typewriter's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A fitting conclusion full of so so much hope, this series will stick with me for a while :)
ashercsb's review against another edition
5.0
In some ways, it's hard to review this book without talking about the plot because there's so damn much of it and it's so damn compelling. Worry thee not, noble reader, I shall endeavour to shield you from the smallest spoilerous detail. Look, if you're reading the final volume in a series, you've enjoyed the rest enough to keep reading; I believe this will be especially true of Terra Ignota given how integrated these four volumes are. Thus, gentle reader, the question you want answered is not "should I pick up this book," but instead "does this live up to what has come before?"
I'm very pleased to report that it does. The intricate worldbuilding continues, managing to feel like it is simultaneously incredibly inventive and also an obvious conclusion that we could have thought of if only we had given enough hours to the task. The narration from the end of The Will to Battle continues, bringing a delightfully new perspective to events. The theology is maybe my favourite theology that I've ever gotten from a novel and has, for the first time ever, made me think about real-world theology differently. Questions are answered that you, dear reader, were thinking about and that haven't occurred to you.
I have, at the time of this review, read this book twice in its entirety and more than that in my favourite parts. I first read it in a frantic weekend and then, a couple months later, reread it at a more leisurely pace. I can report that it works well either way: the plot is driving, explosive, and utterly compelling so you don't want to put it down; the prose and world and characters are enjoyable and thought provoking so that you want to take your time with it and really savour and think. I will, no doubt, read this again this year. I don't need to talk about the specifics for you, kind reader, to understand that 2020 was a traumatic and grief-filled year, and this was a book that helped me through one of its darkest moments. I think it will likewise bring joy to you.
I'm very pleased to report that it does. The intricate worldbuilding continues, managing to feel like it is simultaneously incredibly inventive and also an obvious conclusion that we could have thought of if only we had given enough hours to the task. The narration from the end of The Will to Battle continues, bringing a delightfully new perspective to events. The theology is maybe my favourite theology that I've ever gotten from a novel and has, for the first time ever, made me think about real-world theology differently. Questions are answered that you, dear reader, were thinking about and that haven't occurred to you.
I have, at the time of this review, read this book twice in its entirety and more than that in my favourite parts. I first read it in a frantic weekend and then, a couple months later, reread it at a more leisurely pace. I can report that it works well either way: the plot is driving, explosive, and utterly compelling so you don't want to put it down; the prose and world and characters are enjoyable and thought provoking so that you want to take your time with it and really savour and think. I will, no doubt, read this again this year. I don't need to talk about the specifics for you, kind reader, to understand that 2020 was a traumatic and grief-filled year, and this was a book that helped me through one of its darkest moments. I think it will likewise bring joy to you.
kazio1993's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jviscosi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hay_shock's review against another edition
5.0
At times I felt like I had to battle to get through this series, but the way things wrapped up & came together at the end, it was beautiful.
Story Telling - The breaking of the fourth wall, where our narrator speaks directly to us the reader, was fortunately kept to a minimum in this final instalment. A lot of the book is also narrated in a way that is easier to follow & understand. We still have big sections of philosophy, or mixed languages, but I found them easier to get through in this instalment. I felt the pacing was fast in this final book, there was so much the author had to get through, to wrap everything up. I feel that they covered all of the major story lines well.
Characters - Was the best part of this book. It took a long time before I felt anything for the people in these stories, however in this book, I was often moved to tears. Everyone felt so much more alive & whole in this final book.
World Building - Was still very impressive, the technical ideas, political understanding, gender, religion, it was all very impressive. It felt like everything had the right balance in the story too, no one thing completely dominated. There were elements which became pure fantasy & these I struggled with a little, they took me slightly out of the book - but I still appreciate what the author was trying to achieve.
Its still hard to say whether I would recommend the book though. You have to be committed to get through this series & see the incredible beauty of it. I am very grateful I read it, I think its possibly one of the best books I've ever read.
Story Telling - The breaking of the fourth wall, where our narrator speaks directly to us the reader, was fortunately kept to a minimum in this final instalment. A lot of the book is also narrated in a way that is easier to follow & understand. We still have big sections of philosophy, or mixed languages, but I found them easier to get through in this instalment. I felt the pacing was fast in this final book, there was so much the author had to get through, to wrap everything up. I feel that they covered all of the major story lines well.
Characters - Was the best part of this book. It took a long time before I felt anything for the people in these stories, however in this book, I was often moved to tears. Everyone felt so much more alive & whole in this final book.
