> I think I must be the only person who did not like the final volume in this > trilogy. Although that's putting it mildly - I *HATED* the final volume. > Which was devastating to me because I *LOVED* the first two. I *LOVED* the > kids and thought the third one entirely lost the charm of the first two > books. I also completely didn't get the whole idea of that "memespace" thing > which seemed totally illogical and new wave-y bullshit. > > I mentioned all this, by the way, to David Brin (whom I know slightly) at > MilPhil. He was surprised that I disliked the third one so much, but nodded > when I said it was because I liked the kids as much as I did. > > Anyway, it's not the first time I've been a complete contrarian with regard > to a book. > Actually, I agree completely with your assessment. I hated the third book as well. >It simply dropped the entire story line of the first two books in my opinion to go >off on several tangents that were not nearly as interesting as the lines of the first >two books. Now all long series have problems when the author tries to end them (an >exception was The Fall of Hyperion). The River World Trilogy is another example of >endings that just peter out. There is a reason. A well written series of books will >generate lots of interest in the reader especially if stretched out over a few years. >The reader invents lots of potential endings and the author must in the end provide >one finite ending so things can always disappointing. Having said this, Heaven's >Reach was particularly disappointing. All of the facinating stuff about Jijo was >dropped. None of the mysteries of the first trilogy were solved. There was no closure >on many of the themes of the first books. The ending seemed to be ju! ! st grafted onto the story line. It also ended on a very negative note. A diminution of the universe as we know it (less galaxies).
So you are not alone. I hated the third book. In fact since it went off on such a tangent I have often thought Brin could write another novel that actually completed the trilogy with out much loss. > > > "I always knew I'd see the first man on the Moon. I didn't realize I'd also > see the last." - Jerry Pournelle
