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ceeescee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
flobbinhood's review against another edition
5.0
This book starts out really strange, but it's honestly awesome! The end gets really good and completely mind-blowing.
timscheller95's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not usually a "plot hole!" kind of guy but there is no solid explanation for why Trisolaris didn't use sophon blocking on Luo Ji, a man they frequently tried to kill through less elegant means. I read some incredible cope from fans about how maybe Trisolaris thought that Luo Ji could still accomplish his goal without his eyes and that blinding him might actually cause him to figure things out faster. Whatever you say folks.
That aside, Cixin's exploration of a single interesting concept is enjoyable and reminiscent of what I'm seeing people call the Golden Age of sci-fi (Bradbury, Asimov, etc.). The quality of the writing suffered in this compared to the first one--but part of that might be the translation--and several plot points end up as nothing more than idiosyncratic melodramas from an author too quick to reveal his inspirations.
That aside, Cixin's exploration of a single interesting concept is enjoyable and reminiscent of what I'm seeing people call the Golden Age of sci-fi (Bradbury, Asimov, etc.). The quality of the writing suffered in this compared to the first one--but part of that might be the translation--and several plot points end up as nothing more than idiosyncratic melodramas from an author too quick to reveal his inspirations.
marsius's review against another edition
5.0
EDIT: I just finished Death's End and immediately felt like I had to revise my rating of The Dark Forest to five stars. Yes, the quibbles below remain, but as part of a greater whole it's an achievement. Moreover, as I've thought about it, this was my first exposure to "dark forest theory" as an entirely developed concept. Some, like Hawking, touched on it, but I can't recall ever having come across it as a unified whole before reading it here. In retrospect, The Dark Forest deserved five stars almost for that alone.
The end came kind of out of nowhere and after the breathless chapters before, it almost seemed a bit of a letdown. I’d also have appreciated more world building. Even so, the premise remains entirely novel, and the dialogue is more natural than in the Three Body Problem.
The end came kind of out of nowhere and after the breathless chapters before, it almost seemed a bit of a letdown. I’d also have appreciated more world building. Even so, the premise remains entirely novel, and the dialogue is more natural than in the Three Body Problem.
ellis459's review against another edition
5.0
Damnnn this is a good series!!!! I thought this book had a few parts that dragged a little but overall, incredible.
juliana_aldous's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
violairgendwas's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
xxscramblesxx's review against another edition
4.0
I haven’t read a sci-fi book that focuses so closely on the social aspect of making contact with alien life (I suppose the book literally called Contact, which I also loved, does this - albeit in a very different way).
I find the extrapolation and commentary refreshing and engaging. What would human civilization do when faced with such a threat?
Characters often wax philosophical and the author also engages in flowery and poetic descriptions. Personally, I appreciate it. But I can see where it’d get dull at many points for a fair amount of readers. It’s basically the only reason I’m giving this 4 stars instead of 5.
Honestly, I also feel like a lot of authors would take the ending of this book and call it the end of the series. I don’t have the faintest idea what’ll happen next and I can easily say I’ve never been this eager to see what the ACTUAL final book has in store.
I find the extrapolation and commentary refreshing and engaging. What would human civilization do when faced with such a threat?
Characters often wax philosophical and the author also engages in flowery and poetic descriptions. Personally, I appreciate it. But I can see where it’d get dull at many points for a fair amount of readers. It’s basically the only reason I’m giving this 4 stars instead of 5.
Honestly, I also feel like a lot of authors would take the ending of this book and call it the end of the series. I don’t have the faintest idea what’ll happen next and I can easily say I’ve never been this eager to see what the ACTUAL final book has in store.
cdouthit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
eliathereader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0