Days of Bitter Strength

David Wingrove is a British author, and one of the finest writers I've enjoyed. His opus magum, the Chung Kuo series has never been approached before.
The concept is what I've come to call a "Demographic Sci Fi", where China has again emerged as the dominant power. Chung Kuo - "The Middle Kingdom" used to refer to China, historically, but in these works it now refers to Earth Herself.
Hereditary rule has been re-established, with the continents being go-governed by seven Tang, or Emperors, the Sons of Heaven, if you will.
They are adult oriented books, with issues such as the populaton bomb, social engineering and control, class and race struggle and more. The list of characters is several pages long, where even the dead are noted and relevent to the storyline both before and after their demise. It is aggresive writing, taxing the creative process to the max, yet always upholding suspension of disbelief.
As is usually the case with class writing, there is a very grey area in what is right or wrong, and who is good or evil. In fact, the antagonists are the most dynamic and engaging I've had the pleasure to read about. The locations and characters are not relegated to Chinese, but span the globe, with each person meticulously brought to vibrant, turmoiled life.
I first started reading the series in the 90's. Doom had just come out for DOS and I was living in China Town, studying Sil Lum Hung Gar kung fu after jsut being released from the army, great memories.

Full of erotiscism, spectacular science, byzantine politics and intrigue, and characters with weight and dimension, I highly recommend David Wingrove's Chung Kuo series, for the intelligent enjoyer of speculative/science fiction, especially if you like Chinese culture.

BUMP
Is there no one here who appreciates intelligent, epic, hard sci fi???

Uh... Is this a game?

Too busy reading things like Longfellow and Milton poetry to care about fiction anymore, sorry.

I've seen hard sci-fi, I've seen epic sci-fi, sure as hell have never seen intelligent sci-fi.

Actually, Thanatos, I agree with you. As far back as the ninties, I would go into a book store, and absolutley could not stomach the drivel in the sci-fi and fantasty section. It literally makes me angry, how watered down, dumbed down and uncreative the books are that are being put out.
This is why I recommend the Chung Kuo series. It is very well done. Wingrove has an innate understanding of the human condition. There are no 'ray beams' or 'lightsabers' in his books, and from the time he began them in early nineties, several of the things he has written about have already been introduced, or are on the drawing board.

Originally Posted by Thanatos

sure as hell have never seen intelligent sci-fi.

I take it you are oblivious to Philip K Dick and JG Ballard? You're missing out.

I shall try to keep your recommendation in mind, next time I pass the Borders in Westwood...

Well, like I mentioned above, I'm just really engrossed into Longfellow's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy, and am planning to start on Paradise Lost right after.

I've just got my arms full, right now, sadly.