City of Diamond

I have a mixed feeling; I am sincerely glad to read this book, and at the same time I am sincerely sorry to read this book.City of Diamond is an interstellar city-ship of 4-million population. The basic axis seems to be the rivalry between Diamond and Opal, a sister city-ship, and various characters on Diamond and Opal do various things. Although the story is rather slow-moving and it doesn't readily go to the main subject (I wonder if it has the main subject), I LOVE IT. The characters are EXTREMELY interesting and peculiar, and they make the story completely unpredictable. And the various cultures such as Diamond vs Opal, City Ships vs Outsider, and Outsiders (Empire vs Republic) are also very interesting.The most attractive character is definitely Tal, an Outsider demon. He is a half-alien, and his kind are always sociopath and are loathed as demons. For example, Tal recognizes it is disadvantageous for him to betray his supporter, but he doesn't feel it is wrong to betray his supporter. Meanwhile, he does everything he can to rescue people who work for him from peril. Understanding his way of thinking, logical Tal is much more reliable and likable than inconsistent human beings.One BIG problem, though. When the story becomes REALLY interesting, it ends cliff-hanger, leaving several mysteries unsolved. At the author's web page, she states that she intended this book as a first part of a trilogy, but that health and memory problems have kept her from writing the sequels. Oh, WHAT A PITY!If the sequels were available, I would buy and read them NOW, even if they were 600-page English books (English is a foreign language for me). Ms Jane Emerson, PLEASE WRITE THE SEQUELS! PLEASE!

This is the best science fiction novel I've ever read.Other reviewers have alluded disparagingly to the plot(s), but (originality aside) I can't think of any other book that balances so much, so effortlessly. Let's face it, THE PLOTS ROCK.Then there's the characters. I've never felt so fond of or close to characters in a book before. In such a plot-happy book, the amazing thing is that it's the characters that come back to me, day after day.I can't get this book out of my head! I love this book. Did I say that already?

Well, they say the plot is maybe thirty awesome new ideas, tops, and the rest a pastiche of every great science fiction novel you ever read, and that's probably true. The characters though, the characters: there's 5 or 6 of them, and they're drawn like you've never seen before in fiction. Anywhere. Buy this book. Buy 10 copies; no one you ever loan it to is going to give it back.

While I agree with one reviewer that the plot does not quite live up to the drama and complexity of the characterization, this world and these people are so deftly realized that it was still a fun and compelling read. When so many books are forgettable, it's a joy to once again meet characters and situations which leave me with a desire to experience more of their adventures. ---------- And I agree with the other reviewers: It's a tragedy this book has no sequels! I actually bumped into the author years ago and she said she had no plans for any--was on to other things... Very sad! Years later, I'm still wishing!

This was one of the best reads I've had recently. Hope very much there is more of the story to come! It takes a lot of skill to create a complex universe of places, people and ideas. The number of characters in this novel, all fully formed in flesh and blood, is astonishing. Most impressively, each voice shines through vividly; each with a different story to tell. This book is what every good yarn should be: a gift-wrapped confectionary of hearty characters and exciting events; and at the core, a concrete world--believable, tragic and humorous. Thank you Ms. Emerson--write more!(perhaps the only objection: the ending is so cliffhanger-like it is annoying that it is now two years since publication--where is the sequel?)