tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post5896539009340373019..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Death's End by Cixin LiuBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-5005204623123446572018-06-21T18:19:45.181-04:002018-06-21T18:19:45.181-04:00Hi Evelina - The never to be thing was poignant. I...Hi Evelina - The never to be thing was poignant. It was so imaginative especially since it related to the laws of physics. <br /><br />There really is a lot going on in this book. <br /><br />Interesting that you thought Dark Forest was the weakest. In a way, I think that it is best to look at this series as one giant story. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-43262935271933979522018-06-21T10:50:21.362-04:002018-06-21T10:50:21.362-04:00In this book, what I liked the most was how the pa...In this book, what I liked the most was how the parables were used. It was incredible, and just so imaginative. And of course, the classical "never to be" Chinese love story model. And I also felt like this easily might have been the best book in the series! It's so unbelievable.<br /><br />I need to reread this series. It's so complicated that it's very easy to forget, so it's a wonderful story to reread many times, I feel.<br /><br />Dark Forest was actually my least favorite one, though! Because it just kind of gets stuck in the middle xDEvelina @ AvalinahsBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09564183695294142501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-21286043679902726312018-06-21T05:02:12.064-04:002018-06-21T05:02:12.064-04:00Hi Marian- Indeed I thought it was very worthwhile...Hi Marian- Indeed I thought it was very worthwhile. I also thought it got better after the first book. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-73376197187128605422018-06-20T19:26:14.674-04:002018-06-20T19:26:14.674-04:00This will be something to look forward to... I'...This will be something to look forward to... I'm glad the whole trilogy turned out to be worthwhile!Marian Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14115916138435761469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-44206192009113156962018-06-18T23:43:58.132-04:002018-06-18T23:43:58.132-04:00Hi Carol - I am not sure if it is the cause, but s...Hi Carol - I am not sure if it is the cause, but since the new European privicy laws took effect, Blogger comments have been giving all kinds of trouble.. Thanks for the good word! Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-14037492694812282792018-06-18T20:49:45.139-04:002018-06-18T20:49:45.139-04:00Good! That one worked!Good! That one worked!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-82715832681835575842018-06-18T20:48:51.288-04:002018-06-18T20:48:51.288-04:00Hi Brian, I left a comment here but it's gone ...Hi Brian, I left a comment here but it's gone into neverland. I'm not getting notifications of any comments via Blogger - which I know has been happening to others - anyhow just wanted to say your review was very interesting :)Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-49795233906189298312018-06-18T16:13:41.881-04:002018-06-18T16:13:41.881-04:00Hi Harvee - I come back to science fiction from ti...Hi Harvee - I come back to science fiction from time to time. I do enjoy the genre. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-2787332321097879422018-06-18T08:50:38.439-04:002018-06-18T08:50:38.439-04:00Glad you're enjoying sci-fi, fantasy novels to...Glad you're enjoying sci-fi, fantasy novels too. Have a great reading week!Harveehttp://bookdilettante.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-10526451163616642002018-06-17T23:38:07.784-04:002018-06-17T23:38:07.784-04:00Hi Caroline- Sometimes I think of the span of time...Hi Caroline- Sometimes I think of the span of time and I too am overwhelmed. It sucks so much meaning out of things. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-34705004750422759702018-06-17T10:01:31.131-04:002018-06-17T10:01:31.131-04:00This sounded fantastic until when you mention the ...This sounded fantastic until when you mention the ending. As I said in my earlier comment I find the ideas to span such immense time very attractive. Even just reading your review, one can feel like it is crushing for an individual. Dust motes indeed. I liked that quote.Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-24253025612030095082018-06-16T03:28:06.284-04:002018-06-16T03:28:06.284-04:00Thanks Maria. The links to Asimov’s Foundation are...Thanks Maria. The links to Asimov’s Foundation are strong. In fact the series is actually mentioned in this book. I think that you would like that series. I am thinking of rereading it myself. <br /><br />I never thought of the Proust connection. I think that you are absolutely right. I never read Proust myself but I really need to. I think that the dust thing is also Biblical. <br /><br />The technology in this book is fascinating. There are all sorts of very creative things going on. <br /><br />The exploration of gender in this book is not what I expected. As I mentioned, I will be devoting my next blog to it. <br /><br />Have a great weekend! Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-32991678961918047572018-06-16T01:24:58.919-04:002018-06-16T01:24:58.919-04:00BRILLIANT commentary as usual, Brian!
