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Remembrance of Earth's Past
The Redemption of Time
Set in the universe of the New York Times bestselling Three-Body Problem trilogy, The Redemption of Time continues Cixin Liu’s multi-award-winning science fiction saga. This original story by Baoshu―published with Liu’s support―envisions the aftermath of the conflict between humanity and the extraterrestrial Trisolarans.
In the midst of an interstellar war, Yun Tianming found himself on the front lines. Riddled with cancer, he chose to end his life, only to find himself flash frozen and launched into space where the Trisolaran First Fleet awaited. Captured and tortured beyond endurance for decades, Yun eventually succumbed to helping the aliens subjugate humanity in order to save Earth from complete destruction.
Granted a healthy clone body by the Trisolarans, Yun has spent his very long life in exile as a traitor to the human race. Nearing the end of his existence at last, he suddenly receives another reprieve―and another regeneration. A consciousness calling itself The Spirit has recruited him to wage battle against an entity that threatens the existence of the entire universe. But Yun refuses to be a pawn again and makes his own plans to save humanity’s future…
In the midst of an interstellar war, Yun Tianming found himself on the front lines. Riddled with cancer, he chose to end his life, only to find himself flash frozen and launched into space where the Trisolaran First Fleet awaited. Captured and tortured beyond endurance for decades, Yun eventually succumbed to helping the aliens subjugate humanity in order to save Earth from complete destruction.
Granted a healthy clone body by the Trisolarans, Yun has spent his very long life in exile as a traitor to the human race. Nearing the end of his existence at last, he suddenly receives another reprieve―and another regeneration. A consciousness calling itself The Spirit has recruited him to wage battle against an entity that threatens the existence of the entire universe. But Yun refuses to be a pawn again and makes his own plans to save humanity’s future…
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
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May 24, 2019
This is a fan fiction continuation of Cixin Liu's trilogy, Remembrance of Earth's Past, which includes the books: The Three-Body Problem; The Dark Forest; and Death's End.
The book can be read as a standalone, but will make more sense to people familiar with the original stories.
*****
In his prolog to this novel, the author Baoshu explains that he was one of many Chinese science fiction fans who ardently read and discussed Cixin Liu's trilogy. When Liu wrapped up his saga, many devotees were bereft, and continued the stories with fan fiction. Baoshu was lucky enough to have his book published, and this is it.
Cixin Liu's original trilogy is EXTREMELY complex, but the basic premise is this: alien beings called Trisolarans - from the planet Trisolaris- learn of the existence of intelligent life on Earth. They then head for the little blue planet, determined to wipe humans out. Earthlings become aware of the danger and try to take countermeasures. Complicated maneuvers are undertaken by each side, and there's an epic struggle....and disaster.
Baoshu picks up from there, with a narrative that consists almost entirely of beings talking to each other - so the book 'tells' rather than 'shows.' The lack of action robs the novel of excitement, which is a sharp contrast to the original trilogy, which was action packed. Moreover, Baoshu's 'plot' (such as it is) is murky and confused. Still, I found the book interesting from the point of view of catching up with a few of the original characters, and getting their take on what happened.
As Baoshu's story opens, a human couple - Tianming and his wife AA - are the only two humans living on a remnant of matter configured to look something like Earth. The duo spend their days walking, talking, lounging, sleeping, etc. Tianming has a high-tech ring that lets him conjure up most anything he needs, so the couple's lives are fairly comfortable (if lonely).
Tianming and AA share stories about themselves and discuss folktales popular in their culture. Over time, Tianming tells his wife about his tragic interaction with the Trisolarans. He explains that the Trisolarans captured his brain (it's a long story) and studied it for decades to discover how humans think. The aliens - who are incapable of lying - needed to learn how to be 'deceptive' so they could defeat humankind.
The Trisolarans weren't able to plumb the depths of human cogitation, so they tortured Tianming (with hallucinations and dreams) until he agreed to help them destroy Earth's inhabitants. Tianming tried to trick his captors, but one thing led to another and bad things happened. Cixin Liu didn't describe the Trisolarans in his trilogy, but Baoshu gives us a word picture of their appearance, which isn't impressive. 😏
After many decades in their Earth-like environment, Tianming and AA grow old.....and AA dies. Tianming then enters a mini-universe where a 'voice' - which calls itself the Spirit of the Master - explains a few things to him.
