Sumptuous jewel: two words to summarize a unique reading experience, which I go upside. In the background: the near future, a world ravaged by genetically engineered diseases, which have an energy crash curl civilizations within their borders (psychological and geographical). World trade collapsed and the world is no longer directed by a few "producers calories." So much for the concept, but there is so much in this book. So much more. The author (American) could have fallen in ease and take to a stage collapsed America. But no: the action takes place in Thailand and the scenery is just as much time, and environmental and societal. We discover, stunned, a Thai company returned by the force of circumstances to its traditions and Paolo Bacigalupi plunges us deep with a huge talent. He had the brilliant idea to sprinkle his narrative of words in Thai language, not translated, but so well-rooted in the narrative, we understand what it means. Again, change of scenery. And what about the characters: complex, far from Manichaeism, ambivalent and profound. A wonderfully written story, which should delight fans of realistic science fiction, with a true story that holds up. Maybe not easy to plunge at first, but once immersed, we swim in happiness. A book having won the prestigious Locus award for best first novel of 2009. Note superb coverage worthy of the novel, beautiful and quite suitable.
