Post-human before it was a thing, The Ophiuchi Hotline must certainly be considered proto-cyberpunk. There are aliens and space travel which limit the full taxonomy, but highly+advanced plastic surgery, genderless humans, free sexuality, cybertech, dubious techno-commercial interests—all combine to give the novel something of the flavor of Schismatrix meets Neuromancer, even as the alien takeover wrangles the plot.
But for as standard as many of the ideas now seem to be, few if any books have attempted such a conclusion. Without spoiling matters, The Ophiuchi Hotline draws its strands of story into a braid upon the conclusion that induces a sense of wonder in perhaps the most literal sense. No book can please everybody (though Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken comes damn close), and how Varley chooses to end The Ophiuchi Hotline will not be to everyone’s liking. But for readers who value non-formula, Varley certainly gives them something to appreciate.
The Ophiuchi Hotline may be a novel that has been largely lost to time, but it is generally undeservingly so. Not a forgotten masterpiece, it remains, however, a work that readers of today’s post-human novelists (e.g. Charles Stross, Walter Jon Williams, and others) can enjoy. Something of Robert Silverberg thrown in to ground the story in humanity, even if just a touch, it’s a story worth the time, if not for ending alone.
Haven't read this since I was a teenager and I have to say I barely remember it; which is odd considering his later novel The Golden Globe is one of my favourite sci-fi romps of all time. May be worth another read.
ReplyDeleteI have not read the majority of Varley's fiction, but what I have read feels somewhat formulaic. Some nicely presented standard tropes of sf, mixed with 60s counter-culture, sums up a lot of what I've read. Is The Golden Globe different?
DeleteI'd say he certainly lets go of the '60s and '70s counterculture stuff (I don't know if you've read the Titan/Wizard/Demon trilogy but my God, it's terrible and full of weird centaur sex) while still being very referential of 20th century pop culture. It's more that by the '90s he just seems to have become a generally better writer; in particular he switched to first-person POV, which suits his style far better. The protagonist of the Golden Globe is a wandering actor/conman with one of the most pitch-perfect voices I've read in sci-fi.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely not serious or Big Idea science fiction; it just does very, very well as an enjoyable pageturner. If you somewhat enjoyed The Ophiuchi Hotline you should definitely give it a read, it's the better book.
I hadn't heard of The Golden Globe, but looking at the isfdb I see that it's a sequel, or at least another story set in the universe of Steel Beach - which is the best of Varley I'v encountered so far. Will take your recommendation as stated - and thanks for stopping by again.
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