the sense that we just don't know what most of these characters are willing to do or what they are truly seeking.
Egan has a great ability for writing multiple perspectives while keeping the main plot moving along nicely.
I hope she does continue this series at some point because she created an enigma with the Curosa. I would love to see it played out!
Want to read
April 17, 2022Jess loves it. Find a reason to tell her she's wrong :)
September 22, 2010
I recently re-read this. Initially, I wasn't sure what to say about it. Now I think I am. I would say that this isn't exactly idea-oriented science fiction. It's more character- and setting-driven. And many of the characters are quite interesting. The author is one of the writers for House, and I suspect that we won't see the sequel for some time, if ever.
Also, history geeks will enjoy the quotes that begin each chapter.
Also, history geeks will enjoy the quotes that begin each chapter.
January 10, 2009
First of a never-completed trilogy by Doris Egan under a pseudonymn. Would've given it five stars if she'd completed the trilogy, since the book ends with several plotlines intended for the sequel.
September 1, 2011
About as perfect as world-building can get. I wish she would take a break from writing House and Torchwood and write the other two books in the series.
April 21, 2012
i know it doesn't pay as well as writing for telly, but please, Ms Egan, won't you write the sequels?
May 22, 2020
i both love and hate this book.
It is very well written, with a fascinating setting and interesting characters. That's the good bit. The bad bit is that it is book 1 of a trilogy and the other 2 books were never written. I will never know what happens and it is so frustrating.
It is very well written, with a fascinating setting and interesting characters. That's the good bit. The bad bit is that it is book 1 of a trilogy and the other 2 books were never written. I will never know what happens and it is so frustrating.
August 17, 2022
I wanted to like this book because I really loved some of this authors books under a different author name. I just struggled to get into this one. Not sure why. I don't really have any complains, I just felt like this one dragged.
September 30, 2022
An interesting episode in a strange world
January 29, 2013
I loved this book right up until I stopped, which unfortunately was about two thirds of the way through. At a certain point, I realized I wasn't really sure what was the larger picture of the book was, and although I liked a lot of these characters and and was enjoying following them around through a really well-built setting, the plot didn't seem to be progressing at any great rate and I eventually lost interest. Go read the author's Ivory books (under the name Doris Egan) - I think they balance the appealing characteristics and fun worldbuilding with a stronger plot, particularly the first of the three.
December 15, 2007
Fascinating characters, political intrigue, and a fair amount of humour. After I finished it I wanted to read the next volume, City of Opal, straight away -- unfortunately it seems never to have been published. Still recommended; it doesn't precisely end on a cliffhanger.
Emerson also writes under the name Doris Egan.
Emerson also writes under the name Doris Egan.
June 10, 2008
Very frustrating, the start of something so good which just never got finished. I really enjoyed this first volume, and it just stops here, with several plot threads dangling and no more is coming. Not sure if I should recommend it since the book is far from self contained. But so much fun, and I did enjoy the universe very much. I do want those sequels!
May 1, 2009
I'm not usually into sci-fi books, but I really enjoyed this one. The characters are fascinating, and I really came to enjoy several of them. The plot is not as amazaing as the characters, however it is still pretty good.
I only wish the author had completed the trilogy.
I only wish the author had completed the trilogy.
September 5, 2010
A very unusual science fiction series. I've heard hints of sequels but I have never seen them. Oh well. This one is pretty darn good as far as world building goes, without silly characters, and actual religion in SF which is pretty unusual. It's a keeper.
May 13, 2008
I am usually not a sci-fi person but I enjoyed this one. I found the political byplay utterly believable. Good read.
Want to read
June 24, 2009This book is by a writer for "House," written under a pen name:
http://io9.com/5301682/house-producer...
http://io9.com/5301682/house-producer...
August 5, 2015
I hope that Doris Egan takes a sabbatical from Hollywood and writes a sequel already! Come on, just do it for your fans.
April 10, 2017
We are following the stories of several persons - most of them human, some of them less so, all of them with their own agendas, ambitions, loyalities and (literally) demons - that interact in a far future. Mostly on two of three large space ships, each of them the size of an enormous city. Which were built centuries ago by an alien race so that humans could assist in spreading their philosophy/religion in the universe. But which are now operating at a time when this mission and the relationship between the cities has degraded into rivalry, plotting and scheming, mutual accusations of heresy and sometimes even war. All happening before the backdrop of a slowly progressing civil war between the Empire and the Republic, trying to wrestle for control about those parts of the populated universe not shaped like a ship or cleverly hidden in plain sight to host a secret society of scholarly persons who like to dance, drink and fight a lot.
Given the rather complex premise, it is astonishing how natural all the information is delivered to the reader, slowly but very elegantly. And always delivering two more questions for any that is answered.
Then there are the characters: the main ones like Adrian, Io, Will, Hart, Spider, Keylinn and Tal who we luckily get to follow quite closely.
But also the many side- and minor characters that are interesting and would deserve their own stories to be told in much greater detail, like for example a particularly cynical six year old princess who challenges thieves on playing a game of hotem if they want to get their bounty, the ghosts that dwell on the decks below G and are not half as crazy as their leader, witches that provide healing and reconstructive surgery if you do not mind the religious taboo of consulting with them, torturers who like their torture chambers nice and tidy, ... . The list would go on and on and would, eventually, have to be about as long as the book.
And yet there is one thing that is slightly wrong with the book: there is no sequel (and not terribly much hope to get one at this point), leaving us with a beautifully arranged set of open ends, a bunch of protagonists and antagonists which we started to care a lot for over the course of the story, questions and fantasies abound about what might happen in the future. But no way to find out what would happen next.
As such, it's a bittersweet experience to finish this great book
Given the rather complex premise, it is astonishing how natural all the information is delivered to the reader, slowly but very elegantly. And always delivering two more questions for any that is answered.
Then there are the characters: the main ones like Adrian, Io, Will, Hart, Spider, Keylinn and Tal who we luckily get to follow quite closely.
But also the many side- and minor characters that are interesting and would deserve their own stories to be told in much greater detail, like for example a particularly cynical six year old princess who challenges thieves on playing a game of hotem if they want to get their bounty, the ghosts that dwell on the decks below G and are not half as crazy as their leader, witches that provide healing and reconstructive surgery if you do not mind the religious taboo of consulting with them, torturers who like their torture chambers nice and tidy, ... . The list would go on and on and would, eventually, have to be about as long as the book.
And yet there is one thing that is slightly wrong with the book: there is no sequel (and not terribly much hope to get one at this point), leaving us with a beautifully arranged set of open ends, a bunch of protagonists and antagonists which we started to care a lot for over the course of the story, questions and fantasies abound about what might happen in the future. But no way to find out what would happen next.
As such, it's a bittersweet experience to finish this great book
Read
February 14, 2018I liked it (pretty much all of the POV characters were compelling), but I feel like I might need to reread to fully appreciate all of the worldbuilding - between strange religions, futuristic technology, aliens, and clashing societies, I probably missed a few details on my first pass.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews