> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Attanasio-Radix/11883

> RADIX, roman de A.-A. Attanasio. — Un illustre inconnu peut-il. à son premier essai, devenir le romancier de SF de la décennie ? Attanasio semble bien parti pour cela, avec son “Radix”, roman comme il n’en pleut pas des douzaines. Livre profond, dense, où la sinistre réalité d’une Terre bouleversée par des radiations venues de l’espace dépend de la modification du triste Sumner. Cheminement physique, psychique, qui relève de la magie... du conteur. Si c’est là la SF de demain, plus jamais personne n’osera qualifier cette littérature de “contes pour enfants”. Collection “ Ailleurs et Demain ”, éditions Robert Laffont 1983, 470 pages. (Michel TRUCHON)
—Le soleil, 9 avril 1983, Cahier E

The first time I read this novel, I had a difficult time getting into it. Even so, I never doubted that it was very good. The failing was mine as a reader.

I came back to it over a decade later and got sucked right in from the first page. It wasn't what I remembered - and it was much, much better! ( )

Sadly this became a bit of a chore to read. It starts off so well then just seems to meander with no real purpose. The finale, though not a complete let down, is rather trite.
Certainly not worth the hype it recieved on it's original publication ( )

If you're a lazy reader, then stop right here. AA Attanasio isn't going to be your cup of tea.

However, if you like having your mind blown, your world expanded, your characters lusciously developed over time, having many sub-plots coalescing and finally cascading into each other like an impromptu orgy and love looking up words you've never read before or an author who can invent them - then please, by all means. Continue reading...

In no way, would I dare write spoilers in this review. Why? Well, if there is one thing AA Attanasio delivers, it's a memorable journey you will not likely forget anytime soon. I can honestly say that he's written the only stories and characters that have compelled me to become more. More than me. From a young age, when I spent summers in libraries, he helped push the limits of my thinking mind and invited me into a world, many worlds, all types of places and universes that I had always hoped exist - but wasn't quite sure if they did?

There are moments, when reading this sci-fi/fantasy classic that you have to wonder - has the author walked right into the body of someone? A troop of someones? Why, you wonder? Well, that's how vivid his fluid writing is. You're utterly convinced he's stepped right inside his character's life, head, body, and mind. All to reveal his soul. It's fictional poetry.

Truthfully, this isn't just a review for Radix. It's a review for all of his books. With each one, you may not be certain if the same author wrote them all? In fact, there was a point in time when I thought he had betrayed me and my curiosity and walked away from his books. Only to return, to realize his range is just simply outta control. Just like his genius.

Beneath all of the harshness and reality-building, are beautiful core truths. The type of stuff that never goes away. The things that speak to us, as a reader to our cores. He never just delivers a tale, a story, an epic. Although certainly, that would be enough. He delivers different ways to transcend, to be awake, to become enlightened, to understand power, truth and love.

There just might be a real Merlin, after-all. :)

( )

An awesome evocation of a post-apocalyptic, mutations-obsessed, mutants-ridden America, with some of the outcasts living at the margin of civilization who turn out to be something entirely unexpected and fascinating, and the making of an unlikely hero shaped both by his will and external forces and events far beyond his grasp.

The very end and its "kill foozle" template was, however, a very big letdown. ( )