The Naked God, Part 1: Flight

(Reviewed August 16, 2008)

Wow. I knew the ending would be bad, but I had no idea it would be this bad. Probably the biggest anti-climax I have ever experienced in a book. Dozens of developing plot-strands and character arcs simply cut off in a shocking act of "okay I'm sick of writing this now I'll just give one character the power of a god and fix everything". It was an immensely disappointing end to what was quickly becoming one of my favourite sci-fi series.

Everything up until the last fifty or so pages is enjoyable, fun, intense, thrilling, disturbing, I could go on. Robinson has definite skills in universe-building and pure imagination, but his plotting/pacing and character skills are severely lacking. I had the same problems with this the final book that I had with the first two: forgettable characters, poorly thought out scenarios, etc. which can usually be forgiven for the absolute balls-to-the-wall brilliance of the delivery. So I give this a tentative four stars in spite of its blatant flaws because it was just so damn fun to read. I will miss this universe (the Edenists and the Kiint societies are genuinely appealing) but I will certainly not miss any of the characters. I've forgotten most of their names. ( )

(Alistair) And so now to the final volumes of the Night's Dawn trilogy, Flight and Faith, in which the dead are returned to their graves, the vanished planets are returned to the universe, the social organization of the Confederation is overturned, massive revelations are had about those species with which we share the universe, that little shit Quinn Dexter finally gets what he had coming to him, and indeed, all the massive, sprawling plot-threads are wrapped up except for those deliberately intended not to be wrapped up in order to give a sense of an on-going universe in which not everyone gets their problems solved.

(Frankly, I was impressed. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you do sprawling-plot closure. Certain Authors could well take lessons.)

The climax, admittedly, is achieved by something of a deus ex machina, but since the existence of the deus in question is both (a) given away in the title, and (b) set up through the course of various events ever since the first book, I hardly feel it is fair to criticize the series on that point. An intentional deus ex for which the characters had to work damn hard is hardly the same thing, even if it is a literal one.

A good solid piece of spopera, with some fascinating societies (the Edenists in particular), and some fascinating twists. It's not the best I've ever read - I would rate Hamilton's own Fallen Dragon somewhat higher, on reflection - but it's a solid piece of work and a very good read. Certainly recommended for my fellow spopera fans.

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