253: The Print Remix

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Summary: 253
Review: Geoff Ryman teaches us how to write in one of his humorous/ironic interludes - "we have treated words as things, moved them into place, and counted them - that's all there is to it!" In the processs, he also teaches us how to read fiction on the internet. The interplay among the characters and situations is deceptively complex, the humor is cunning, and Ryman is a pioneer of the electronic medium. Don't be tricked - Ryman is a major talent and this is a thoroughly satisfying & enjoyable work. If you buy the print copy, scan the format first. You'll be glad you did when you need the cross-refereneces later. These replace the links that supported the e-version. This book is a great idea beautifully executed!

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Summary: Buy this book!
Review: If for nothing else than an amazing concept, this book should be highly lauded. 253 people on a subway, each with a story of 253 words on a single page. The fact that Ryman was able to complete this and have it make sense is quite impressive. It's a great book for people with a short attention span, as you don't have to pay attention to anything for more that 253 words if you don't really want to. What I found to be the best part, however, was the interactions between the passengers and the ways that they showed up in each other's stories. Some of the characters are likeable, some not, but they're all fun to read about in any order.

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Summary: Fantastic and unpredictable
Review: In this innovative story originally written for the internet (http://www.ryman-novel.com), we follow the lives of the 253 passengers on a London tube train on January 11, 1995. Each passenger has one page of story told in 253 words, informing about secrets, loves, interests, and whatever else makes the passenger unique and ordinary. In this print version of the internet story, readers not only have the many cross-references, but also some extra information not on the internet where the author reworks to make things more clear, due to the different media of printed text. With marvelous wit and insight, Geoff Ryman creates a surprising portrait of humanity in all its intricacies and commonalities that feeds the voyeur in each reader and leaves us with a distinct vision of what it means to be really living.

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Summary: like being kicked in the teeth by genius:grin with bloodyjoy
Review: once again i bought a book and woke up grinning with my teeth all knocked out by a kick of genius. basically ryman does his thing and is comically pseudo-concerned that you be comfortable while he does it. his thing being ripping it up and conjuring up his complicated and ambitious text-messes. he struts about with seamless confidence in the stitchwork of his narratives that always fall magically in place as you turn that last page. amazing. read was. read 253. go home broken in the best places.

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Summary: Sparkling Post-Modern Extravaganza!!!
Review: This book is so unique in its structure and history ! It is something you have never seen or read before! I had so much fun reading it! It motivated me to write 254 entry about myself. It will completely change the way you look on the people with whom you commute in the public transportation system. Very inventive and extremely funny, with many hidden jokes and human fates. Minimalistic in the expression measures and the time lapse, however still great description of the present. Millennium saga written in Basic programming language, the simpliest tool availble to all the loosers catching the bus! Long Live Fatima Mansions!

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Summary: Pack your briefcase...
Review: This book, originally published in increments on the internet, is a fascinating look at perception and reality. 253 people on a fateful subway train ride are analyzed and exposed by each other on their way to THE END OF THE LINE. The most remarkable aspect of this book is that it is not a real novel in the traditional sense - the plot and character interaction are only revealed from the individual and separate page long mini-biographies of each passenger. This is a great, quick read - in fact, read it on the subway on the way to work...

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Summary: BEst book of the year
Review: This has become one of my all time favorite books. 253 short stories all tied together and each written in 253 words. Cool, hip, fun, and perfect reading for anyone who takes public transport.

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Summary: Best Book I read all Summer!
Review: When I first heard about the premise of this book, I was already pretty intrigued. 253 stories about 253 characters, each containing exactly 253 words. I love stuff like that, just simply because of the ingenuity it forces a writer to utilize.

However, this book is a lot more than a clever premise. Each person's tale was a remarkable study. Some of them were so simple and poignant to the point of profundity. Some of them made me laugh outloud. Some of them (the way they interacted) was filled with such clever irony (like the woman whose histrionic pretence that she's being hunted by the IRA actually causes her to be tracked down by a spy). I could pick it up, put it down. Flip through the pages and go "aha!". This book is everything. It's a mystery. It's a novel. It's a poem. It's just just great.

Really. I loved reading this book. Buy it, and I hope you love it too.