The Spirit informs Tianming that there are two immensely powerful entities in the universe, namely the 'Master' (think female God) and the 'Lurker' (her rebellious son). The Spirit goes on to say that the universe originally had ten dimensions, but the Lurker's attacks reduced the number of dimensions one by one, which resulted in changes in the nature of time and alterations in the speed of light. The Lurker seems determined to reduce the universe to rubble (so to speak) for his own purposes.
The Master wants to destroy the Lurker so she can start the universe again from scratch. There's a great deal of pseudo-scientific chit chat to explain all this, and it's all a bit muddled.
After the Spirit tells Tianming about the Master and the Lurker, she asks him to become a 'Seeker' - a being that searches for the Lurker so the Master can destroy him. To accomplish this, Tianming's mind is filled with 'ideabstractions' (knowledge) and he's given an indestructible brawny, athletic body. Tianming then goes off to look for other Seekers, in hopes they can join forces to locate the Lurker.
Tianming's quest spans billions of years, during which the Lurker's minions are busy destroying intelligent life in the universe.
As things play out, there's a great deal of trickery and deception - and things aren't always as they seem. After the book's climax, the author has some fun with 'alternative history', and this part is rather entertaining.
In addition to talking about the 'science of the universe', entities in the book often discuss myths, songs, and fairy tales popular in their culture. These, it turns out, pass vital information down through the generations.....which is an interesting idea.
I applaud Baoshu for the effort he put into writing this narrative, but - in the end - it lacks Cixin Liu's soaring imagination and inventiveness. In addition, it's confusing and hard to comprehend. Still, the book might fill a hole for some readers.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Baoshu), and the publisher (Head of Zeus) for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
July 22, 2019
Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy is my favorite sci-fi work. Since I read it, I kept looking for another to match it but so far, I had no luck. Obviously, when I heard about this ‘paraquel’, my excitement skyrocketed.
And then, the publication day arrived. Few pages in and I almost started crying of disappointment. I’m sorry to say but the dialogue / interaction between Tianming and 艾 AA is one of the worst out there. However, I kept reading because something must be there. And damn, to my relief, there was.
The story is structured in 3 parts, a coda and a post coda. Part 1 is the one I told above. But after that, everything is as I expected. I loved how ingenious Baoshu continued the story from Death's End, from universe 647 and beyond.
I’ve always loved in sci-fi a grand scope and the immensity of the universe, but the one depicted here is beyond any imagination. Baoshu’s worldbuilding is without a flaw and so are the threads he weaves within. The dialogues and interaction between Tianming and other characters are where the narration is weak. Thankfully, there are not many after the first part, so they didn’t bother me much.
So, if you’re wondering what happened with the two-dimensional fold, the Singer, Sophon, universe 647, Cheng Xin and of course, Yun Tianming - you’ll find your answers. Well, Baoshu’s, but they are great, in the spirit of the main trilogy. And the end will bring a surprise, one that I would have never thought of; I think it brought a big grin on Liu Cixin’s face.
Recommended just for those who read the Remembrance of Earth's Past series and look for some answers. Read as a standalone, I don’t think it will make much sense.
And then, the publication day arrived. Few pages in and I almost started crying of disappointment. I’m sorry to say but the dialogue / interaction between Tianming and 艾 AA is one of the worst out there. However, I kept reading because something must be there. And damn, to my relief, there was.
The story is structured in 3 parts, a coda and a post coda. Part 1 is the one I told above. But after that, everything is as I expected. I loved how ingenious Baoshu continued the story from Death's End, from universe 647 and beyond.
I’ve always loved in sci-fi a grand scope and the immensity of the universe, but the one depicted here is beyond any imagination. Baoshu’s worldbuilding is without a flaw and so are the threads he weaves within. The dialogues and interaction between Tianming and other characters are where the narration is weak. Thankfully, there are not many after the first part, so they didn’t bother me much.
