thekingbee's review
5.0
I like generation following books. In this sequel to the clockwork rocket, we look in detail into the lives of people of the third generation of travelers. Overpopulation leads to single gender famine and infanticide. They make great technological advances in this book, some of which could destroy or save their society. Their women die in childbirth, more specifically they become their children, 4 of them. Their population threatens to exceed their carrying capacity, so the women starve themselves in hopes of only having two children. A biologist discovers a way for women to shed children and survive.
ponga's review
4.0
An interesting continuation of the trilogy, in much the same style as the first. Plotwise, it may suffer a bit from the middle book syndrome, although to be fair, the science is still the main character, and its process of being extended into the analogues of quantum mechanics and neurobiology is lovingly captured. I'm not sure if Egan will be able to fill in the gaps in the alien biology as convincingly as he does the alien physics: but for now, I'm reserving judgement, since the discovery process and lack of deep knowledge by the aliens themselves feels realistic.
I'm certainly looking forward to the final book this autumn, but more for the continued exploration of ideas, and not primarily for the surface plot or characters. Egan does a credible job on both, even if the aliens still feel a bit too human -- but their reactions to new reproductive possibilities are delightfully ironic.
I'm certainly looking forward to the final book this autumn, but more for the continued exploration of ideas, and not primarily for the surface plot or characters. Egan does a credible job on both, even if the aliens still feel a bit too human -- but their reactions to new reproductive possibilities are delightfully ironic.
hugh's review
I love what Greg Egan is doing with this trilogy, but gotta say, it is starting to drag a bit here.
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