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christianoliverio 's review for:
The Dark Forest
by Cixin Liu
By the time you know what the Dark Forest is, it is far too late. Welcome to the Doomsday battle!
The Dark Forest centers on four "wallfacers" who are given unlimited resources to do whatever they want. This can be to defeat the incoming alien fleet (like they were supposed to) or to do some unorthodox speed-dating (like our MC did). No one is allowed to question their motives... until far too many lines are crossed. Meanwhile, there are a group of humans who have sided with Trisolaris to undermined these wallfacers, uncovering and revealing their secret plans to the public.
This is a lot faster-paced than The Three Body Problem and finds a way to focus on characters far more too. While still very based in concept, Liu takes the opportunity to explore this concept through well rounded characters. Da Shi returns in all his glory, while our main character, Lou Ji, has a butt ton more personality than Miao. He has entire scenes dedicated to his own personal introspection and relationships with his family. Each of these shape his actions throughout the novel. Additionally, I loved the mystery of him being the least competent wallfacer on the surface, but the only one Trisolaris wants dead. There was a particularly fun sequence where they try to kill him six times in under fifty pages. That's a lot of attempted assassinations in a single day! And he is only one of the wallfacers. Each has a lot of fun dynamics and very intricate and interesting plans to fight the Doomsday Battle. Tyler and Diaz's plan was mindboggling and very "oh, snap!" I very much enjoyed the expositional reveal behind their actions.
But Zhang Beihai really steals the show here, especially in the final act. While a simple soldier on the surface, this man is responsible for discovering and/or implementing so many plot twists. He's a devout patriot who willingly assassinates his own countrymen... without his government's knowledge or approval. Very layered and well thought out character who keeps you guessing on his allegiance. I love characters who, even after you finish the book, make you ask yourself "was he a goodie or a baddie?"
I also enjoyed how this book didn't have nearly as much technical jargon as the first book. Don't get me wrong, there was still plenty of it, but I didn't find myself skimming nearly as much as I was in the Three Body Problem.
In short, we get a sequel that easily surpasses the original in every way. We get a faster plot, far more character development, and some really fun sequences. If you liked Three-Body Problem, you'll love the Dark Forest.
The Dark Forest centers on four "wallfacers" who are given unlimited resources to do whatever they want. This can be to defeat the incoming alien fleet (like they were supposed to) or to do some unorthodox speed-dating (like our MC did). No one is allowed to question their motives... until far too many lines are crossed. Meanwhile, there are a group of humans who have sided with Trisolaris to undermined these wallfacers, uncovering and revealing their secret plans to the public.
This is a lot faster-paced than The Three Body Problem and finds a way to focus on characters far more too. While still very based in concept, Liu takes the opportunity to explore this concept through well rounded characters. Da Shi returns in all his glory, while our main character, Lou Ji, has a butt ton more personality than Miao. He has entire scenes dedicated to his own personal introspection and relationships with his family. Each of these shape his actions throughout the novel. Additionally, I loved the mystery of him being the least competent wallfacer on the surface, but the only one Trisolaris wants dead. There was a particularly fun sequence where they try to kill him six times in under fifty pages. That's a lot of attempted assassinations in a single day! And he is only one of the wallfacers. Each has a lot of fun dynamics and very intricate and interesting plans to fight the Doomsday Battle. Tyler and Diaz's plan was mindboggling and very "oh, snap!" I very much enjoyed the expositional reveal behind their actions.
But Zhang Beihai really steals the show here, especially in the final act. While a simple soldier on the surface, this man is responsible for discovering and/or implementing so many plot twists. He's a devout patriot who willingly assassinates his own countrymen... without his government's knowledge or approval. Very layered and well thought out character who keeps you guessing on his allegiance. I love characters who, even after you finish the book, make you ask yourself "was he a goodie or a baddie?"
I also enjoyed how this book didn't have nearly as much technical jargon as the first book. Don't get me wrong, there was still plenty of it, but I didn't find myself skimming nearly as much as I was in the Three Body Problem.
In short, we get a sequel that easily surpasses the original in every way. We get a faster plot, far more character development, and some really fun sequences. If you liked Three-Body Problem, you'll love the Dark Forest.