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The Grand Dark

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The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey is a science fiction urban fantasy novel set in a gritty city post-war, focusing on the life of Largo, a bicycle courier struggling with his job, drug addiction, and entanglements. The story delves into a world of unequal social classes, frivolity concealing despair, political machinations, and the looming threat of a new war. The writing style captures a steampunk noir vibe with elements of decadence, hedonism, and political intrigue.

Characters:

The characters are complex and relatable, particularly the protagonist, Largo, whose flaws and ambitions reflect the societal struggles following the war.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is immersive and descriptive, employing historical references and a gritty tone that enhance the chaotic atmosphere, though it can be overwhelming.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative intricately weaves post-war themes, focusing on the protagonist's challenges while revealing a society grappling with complex struggles and hidden truths.

Setting:

The setting is a vividly imagined steampunk city reflecting the aftermath of war, marked by class disparities and a pervasive sense of despair.

Pacing:

The pacing is often slow and can be frustrating, gradually building to a more compelling conclusion.
Near dawn, Largo Moorden pedaled his bicycle through the nearly deserted streets of Lower Proszawa. It was exactly one week since his twenty-first birthday. Fog from the nearby bay and smoke from the ...

Notes:

The Grand Dark is set in a post-war society filled with hedonism, drug use, and class struggles.
The protagonist, Largo, is a bike courier who deals with addiction and seeks a better life.
The book features a unique blend of steampunk and dark science fiction elements.
Richard Kadrey incorporates historical references and propaganda to enrich the world-building.
The relationship between Largo and his girlfriend, Remy, is central to the story and highlights themes of love and struggle.
Despite its rich setting, the pacing and complexity of the plot can make the book challenging to read.
The story explores themes of political intrigue, addiction, and the impact of war on society.
Kadrey's writing is noted for its gritty atmosphere and emotional depth.
The narrative showcases a duality in the post-war world, focusing on both the elite and the lower classes.
Several readers found the ending unsatisfactory after a long buildup, leading to mixed reviews.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of drug addiction, violence, and political corruption.

Has Romance?

The book features a romantic relationship between the main character and his girlfriend, though it is complicated by their personal struggles and the world they inhabit.

From The Publisher:

"A stand-alone heavy hitter that's more in line with recent deviants like Chuck Wendig's upcoming Wanderers (2019) and Daniel H. Wilson's The Clockwork Dynasty (2017). Tonally, this lush novel is closer to Scott Lynch's pirate fantasy The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006), but technologically it resembles the near-future dystopias of Cory Doctorow or China Miéville […] Wildly ambitious and inventive fantasy from an author who's punching above his weight in terms of worldbuilding-and winning."

- Kirkus (starred review)

From the bestselling author of the Sandman Slim series, a lush, dark, stand-alone fantasy built off the insurgent tradition of China Mieville and M. John Harrison-a subversive tale that immerses us in a world where the extremes of bleakness and beauty exist together in dangerous harmony in a city on the edge of civility and chaos.

The Great War is over. The city of Lower Proszawa celebrates the peace with a decadence and carefree spirit as intense as the war's horrifying despair. But this newfound hedonism-drugs and sex and endless parties-distracts from strange realities of everyday life: Intelligent automata taking jobs. Genetically engineered creatures that serve as pets and beasts of war. A theater where gruesome murders happen twice a day. And a new plague that even the ceaseless euphoria can't mask.

Unlike others who live strictly for fun, Largo is an addict with ambitions. A bike messenger who grew up in the slums, he knows the city's streets and its secrets intimately. His life seems set. He has a beautiful girlfriend, drugs, a chance at a promotion-and maybe, an opportunity for complete transformation: a contact among the elite who will set him on the course to lift himself up out of the streets.

But dreams can be a dangerous thing in a city whose mood is turning dark and inward. Others have a vision of life very different from Largo's, and they will use any methods to secure control. And in behind it all, beyond the frivolity and chaos, the threat of new war always looms.

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