tregina's review against another edition
4.0
There are actually two versions of this book, the published version and also an original experimental version, which features "a distorted form of non-standard English to produce the effect of cultural and linguistic decay, mirroring the world of the novel". I've had a copy of the experimental version for a while and have enjoyed what I've read it of but it is so dense with language shift I've been taking it in a bit at a time. The published version also features some linguistic shift but not nearly to the extent of the experimental version. It is still not a quick read, but it is a very rewarding one. The world of the book is so unique and completely realised, blending the human world and the ai world in a new kind of symbiotic relationship and making us see the unique personalities in each rather than a very monolithic "us" and "them".
michelle_e_goldsmith's review
5.0
This book (quite appropriately) completed an impressive journey via a rather roundabout route to finally reach me (due to an equally impressive run of bad luck where the universe seemed to be conspiring to prevent me from making it to any event where whoever had it at any given time was).
Luckily it was worth the wait and I tore through this. It never occurred to be that a book about rogue cyborg trucks in post-apocalyptic Australia (including truck on truck sex scenes) would be my thing. Turns out that it was. It features well written, clever vernacular and a compelling story.
MacRae's world of decaying, sentient tech is dark and disturbing in a way slightly reminiscent of The Dark Tower sequence (although it is probably about .01% of the length). However, Trucksong feels both unique and uniquely Australian. It's a clever book and I look forward to reading more from the author.
4.5 stars
Luckily it was worth the wait and I tore through this. It never occurred to be that a book about rogue cyborg trucks in post-apocalyptic Australia (including truck on truck sex scenes) would be my thing. Turns out that it was. It features well written, clever vernacular and a compelling story.
MacRae's world of decaying, sentient tech is dark and disturbing in a way slightly reminiscent of The Dark Tower sequence (although it is probably about .01% of the length). However, Trucksong feels both unique and uniquely Australian. It's a clever book and I look forward to reading more from the author.
4.5 stars
tregina's review
4.0
There are actually two versions of this book, the published version and also an original experimental version, which features "a distorted form of non-standard English to produce the effect of cultural and linguistic decay, mirroring the world of the novel". I've had a copy of the experimental version for a while and have enjoyed what I've read it of but it is so dense with language shift I've been taking it in a bit at a time. The published version also features some linguistic shift but not nearly to the extent of the experimental version. It is still not a quick read, but it is a very rewarding one. The world of the book is so unique and completely realised, blending the human world and the ai world in a new kind of symbiotic relationship and making us see the unique personalities in each rather than a very monolithic "us" and "them".
alanbaxter's review
4.0
Excellent post-apocalyptic sentient truck road yarn. Mad Max meets Max Headroom, and so Aussie you can smell the BBQ. The vernacular of the writing is really well done. Highly recommended.
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