fdallachy's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is another standalone, despite being the third in a loosely-connected series. It returns to the Poole family, a favourite of Baxter's Xeelee sequence stories, with Michael Poole working to stave off environmental catastrophe on 2040s Earth, whilst a far future human descendent, Alia, learns what 'the Transcendence' is - a new phenomenon in human society which could irrevocably change the species' destiny. As with many(/most?) Baxter books, this is heavily ideas-driven although there are very human plots running through it. If you love a good infodump – about geoengineering, evolutionary possibilities, the consequences of indefinite (though not eternal) life, or the relationship between 'the singularity' and medieval theology - this is a fantastic book and I loved it all. I can accept, though, that if you want drama and action, this may leave you a bit cold.
readerofthings's review against another edition
4.0
The book goes back and forth between two characters and time periods: a man named Michael Poole in the not-too-distant future on Earth, and a girl named Alia who lives on a ship millennia into the future. The Michael Poole story imagines what could happen to the planet and our species if things continue on the course they are on with global warming. Honestly, it seems like something that could possibly happen and it is scary. The more futuristic sections are definitely more in the "sci-fi" category and a little different than what I usually read, but interesting as well. What I like about this book, is that it tells a story of strange possibilities and happenings, but things that seem realistic in their own way. Even though future humans look and do things differently than now, it is plausible that over that long a period of time and with certain conditions, it is not so outlandish for things to happen that way. The story was intriguing and well-written.
mw2k's review
3.0
80% of this book is fine material. The other 20% delves into turgid metaphysics. It is gratifying in a way to catch up with George Poole's descendants and family, to see where they are forty years on...and the far future character of Alia is pleasing too. It's when Baxter tries to emulate the Clarke-like mystical....well, it comes apart a little at the seams.
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