THE DARK FOREST (2008) by Cixin Liu
I
have read and reviewed Cixin Liu's novel THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM, which
ended in a huge cliffhanger: Can humanity survive an impending alien
invasion?
I must read the third book in the series to find out
how this story ends, because the sequel THE DARK FOREST leaves many
questions unanswered.
THE DARK FOREST is mainly about preparing humanity for a terrible future - and how hope can survive.
The
novel also develops the argument made in THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM - about
the inherent danger of alien civilizations... I am not sure where I
stand on that subject, but I think that far too much science fiction
isn't taking it seriously.
THE DARK FOREST suffers from being
the middle book in a trilogy. It is very clear about what it wants to
say, but it is unevenly written (or translated??).
The
"flatness" of the characters, a typical feature of "Hard" Science
Fiction, gets worse here - because the author struggles to give the
characters depth, but he doesn't completely succeed.
There are
several plot twists - some are good - and a major one that is quite
weak (humanity wandering stupidly into an obvious trap, with disastrous
consequences).
Despite these criticisms, I just had to read the
book to see what would happen next. I recommend it with a caveat: if
you're not engaged in the main plot or the trilogy's "big ideas," THE
DARK FOREST may bore you.
Me, I'm engaged and then some...
#bookreviews #bookreview #cixinliu #liucixin #thetreebodyproblem #threebodyproblem #thedarkforest #bookstagram #bookcover #bookphotography #books #literature #scifi #sciencefiction #dystopia #reviews #novel #literature #future #aliens #aliens #chinesesciencefiction #chinesescifi #alienlife #extraterrestrial #extraterrestrials
THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM (2008) by Cixin Liu
What
surprised me when I began reading this novel was its frank description
of the horrors of China's political turmoil in the 1960s and 70s. (I had
assumed such books would run into state censorship.)
It was
tempting to interpret THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM as criticism of the
Communist regime in the guise of SF... but as I read on, it became
evident that the author has much bigger fish to fry. The novel carries a
very serious message about the search for extraterrestrial life.
The
plot has three interwoven threads: the tragic life of the scientist Ye
Wenjie, the hunt to uncover a massive conspiracy against science itself,
and the history of an extraterrestrial civilization pitted against
Earth.
There is a lot I really like about this book. It is
mostly well written, there is not an ounce of unnecessary text, it knows
what it wants to say and makes a clear, reasoned argument. This is
"highbrow" SF of the finest order.
It's refreshing to read SF
that comes from a Chinese perspective! Cixin Liu breathes new life into a
very old theme - "first contact."
It also contains original ideas and some amazing, memorable scenes.
The
only weak part was the depiction of the extraterrestrials themselves -
they struck me as behaving too much like Earthlings to be credibly
"alien."
Does THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM's message hold up to
scrutiny? If it does, it could influence the course of humanity's
future. You should read the novel and make up your own mind.
Strongly recommended reading.
#cixinliu #liucixin #thetreebodyproblem #threebodyproblem #bookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #bookcover #bookcovers #bookstagrammers #bookbloggers #reviews #books #literature #sciencefiction #scifi #hardsf #chinesesciencefiction #chinesescifi #aliens #aliens👽#alienlife #extraterrestrial #extraterrestrials #seti #china #bestsellers #hugoawards
THE HORRIFIC SUFFERINGS OF THE
MIND-READING MONSTER HERCULES BAREFOOT; HIS WONDERFUL LOVE AND HIS
TERRIBLE HATRED (2002)
by Carl-Johan Vallgren
(Original Swedish title: DEN VIDUNDERLIGA KÄRLEKENS HISTORIA.)
The
English title is too long and blunt, but it does summarize the plot of
this remarkable novel. (The original title, in direct translation,
reads "The Tale of the Marvellous Love.")
This novel depicts the
life of the fictional character Hercules Barefoot, his trials and
sorrows as a severely handicapped dwarf with hidden powers... and his
love for a beautiful woman.
It is written in a baroque style,
contrasting the beautiful and the grotesque, and yet I found it easy to
read (I read the Swedish edition).
The story really tugs at the reader's heartstrings. It's impossible not to sympathize with the plight of the protagonist.
If
you like David Lynch's movie THE ELEPHANT MAN, or other stories about
suffering and disability - or you just enjoy a good story well told -
then you should read this book.
Heartily recommended. (NOTE: Not for the faint of heart!)