World Building - Was still very impressive, the technical ideas, political understanding, gender, religion, it was all very impressive. It felt like everything had the right balance in the story too, no one thing completely dominated. There were elements which became pure fantasy & these I struggled with a little, they took me slightly out of the book - but I still appreciate what the author was trying to achieve.
Its still hard to say whether I would recommend the book though. You have to be committed to get through this series & see the incredible beauty of it. I am very grateful I read it, I think its possibly one of the best books I've ever read.
r2wend2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
entropia9's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
mjdale95's review against another edition
4.0
Series overall: 4.5/5
This is by far and away the most original and unique series I've ever read, making it quite hard to summarise what makes it good or even what it's about. They're not easy books to read on a number of levels - unreliable narrator, dense and often perplexing worldbuilding, a huge number of characters and factions, an often archaic writing style, and many references to history and philosophy - but if you stick with it, it's a very rewarding experience.
The prose on the whole is beautifully written, the philosophical questions it raises are fascinating, the vision of a future earth it presents is enthralling in its realism. The final book I felt dragged a little during the first half, but delivered a satisfying conclusion.
"I hereby renounce the right to complacency, and vow lifelong to take only what minimum of leisure is necessary to my productivity, viewing health, happiness, rest, and play as means, not ends, and that, while Utopia provides my needs, I will commit the full produce of my labors to our collective effort to redirect the path of human life away from death and toward the stars."
This is by far and away the most original and unique series I've ever read, making it quite hard to summarise what makes it good or even what it's about. They're not easy books to read on a number of levels - unreliable narrator, dense and often perplexing worldbuilding, a huge number of characters and factions, an often archaic writing style, and many references to history and philosophy - but if you stick with it, it's a very rewarding experience.
The prose on the whole is beautifully written, the philosophical questions it raises are fascinating, the vision of a future earth it presents is enthralling in its realism. The final book I felt dragged a little during the first half, but delivered a satisfying conclusion.
"I hereby renounce the right to complacency, and vow lifelong to take only what minimum of leisure is necessary to my productivity, viewing health, happiness, rest, and play as means, not ends, and that, while Utopia provides my needs, I will commit the full produce of my labors to our collective effort to redirect the path of human life away from death and toward the stars."
frasersimons's review
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A fairly solid conclusion that continues the same tone and pacing, subject matter, and battle of ideologues as the last one. The first book is still absolutely my favourite, but the transition from that to a more methodically slow examination of the human condition is well done. If readers have made it this far I think they will enjoy it, but I can see “normal” sci-fi readership bouncing off of this series, as it is not remotely interested in delivering contemporary scifi payoff, imo. I liked that a lot about it, though. It poses big questions and isn’t afraid to follow them, despite them leading down some pretty intense scenes and revealing character flaws in everyone. There are a few darlings, but it still feels quite savage, relevant, and singular.
The last speech drove home a thematic nail that was pretty interesting to me; mostly because it acknowledges how humanity is wired and how it could be gamed into thriving, since both peace time and war time are fail states for the species. Spectacular fail states, actually. The conclusion about humanity and first contact also traces a through line that prompts and engages with very interesting questions.
In reviews, people call this a future history, which I think works well, since it’s in dialogue with history; especially it’s repetition. Patterning we can’t move past and habituate ourselves, making future generations susceptible to the same problems we face today. The casual cruelty in which our society functions regularly, and what is discernible to the average individual when society functions in that way, is one of the most vile things humanity replicates reliably in every civilization.
In a more classic vein of sci-fi, this series mines speculative questions and presents a plot to interrogate them. It won’t be for everyone, as I said, but it’s certainly for me. Very successful.
The last speech drove home a thematic nail that was pretty interesting to me; mostly because it acknowledges how humanity is wired and how it could be gamed into thriving, since both peace time and war time are fail states for the species. Spectacular fail states, actually. The conclusion about humanity and first contact also traces a through line that prompts and engages with very interesting questions.
In reviews, people call this a future history, which I think works well, since it’s in dialogue with history; especially it’s repetition. Patterning we can’t move past and habituate ourselves, making future generations susceptible to the same problems we face today. The casual cruelty in which our society functions regularly, and what is discernible to the average individual when society functions in that way, is one of the most vile things humanity replicates reliably in every civilization.
In a more classic vein of sci-fi, this series mines speculative questions and presents a plot to interrogate them. It won’t be for everyone, as I said, but it’s certainly for me. Very successful.