the deep field

science fiction is a genre i traditionally avoid
i hold it out there in the same manner as classical music
in that there is a whole world(s) of discovery to be had
but there is always more in known fields to be absorbed
the occasional dabble though is mostly satisfying
this book was encountered in a second-hand bookshop
an appealing cover, an interesting synopsis and bit of a rave
winner of australia's prestigious age fiction book of the year
the deep field is a sensuous and haunting meditation on love, time and loss
the book opens and closes well into the future as an old lady reminisces
she is examining some photos taken by her famous mother anna
the story then comes back in time into the near future
as anna is on a field study in country china
the official photographer on a fossil dig with experts in the field
it's a bleak, timeless setting with the introduction of fossils paramount
the first few chapters also reveal the state of the world post nuclear war
near anarchy in china with the pla in control and causing chaos
anna makes an escape back to her familiar sydney surroundings
the author knows the city well and many places and landmarks are mentioned
he has also has a good understanding of developing technology
and so the time in sydney provides for interesting reading
as anna uses vidphones to communicate visually or aurally
she has a codex as a pda (blackberry?) which has advanced features
including a searchware component to trace and report on her missing brother
she visits premises where she enters a merse tank
providing a virtual experience of anything she chooses
all the time with the backdrop of extreme poverty and a police state
anna finds herself drawn to finding out more about fossils and shells
ammomites in particular which are fossilised marine life
this journey of discovery leads her to an encounter with a blind professor
the author cleverly includes excerpts from his book in this one
each one of these is numbered and titled as apocrypha
(texts of uncertain authenticity or writings where the authorship is questioned)
providing an absorbing insight into the structure of ammomites
so the reader then also joins in anna's voyage of discovery
she finds herself falling in love with the young professor
but she has issues from her past days in china to deal with
and so the book moves between times and places as all is revealed
the disappearance of her twin brother in hong kong also absorbs her
she has also been infected with malaria which makes a comeback
leading to a very fragile physical and emotional state of being
this is the other strength of the book as the reader feels her pain
there are many passages in the book that demand re-reading
this one in particular as she ponders her emotions and fragility
love is not completeness, it is a perpetual incompleteness
a movement towards a boundary that is always in view but never attainable
it is the desire for immersion, for the oneness we can never have
a reaction against the very nature of what we are, our aloneness
stunning stuff really and relevant to all humans i suspect
i must admit i did find the book wandered somewhat in the second half
the author moved away from an interesting past/future expose
to a more narrative based straight-forward story of love, loss and redemption
in which a lot of disparate characters are introduced and have a role
overall it is a very enjoyable, educational and entertaining read
author james bradley resides in sydney and has written other books
so i will be on the lookout for those