When We Were Real

I finished "When We Were Real" (WWWR) a few hours ago after several hours of non-stop reading. I am still thinking about it. Another reviewer compared WWWR to the classic "Forever War", which is indeed a book which came to mind as I read. Against a background of war and wanderings, both novels consider what happens to sentient people when they are separated by vast distances and spans of time. In WWWR, the technology and the settings are well-plotted and believable, but the book seems to me to be primarily an exploration of the implications of semi-immortality more than anything else. What happens to relationships, fights, and the development of sequential families when such events are teased out over centuries rather than months and years? And how much loss can we bear as our hurts accumulate while our blessings seemingly remain in short supply? The author thankfully does not try to rationalise his decision: it's a dirty world but love, somehow, will save us - shades of Auden's "We must love another or die". Other themes that the author brings up indirectly are what it means to (non)human and the place of corporate organisations in society. I found this to be a convincing, often moving, very human SF novel centered around a believably flawed and troubled man moving through a pan-galactic society irrevocably fragmented by time. Well worth the read.

I have read five or six of Barton's (and co-authored) books, all were great, but this is my favorite so far. He writes in a very intense emotional and physical style, I find myself saying to myself as I read, yes, this is how it really is! This is adult science fiction, not the superficial fluff such as Arthur C. Clarke writes. If you are not easily offended by the 'adult' content this book contains, you should like it, the book was a page turner for me.

I like Wm. Barton's solo-authored novels very much, and don't know why he isn't a bigger name. He deserves a wide audience. If you haven't tried him yet, this one's a good place to start.

Loved it. Barton is a brutal writer in emotional terms, but that's what makes him so darned good. Seems every issue of ASIMOV'S I pick up has a terrific story by him, too. Another great book from a great SF writer.

I'm not going to bother outlining the book for you. If you have read Barton's previous works and were not repulsed by them for their blatant honesty, you'll find more of the same here - great plotting, wonderful insight, deep characterization. I've always empathized with Barton's characters because they are so flawed. On top of that, his characters always end up learning something, end up much different then when the book starts out. If you like sci-fi - moreover, GOOD, WELL-WRITTEN sci-fi, buy this book. Read it. Then go out and read ALL of Barton's stuff. You'll not be disappointed. Ya get Melville and Clarke in one neat package. Great stuff, this.