So, if you’re wondering what happened with the two-dimensional fold, the Singer, Sophon, universe 647, Cheng Xin and of course, Yun Tianming - you’ll find your answers. Well, Baoshu’s, but they are great, in the spirit of the main trilogy. And the end will bring a surprise, one that I would have never thought of; I think it brought a big grin on Liu Cixin’s face.
Recommended just for those who read the Remembrance of Earth's Past series and look for some answers. Read as a standalone, I don’t think it will make much sense.
February 8, 2022
Now that was one strange book!
First of all, I must mention that this is a sequel to a moderately-popular but extremely cool trilogy by Liu Cixin, "Remembrance of Earth's past", better known by the name of its first book - The Three-Body Problem. While it is an unofficial sequel (as a matter of fact, it is more of a mix of interlude and epilogue), it is done with all the blessings by The Man himself, Cixin. So I'd rather think that this is some 75% official.
So, um... What's more to tell? The annotation sums up the plot pretty well, so I won't repeat it here. Still, I think it's worth mentioning that the original trilogy had dealt with such topics as first contact, aliens, faster-than-light travel, quantum communications, a multi-dimensional universe, strange guns (like a gun that decreases the number of dimensions in one particular part of the universe) and so on. The main theme of this book is... tadadadadam... Time. Or, more specifically, the continuum of time and the role of the universe in that aforementioned continuum. So, yes, it is yet again a really hard sci-fi.
That said, Baoshu CAN write and he does it really well. If I read this book without knowing it, I'd definitely would have said that it is by Cixin himself. The style, the explanations, the plot, the characters - it all match.
The story is quite strange, as I've told you already. But I guess it is expected if the theme is time continuum in the multidimensional universe, right? The characters felt typically Chinese - they think and act differently than us, westerners. But it is not hard to feel a connection with them nevertheless.
And the funniest part is the ending, which left me grinning. And please note, I never said that me grinning means that it was a happy ending. If I may, only a slight slight spoiler - it is a non-ending at all.
I feel that 4* are really well deserved for this book. It lacked a bit of pace and general action as a whole, and that part about westerners not understanding the Chinese properly might have had a tiny effect, but the main drawback for me probably was a bit too complicated physics for my average joe knowledge. Still, it had been a really fun ride.
First of all, I must mention that this is a sequel to a moderately-popular but extremely cool trilogy by Liu Cixin, "Remembrance of Earth's past", better known by the name of its first book - The Three-Body Problem. While it is an unofficial sequel (as a matter of fact, it is more of a mix of interlude and epilogue), it is done with all the blessings by The Man himself, Cixin. So I'd rather think that this is some 75% official.
So, um... What's more to tell? The annotation sums up the plot pretty well, so I won't repeat it here. Still, I think it's worth mentioning that the original trilogy had dealt with such topics as first contact, aliens, faster-than-light travel, quantum communications, a multi-dimensional universe, strange guns (like a gun that decreases the number of dimensions in one particular part of the universe) and so on. The main theme of this book is... tadadadadam... Time. Or, more specifically, the continuum of time and the role of the universe in that aforementioned continuum. So, yes, it is yet again a really hard sci-fi.
That said, Baoshu CAN write and he does it really well. If I read this book without knowing it, I'd definitely would have said that it is by Cixin himself. The style, the explanations, the plot, the characters - it all match.
The story is quite strange, as I've told you already. But I guess it is expected if the theme is time continuum in the multidimensional universe, right? The characters felt typically Chinese - they think and act differently than us, westerners. But it is not hard to feel a connection with them nevertheless.
And the funniest part is the ending, which left me grinning. And please note, I never said that me grinning means that it was a happy ending. If I may, only a slight slight spoiler - it is a non-ending at all.
I feel that 4* are really well deserved for this book. It lacked a bit of pace and general action as a whole, and that part about westerners not understanding the Chinese properly might have had a tiny effect, but the main drawback for me probably was a bit too complicated physics for my average joe knowledge. Still, it had been a really fun ride.
