I just ordered this from the site, anyone read this one?  The story looked very interesting and my local library didn't have a copy so I grabbed one from my favorite swap site.  Any opinions on this book?

Phil

Just finished listening to The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul by Douglas Adams( I absolutely love listening to his stuff).  Very funny story from DNA. 

I read it 20 years ago or so and I remember it as not Card's absolute best, but not bad, especially as a thought experiment. I didn't really like the main character, which somewhat undercut my enjoyment of it, but there's no reason you'd have the same problem!

Card's re-written this one several times, IIRC: The Worthing Saga, Hot Sleep, Worthing Chronicle... he's got several related books of short stories that intertwine.  The idea of a drug that can suspend animation but wipes your brain is the core of the series, along with suspended animation that lets you skip through time like a pebble on a pond -- the rich only wake up a few days a year, to watch the years fly by.

The thing to remember about early Card is that if there's a frightening, disgusting or vile way to exploit a technology, he'll find it (see short stories such as "A Thousand Deaths", which is related to the Worthing stuff).

thanks for the input on this book.  Sorry it took me a while to respond to the responses.  Still waiting for it to arrive in the mail too.  Hope this one isn't lost.  Plenty of other stuff to read while I wait.

thanks again

Phil

I actually enjoy reading the various incarnations of OSC's work...like the Worthing books or Treason vs Planet Called Treason.  It is interesting to see how he edits himself over the years.

It wasn't difficult to get through.  Slightly tedious at times, but a very decent story.

I rather enjoyed it.

It is on my MP3 player waiting to be listened to....it will probably be my next read

deborah