ragnhildy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
cwilliams95's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
permanent_midnight's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
grumpypants's review against another edition
4.0
This is a hard one. I agree with some of the reviewers in here that the sexism is egregious, throughout. Even in the later parts, when the plot picks up much more. Later generations are called "children" by earlier ones and it somehow always seems to be the very few women who get hit with the most child-like comparisons and situations. Not to say the "main woman" who we know so little of, though she might be an absolutely fascinating character (how does she fall in love with main guy, why does she make her decisions?). Ugh.
Even without the sexism, the first 200 pages or so are a very slow read which could have been shortened, though some of the images introduced here do come up again and again, sometimes beautifully.
BUT. The philosophical, ethical and moral questions brought up by this book, the different strategies undertaken by humans, their different positions are gripping. The sci-fi elements are fascinating. Hope and dispair go side by side or follow each other, there are twists and turns and then some more, with a very, very tender ending. I read the French translation so I can't say much of the language, but the images woven throughout are beautiful. Different positions taken by characters are (sometimes painfully) understandable, I even started to feel for main guy even though he's complicated to say the least.
It's a very human book, maybe? With the author showing his humanity as well.
Even without the sexism, the first 200 pages or so are a very slow read which could have been shortened, though some of the images introduced here do come up again and again, sometimes beautifully.
BUT. The philosophical, ethical and moral questions brought up by this book, the different strategies undertaken by humans, their different positions are gripping. The sci-fi elements are fascinating. Hope and dispair go side by side or follow each other, there are twists and turns and then some more, with a very, very tender ending. I read the French translation so I can't say much of the language, but the images woven throughout are beautiful. Different positions taken by characters are (sometimes painfully) understandable, I even started to feel for main guy even though he's complicated to say the least.
It's a very human book, maybe? With the author showing his humanity as well.
nullpointerintime's review against another edition
4.0
A tad overstuffed, but most of the threads came together nicely in the end.
Spoiler
aside from the mental seal stuffallegraallegra's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
sortabadass's review against another edition
5.0
This book and the first in the series, The Three Body Problem, are amazing. The series is hugely popular in China and has recently been translated into English for the first time. If this is the caliber of science fiction in China, I need to start taking Mandarin lessons.
Dark Forest is political intrigue to Three Body's weird (computer) science -- political intrigue of the jihad variety, where the only objective is to end the negotiations breathing. Four men are granted enormous power and resources to battle the looming Trisolarian invasion, yet they can only fight the battle within the confines of their own mind. To speak their plans would be to lay them bare to the enemy. The survival of the human species relies upon their ingenuity, deception, and guile.
Dark Forest is political intrigue to Three Body's weird (computer) science -- political intrigue of the jihad variety, where the only objective is to end the negotiations breathing. Four men are granted enormous power and resources to battle the looming Trisolarian invasion, yet they can only fight the battle within the confines of their own mind. To speak their plans would be to lay them bare to the enemy. The survival of the human species relies upon their ingenuity, deception, and guile.
quin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
akhiljalan's review against another edition
4.0
As far as I know Liu is the first to advance the "Dark Forest" solution to the Fermi Paradox, which is really remarkable! I thought this book shined best when it explored such topics, since the characters and plot were not as compelling to me as the prequel. In particular the main scientist guy (forget his name) strikes me as pretty hard to like or relate to; It feels almost like he's an author stand-in. Nevertheless the book is enjoyable, although it has a pretty different tone and vibe than the prequel. Finally, the climax resolution felt a bit deus ex machina to me. Maybe other readers would have seen it coming but it felt a bit out of nowhere for me and wasn't as satisfying.