November 1, 2021
La novela responde a las incógnitas que quedaban pendientes en la Trilogía de los tres cuerpos, de Liu Cixin.
Entretenida y muy interesante, pero mejor tener la trilogía fresquita, que si no te puedes liar. Si no la has leído, esta novela no tiene sentido. 3,5🌟
Entretenida y muy interesante, pero mejor tener la trilogía fresquita, que si no te puedes liar. Si no la has leído, esta novela no tiene sentido. 3,5🌟
August 20, 2019
The No-Body Problem
I didn't expect to pick up Baoshu's fan-fiction-turned-canon paraquel to Cixin Liu's excellent Three-Body Problem trilogy until I came upon it at the bookstore. It was a snap decision, and one I'm actually quite sorry I made.
I don't inherently dislike the idea of fan fiction being turned into author-approved published material, but this amplifies some of the weaker aspects of the original trilogy and also muddies up some of my favourite parts of the last instalment. We follow Yun Tianming, who you may recall was a brain jettisoned into space during Death's End, through the trials and tribulations he experiences at the hands of the Trisolarans.
To be honest, this novel is really three stories that are connected by Tianming, terrible dialogue, and some wacky concepts. If you enjoyed the dimensionalization of the universe from the last book, prepare to experience a hell of a lot of confusing, pseudo-theological storytelling involving higher dimensions. Tianming also becomes some sort of physics-based Green Lantern during the second story? Really, this stuff seemed more fantastical than anything that happens in Cixin Liu's trilogy.
After getting through the cringey romance dialogue of the first book, I was then subject to exposition about Tianming's new role as the aforementioned Green Lantern-y thing. The dialogue continues to feel clunky throughout and the world-crashing, mind-expanding writing of Liu is not well replicated. In short, this really feels like a fan's best stab at recreating the things he most enjoyed about the trilogy but he misses the mark.
I'm sure some super fans are going to be happy to return to Cixin Liu's world, but for me this was a book I should have passed by in the store. I think it would have better spent my money on any of the other Chinese science-fiction novels that are being published these days. Unfortunately, this one is a definite skip.
I didn't expect to pick up Baoshu's fan-fiction-turned-canon paraquel to Cixin Liu's excellent Three-Body Problem trilogy until I came upon it at the bookstore. It was a snap decision, and one I'm actually quite sorry I made.
I don't inherently dislike the idea of fan fiction being turned into author-approved published material, but this amplifies some of the weaker aspects of the original trilogy and also muddies up some of my favourite parts of the last instalment. We follow Yun Tianming, who you may recall was a brain jettisoned into space during Death's End, through the trials and tribulations he experiences at the hands of the Trisolarans.
To be honest, this novel is really three stories that are connected by Tianming, terrible dialogue, and some wacky concepts. If you enjoyed the dimensionalization of the universe from the last book, prepare to experience a hell of a lot of confusing, pseudo-theological storytelling involving higher dimensions. Tianming also becomes some sort of physics-based Green Lantern during the second story? Really, this stuff seemed more fantastical than anything that happens in Cixin Liu's trilogy.
After getting through the cringey romance dialogue of the first book, I was then subject to exposition about Tianming's new role as the aforementioned Green Lantern-y thing. The dialogue continues to feel clunky throughout and the world-crashing, mind-expanding writing of Liu is not well replicated. In short, this really feels like a fan's best stab at recreating the things he most enjoyed about the trilogy but he misses the mark.
I'm sure some super fans are going to be happy to return to Cixin Liu's world, but for me this was a book I should have passed by in the store. I think it would have better spent my money on any of the other Chinese science-fiction novels that are being published these days. Unfortunately, this one is a definite skip.
February 15, 2020
For those that have not read the entire Three Body Problem trilogy by Cixin Liu, The Redemption of Time will make little sense as its story and its characters all derive from the trilogy. That being said, fans of 3BP will be happy to hang with one of their favorite characters thru this particularly interesting and speculative adventure where the enjeu is the fate of all the mini-verses and universes combined. Baoshu has a distinct voice different than that of Cixin Liu and, IMHO, is a slightly less talented write, but his ideas are quite interesting and it makes for an interesting read - I found it better than Ball Lightning in any case.