It does sou...BRILLIANT commentary as usual, Brian!<br /><br />It does sound like this trilogy is fascinating in breadth and scope! It reminds me of Asimov's Foundation Trilogy because of this. Not that I've read Asimov's work, I must sheepishly confess....lol. But I know the general synopsis of all three novels, and that his trilogy spans centuries of future time. So I find a similarity between his work and Liu's, in that regard. <br /><br />The title given to the trilogy as a whole -- "Remembrance of Earth's Past" -- also reminds me of Proust's "A La Recherche du Temps Perdu", which has been translated as "In Search of Lost Time", but also as "Remembrance of Things Past". So I think that it's the latter translation that Liu alluded to in titling his trilogy. So this makes me wonder if there is any Proustian influence in this trilogy. I think there is, especially in this third and last book. All the references to Time, how every human endeavor is ephemeral, the way Cheng Xin feels she's simply a mote of dust in the wind (I see another reference here -- to the famous Kansas -- the band -- song, "Dust In The Wind".)<br /><br />So it looks like this work (the trilogy) is, on some level, a massive philosophical reflection on how the concept of Time impacts humanity. Fascinating! (As Spock would say.) There are obviously many other levels present, though. The way the population of Earth unites -- despite some traitors who collaborate with the Trisolarans -- against a common alien threat, the various equally fascinating technological descriptions, all of these point to a work that successfully explores many major themes, while still giving the reader solid characterizations, at least of the main characters. <br /><br />Of course, in this third novel, I also LOVE that the female protagonist is a scientist! I'm sure Liu also promotes feminist ideals through her.<br /><br />I will certainly keep these novels in mind for future reading! I'm adding all three to my Goodreads shelves! Thanks for your very insightful analysis of all three! <3 :)<br /><br />Have a GREAT Saturday!! <3 :)<br />Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-33955973581850515222018-06-15T18:36:24.256-04:002018-06-15T18:36:24.256-04:00Hi Tracy - I would say that if you do not care for...Hi Tracy - I would say that if you do not care for old school science fiction, such as Asimov and Clarke then this book probably will not appeal to you. I really enjoy when science fiction writers explore gender. Stay tuned!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-40636152145598317922018-06-15T18:34:19.836-04:002018-06-15T18:34:19.836-04:00Thanks Lainy/ It is interesting in that I have hea...Thanks Lainy/ It is interesting in that I have heard that the translator of this actually made the book more literary and enhanced its style. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-27051442480286970722018-06-15T12:16:51.316-04:002018-06-15T12:16:51.316-04:00Hmm! Not a big fan of this genre as you know but t...Hmm! Not a big fan of this genre as you know but this does appeal. Looking forward to that post on devoted to Liu’s exploration of gender - something that always fascinates me.Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-68074223323798885822018-06-15T10:01:24.332-04:002018-06-15T10:01:24.332-04:00Whilst your commentary on this is as always fabulo...Whilst your commentary on this is as always fabulous and it does sound like an interesting read I don't do well with translated books, I don't know why xxx<br /><br />Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.netSo many books, so little timehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07564778178609301461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-48772318106206296032018-06-15T00:16:47.898-04:002018-06-15T00:16:47.898-04:00Thanks Hila - Indeed, science fiction is such a go...Thanks Hila - Indeed, science fiction is such a good medium to explore these issues. In this book, the smallness is derived from the books immensity of time.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-58431375742418675712018-06-14T19:36:43.818-04:002018-06-14T19:36:43.818-04:00I enjoy your commentary on these books. And this i...I enjoy your commentary on these books. And this is a theme that comes up in sci-fi, smallness in the face of time (and the universe). So then the question is, how do we make sense of that smallness? How does it change the way we see ourselves, act, and make meaning of our lives? I love exploring these kinds of issues.HKatzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17653570160517335758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-52576299680002815782018-06-14T06:25:04.117-04:002018-06-14T06:25:04.117-04:00Thanks Sharee - The structure of the book is a bit...Thanks Sharee - The structure of the book is a bit odd, as everything that I gave away happens before the halfway point of the book. Parts of the series are a bit technical. I find if something is too technical for me, I just skim over it, I do not worry about the details, and I just accept the outcome as fiction. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-27742928387734543222018-06-14T04:39:17.320-04:002018-06-14T04:39:17.320-04:00I ignored the spoiler warning (which I know is kin...I ignored the spoiler warning (which I know is kind of silly, but I couldn't resist! I love your reviews ;)). I'm really sorry to hear the ending left a bit to be desired - it definitely sounds like The Dark Forest is the better read. I'm in two minds about whether I'd tackle this series, because as wonderful as your reviews are, I'm thinking it might be a bit over my head... maybe chewing through a few more spec-fiction-for-dummies reads first might put me in better stead. Keep up the great work! <3Sheree @ Keeping Up With The Penguinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09387035714160789080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-7252400561034276522018-06-13T17:44:31.405-04:002018-06-13T17:44:31.405-04:00Hi Stefanie- I am curious as to what you will thin...Hi Stefanie- I am curious as to what you will think about The Dark Forest. I really loved it. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-51709408845679567112018-06-13T17:18:43.264-04:002018-06-13T17:18:43.264-04:00I didn't read your entire review because I did...I didn't read your entire review because I didn't want any spoilers. I am glad the book turned out so good and the series too even if the ending wasn't as solid as you had hoped it would be. I am trying to clear my reading plate so I can get to book two in the coming weeks. Looking forward to it!Stefaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14943596258182968212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-71628927836625668882018-06-12T17:59:35.099-04:002018-06-12T17:59:35.099-04:00Hi James - I know that you did not care for the fi...Hi James - I know that you did not care for the first book. I really thought that The Dark Forest was a lot better so I am curious as to what you will think of it. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-20137701680678769902018-06-12T17:57:38.026-04:002018-06-12T17:57:38.026-04:00Hi Whispering Gums - I also say that I often like ...Hi Whispering Gums - I also say that I often like inconclusive endings. But this story could have used a more solid ending. A trilogy is a lot of books. This one lends itself to reading all of them so I would only recamend this to someone very very interested. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com