February Books 1) Cloud Atlas
1) Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell

Wow. I slightly regret reading Jeff VanderMeer's piece in Locus before I was half way through - there is a spoiler for the book's structure, though not the plot. Or plots. Nineteenth century Pacific, to 1930s Belgium, to 1970s California, to contemporary England, to future ?Korea, to far future ?Hawaii; all linked together by objects and by themes of power and writing. Not very surprised to learn that he was partly inspired by Jared Diamond's excellent Guns, Germs and Steel. I felt the California bit was perhaps a little too convoluted, and the tone of the Victoriana and one or two of the other bits slipped a bit in places, but I really enjoyed the ride, especially the Belgian and ?Korean bits. Strongly recommended.