Which brings me back to a question posed on a previous review: Whence the 3BP film??
Which brings me back to a question posed on a previous review: Whence the 3BP film??
October 23, 2022
The Singer heard the King’s voice, cool yet passionate, like a burning comet, like a frozen solar corona, as distant as a river of stars, as melancholy as a cooling star-fog, as moving as the love that he had never had :
-The stars appear as ghosts in our sight
-We appear as ghosts in the stars’ sight
A masterpiece of scifi
(my second -long- reading)
The unfolding of the story, which spanned a very substantial time-period (billion of years) conveys the stark reality of the infinitesimally brief lifespan of humans against that of the universe and the immeasurably vast distances of space.
This is definitely on a whole new level from any other sci-fi story I have read. Like I said, take my opinion how you want, but I guarante when you reach the end of this book you will be completely shocked and in awe of the outcome. The title itself brings a whole new meaning to "the meaning of everything"
I understand the 4 Books of Remembrance of Earth's Past Series may not appeal to everyone. However, I am a firm believer if you enjoy sci-fi, then this is a story you need to read.
I'm completely fascinated by all of the books in the Remembrance of Earth's Past series
Darkness was the mother of life and civilization.
-The stars appear as ghosts in our sight
-We appear as ghosts in the stars’ sight
A masterpiece of scifi
(my second -long- reading)
The unfolding of the story, which spanned a very substantial time-period (billion of years) conveys the stark reality of the infinitesimally brief lifespan of humans against that of the universe and the immeasurably vast distances of space.
This is definitely on a whole new level from any other sci-fi story I have read. Like I said, take my opinion how you want, but I guarante when you reach the end of this book you will be completely shocked and in awe of the outcome. The title itself brings a whole new meaning to "the meaning of everything"
I understand the 4 Books of Remembrance of Earth's Past Series may not appeal to everyone. However, I am a firm believer if you enjoy sci-fi, then this is a story you need to read.
I'm completely fascinated by all of the books in the Remembrance of Earth's Past series
Darkness was the mother of life and civilization.
August 15, 2019
Like the Three Body Problem trilogy, this is full of interesting ideas. The first part of the book fills some of the blanks in the trilogy, while the rest is a sequel of sorts.
However, it doubles down on the worst aspect of the other books: blatant and infuriating sexism. The female characters are either backdrop for the protagonist, which is the ultimate "Gary Sue", or they make stupid mistakes because of "feelings". The creatures of a billions year old civilization are separated into "indurates" and "pliant", and of course the latter is referred to as "she". "Dying on top of a naked woman isn’t the worst way to go" is an actual quote from the book. An amazingly powerful woman which is attempting to save the universe and sacrifices herself for The Protagonist ends up being raped and becomes some guy's "favorite escort", for no purpose whatsoever in the plot.
The trilogy almost made up for its sexism with its brilliant plot, but I can't say the same happens here. I'm honestly baffled and kind of disappointed on how Ken Liu, a much better author, managed to like and translate this.
The last straw is that one character refers to Haruhi Suzumiya (you read that right) as a "stupid cartoon" ;)
However, it doubles down on the worst aspect of the other books: blatant and infuriating sexism. The female characters are either backdrop for the protagonist, which is the ultimate "Gary Sue", or they make stupid mistakes because of "feelings". The creatures of a billions year old civilization are separated into "indurates" and "pliant", and of course the latter is referred to as "she". "Dying on top of a naked woman isn’t the worst way to go" is an actual quote from the book. An amazingly powerful woman which is attempting to save the universe and sacrifices herself for The Protagonist ends up being raped and becomes some guy's "favorite escort", for no purpose whatsoever in the plot.
The trilogy almost made up for its sexism with its brilliant plot, but I can't say the same happens here. I'm honestly baffled and kind of disappointed on how Ken Liu, a much better author, managed to like and translate this.
