Zim wrote:
> Tom wrote:
>> 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
Count me in. I loved Jijo - the idea that several species truly
alien to each other coexisted. The institutionalized concern for
the environment of the planet; I'd have to re read the first two to
really come up with an adequate review of them, but if I did that
I'd be committing myself to rereading a trilogy that in my mind was
never properly completed. Very disappointing.
--
Doug
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.zo.com/~brighto
Irreverence is the champion of liberty.
Mark Twain - Notebook, 1888
