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nbmki's review
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
quarkie's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Overall, I liked this book. Though it had what I saw as several distracting flaws, the philosophical questions that were addressed were very interesting.
What I didn't like: One of the first things that I noticed was that the translation for this book was not as good as the one for Three Body Problem. I say this because I felt that a lot of the poetic lyricism had been lost, and it wasn't clear that it was a translation, meaning that some undefinable quality that helped place it in global and historical context was also lost. Spoiler alert: There was also such a great opportunity to really bring the story full circle and come back to the main character's parents who die in the first few pages of the book, but it didn't happen. As is, the ending felt a bit lackluster. The long monologue at the end really came out of nowhere, and was a bit of a slog to get through.
What could have been better: This book jumped from one set of rails to another at several different points. Once I started to think I knew what the book was about, it would shift gears. This wasn't inherently a bad thing, because each new phase had a new question to explore, but it could be quite jarring. Also, really the only through-line in each of these phases was the main character, who I found to be somewhat uninspiring. He was never the driving force behind any of the developments - there was always someone better, smarter, braver who was pushing the plot along. He was along for the ride. At least he was honest with himself and with the readers about that point.
What I liked: The philosophical questions that were examined were very interesting. Some of the major ones were the dangers of a job turned obsession (both ball lightning and weapons, in this case), the differences between soldiers and scientists, the ways in which scientific innovation contributes to war and vice versa, and the possibility of macroscopic quantum effects.
Overall, I'm glad I read it. It was very thought-provoking. As a scientist, it left me with a new perspective on how my work can be used to create and destroy, to save or eliminate. That said, the main questions were wrapped up in a novel that was difficult to get through at times.
What I didn't like: One of the first things that I noticed was that the translation for this book was not as good as the one for Three Body Problem. I say this because I felt that a lot of the poetic lyricism had been lost, and it wasn't clear that it was a translation, meaning that some undefinable quality that helped place it in global and historical context was also lost. Spoiler alert: There was also such a great opportunity to really bring the story full circle and come back to the main character's parents who die in the first few pages of the book, but it didn't happen. As is, the ending felt a bit lackluster. The long monologue at the end really came out of nowhere, and was a bit of a slog to get through.
What could have been better: This book jumped from one set of rails to another at several different points. Once I started to think I knew what the book was about, it would shift gears. This wasn't inherently a bad thing, because each new phase had a new question to explore, but it could be quite jarring. Also, really the only through-line in each of these phases was the main character, who I found to be somewhat uninspiring. He was never the driving force behind any of the developments - there was always someone better, smarter, braver who was pushing the plot along. He was along for the ride. At least he was honest with himself and with the readers about that point.
What I liked: The philosophical questions that were examined were very interesting. Some of the major ones were the dangers of a job turned obsession (both ball lightning and weapons, in this case), the differences between soldiers and scientists, the ways in which scientific innovation contributes to war and vice versa, and the possibility of macroscopic quantum effects.
Overall, I'm glad I read it. It was very thought-provoking. As a scientist, it left me with a new perspective on how my work can be used to create and destroy, to save or eliminate. That said, the main questions were wrapped up in a novel that was difficult to get through at times.
eliaa's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mrbear's review against another edition
4.0
Imaginative and compelling all the way through. It’s nowhere near as epic in scope as the three body problem, and I’d always recommend people read that series first, but this is well-imagined hard SF for people who enjoy the writer’s style. Overall, its not a great novel, with underdeveloped characters, somewhat forced interpersonal relationships, and science that is a bit too farfetched, but it’s still a fun read.
bedwinnjamin's review
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Coming from the Three Body Problem, this book just really wasn't for me. The character and the plot felt a bit pigeonholed. I couldn't really get behind the main character as he didn't feel like a real person. I know it's fiction, but his antics were really breaking my immersion because I just couldn't connect with him. Three body problem works because the characters and time-scale are vast, but this falls apart in my mind because it's so specific and local. Instead of him just being a scientist, he's an obsessed person.
fishky's review
4.0
I don't know why I always forget, but Cixin Liu is funny and weird as fuck. The scientific language can make it seem very smart, measured etc but when you get down to it, this is a ghost story that led to racing thoughts, existential read and a resigned exasperation with the role of the military in scientific exploration. Also, I can't stop reading about ball lightning. I hope that people who like books like Dark Matter give books like these more of a chance in the future.
ccollard58's review
4.0
I always enjoy Cixin Liu because his stories come from the very different viewpoint of mainland China. The cultural perspective is usually odd and often a little surprising, prompting be to try to read up on the cultural revolution or the latest goings-on there.
That aside the characters here are quite engaging and I really enjoyed their discussions. Refreshing and fun in many ways.
The science was interesting as well, although i found the "macro atomic" explanation pretty implausible, but hey, it's science fiction. and outside of that premise the rest of the science was very grounded and rational.
Ball Lightning is not as far-reaching in scope as the three-body series. Liu explains in the afterward that he felt the smaller story was in keeping with the "invention story" pattern that was dominant in Chinese scifi at the time and would be better accepted domestically. I think the great success of three-body shows otherwise though.
Anyway, this book was ultimately a little sad and wistful in it's final result but in a way that I still enjoyed.
Read this for a breath of fresh are in the scifi genre. Definitely worth it.
That aside the characters here are quite engaging and I really enjoyed their discussions. Refreshing and fun in many ways.
The science was interesting as well, although i found the "macro atomic" explanation pretty implausible, but hey, it's science fiction. and outside of that premise the rest of the science was very grounded and rational.
Ball Lightning is not as far-reaching in scope as the three-body series. Liu explains in the afterward that he felt the smaller story was in keeping with the "invention story" pattern that was dominant in Chinese scifi at the time and would be better accepted domestically. I think the great success of three-body shows otherwise though.
Anyway, this book was ultimately a little sad and wistful in it's final result but in a way that I still enjoyed.
Read this for a breath of fresh are in the scifi genre. Definitely worth it.