#carljohanvallgren #herculesbarefoot #bookstagram #bokstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookreviews #bookcover #bookcovers #bookstagrammers #bookbloggers #reviews #books #literature #novels #novel #sciencefiction #fantasy #fantastik #disability #disabled #deafness #handicap
#mutants #romance #beautyandthebeast
DESCENT FROM XANADU (1984) by Harold Robbins
Let's
make it clear from the start: This book is a disaster. It has no
redeeming qualities. I expected a trashy thriller - but I just got bored
and disappointed.
It may be "educational" for aspiring writers, as an example of how not to tell a story...
The
author Harold Robbins was once one of the top bestsellers in the world,
with novels like THE CARPETBAGGERS - lurid tales about money, power and
sex - daydreams of wordly success and excess.
Robbins tried to
live as excessively as his fictional characters - and he used a lot of
drugs. Incidentally, the rich protagonist in DESCENT FROM XANADU has two
obsessions: finding immortality and cocaine...
Sounds like a thriller, right? Only it isn't.
Turns
out the tycoon protagonist's drug habit is actually more important than becoming immortal.
The plot literally stops in its tracks many times because he has to
score cocaine.
The only friend (sort of) he has is his dealer. Seriously.
After
a seemingly endless number of cocaine stops, the novel dimly recalls
that the plot was supposed to be about a guy who tries to become
immortal. It makes a mad rush for the ending, stumbles and falls flat on
its face on the final page.
See, kids, this is what can happen
when a writer's personal hangups are allowed to completely take over the
narrative, without being questioned or challenged - creative failure.
Readers: Avoid DESCENT FROM XANADU.
Writers: Read and learn. (And stay away from cocaine! )
(If you do want a good trashy 80s read, try Jackie Collins instead.)
#haroldrobbins #descentfromxanadu #bookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #bookcover #bookcovers #bookstagrammers #bookbloggers #reviews #books #literature #novels #thriller #1980s #jackiecollins #writing #writerslife #writinglife #authorlife #book #thecarpetbaggers #trash #badbooks #cocaine #bestsellers #bokrecension #bokrecensioner #drugs #addiction
GOOGOLPLEX (2010) by KG Johansson
This science fiction novel originally appeared in Swedish, but is now also available in an English translation.
GOOGOLPLEX
is a tale about obsession, set in the far future. Through the use of
advanced science, the protagonist tries to relive his own past... and to
recreate a long-lost love.
As he struggles ever more
desperately to fufill his deepest desire, he approaches the big
question: What does it really mean to get what you want?
Written in plain-spoken prose, KG Johansson's novel is a meditation on human nature. I liked it!
Recommended for science fiction lovers, and for anyone who dwells too much on what could have been...
#bookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #bookcover #bookcovers #bookstagrammers #bookbloggers #reviews #books #literature #sciencefiction #scifi #alternatehistory #paralleluniverse #kgjohansson #googolplex #multiverse #booksuggestion #booksuggestions #boktips
Jorun Modens fantasyroman SAMAEL imponerade på mig första gången den kom ut. Den var välskriven, originell och mångbottnad.
Så det är en god nyhet att den nu finns i nyutgåva på Wela Förlag.
Om du gillar Neil Gaimans böcker, är SAMAEL en roman för dig!
Fråga efter denna bok på ditt bibliotek.
(Tipstack till @jorun.moden )
#jorunmoden #jorunmodén #samael #boktips #lästips #fantastik #böcker #litteratur #boktipset #fantasyböcker #författare #svenskfantasy #neilgaiman #fantasybok #fantasyboktips #welaförlag
FÖR HERR BACHMANNS BROSCHYR (1998) av Carl-Johan Vallgren
Det
går bra för Carl-Johan Vallgren nu (tror jag). Men i slutet av
1990-talet var han en Arg Ung Man som tyckte att kulturetablissemanget
var emot honom...
...och han skrev av sig frustrationen i denna
lilla bok, som nästan sprängs av ilska.
Tänk dig ett två timmar långt,
oavbrutet vredesutbrott mot svensk småaktighet och Jantelag... som ändå
faktiskt får dig att skratta.
(Det närmaste jag kommer på som
liknar den här boken skulle vara Lars Ekborgs episka utskällning av
Beppe Wolgers, men den var förhållandevis kort.)
Detta är litterär standup comedy. Överdriven? Javisst. Hysteriskt rolig? Absolut.
Rekommenderas.
(Se även, av samme författare: DEN VIDUNDERLIGA KÄRLEKENS HISTORIA.)
#carljohanvallgren #förherrbachmannsbroschyr #bokstagram #bokomslag #böcker #bokrecension #bokrecensioner #bokbloggare #bokbloggar #bokblogg #författare #recension #recensioner #boktips #lästips #humor #satir #jantelagen #litteratur #sverige #svensklitteratur