The last straw is that one character refers to Haruhi Suzumiya (you read that right) as a "stupid cartoon" ;)
April 12, 2022
«La redención del tiempo» es una novela del autor chino Baoshu que amplía la historia de «La trilogía de los Tres Cuerpos» y que además actúa como homenaje a la misma y a su autor. Como buena fan que soy de la trilogía, no me pude resistir a leerla y, os voy a ser sincera, si pudiera dar marcha atrás en el tiempo, no lo volvería a hacer.
La primera mitad de la novela sí me estaba gustando, completa momentos que en la trilogía no se nos cuentan y que realmente producen curiosidad en el lector: ¿qué le sucedió a Yun Tianming? (perdonad que no diga más, no quiero hacer spoiler, los que lo habéis leído sabéis a qué me refiero). Esta parte me tuvo entretenida y me gustaron algunas de las invenciones de Baoshu, pero después todo cambia y la novela, para mí, se aleja mucho de las intenciones de la trilogía y también de la ciencia ficción.
Hay una cosa que me encanta de «La trilogía de los Tres Cuerpos» y es que siento que todo lo que ahí se nos cuenta, todo lo que crea e imagina Liu puede ser real y, además, considero que está bien fundamentado. En «La redención del tiempo» llegó un momento en que todo era demasiado fantasioso y me dio la impresión de estar leyendo un retelling muy extraño de algún pasaje bíblico. Para completar mi decepción llegó el capítulo final que me hizo echarme las manos a la cabeza y preguntarme: ¿por qué, Baoshu?
Por otro lado, no me ha gustado nada el estilo narrativo del autor. Además de poco pulido y nada elegante, adolece de una falta de sutilidad importante. Baoshu suelta su historia a borbotones y según le vino a la cabeza.
No puedo dejar de comentar lo terriblemente machista y misógino que es; Liu tenía algunas cosas que, bueno, molestaban, pero esto ya es otro nivel. El retrato que este hombre hace de las mujeres es vergonzoso y es lo que más me ha molestado del libro con mucha diferencia.
Personalmente no lo recomiendo. Primero por la misoginia recalcitrante y segundo porque lo poco que aporta lo destruye según avanza la novela. Decepción mayúscula.
La primera mitad de la novela sí me estaba gustando, completa momentos que en la trilogía no se nos cuentan y que realmente producen curiosidad en el lector: ¿qué le sucedió a Yun Tianming? (perdonad que no diga más, no quiero hacer spoiler, los que lo habéis leído sabéis a qué me refiero). Esta parte me tuvo entretenida y me gustaron algunas de las invenciones de Baoshu, pero después todo cambia y la novela, para mí, se aleja mucho de las intenciones de la trilogía y también de la ciencia ficción.
Hay una cosa que me encanta de «La trilogía de los Tres Cuerpos» y es que siento que todo lo que ahí se nos cuenta, todo lo que crea e imagina Liu puede ser real y, además, considero que está bien fundamentado. En «La redención del tiempo» llegó un momento en que todo era demasiado fantasioso y me dio la impresión de estar leyendo un retelling muy extraño de algún pasaje bíblico. Para completar mi decepción llegó el capítulo final que me hizo echarme las manos a la cabeza y preguntarme: ¿por qué, Baoshu?
Por otro lado, no me ha gustado nada el estilo narrativo del autor. Además de poco pulido y nada elegante, adolece de una falta de sutilidad importante. Baoshu suelta su historia a borbotones y según le vino a la cabeza.
No puedo dejar de comentar lo terriblemente machista y misógino que es; Liu tenía algunas cosas que, bueno, molestaban, pero esto ya es otro nivel. El retrato que este hombre hace de las mujeres es vergonzoso y es lo que más me ha molestado del libro con mucha diferencia.
Personalmente no lo recomiendo. Primero por la misoginia recalcitrante y segundo porque lo poco que aporta lo destruye según avanza la novela. Decepción mayúscula.
October 12, 2022
This is definitely a case of wanting to like the concept and the tale more than actually enjoying it.
The Three-Body Problem series is one of my all-time favorite SFs and I was initially dismayed and then vaguely curious to hear that a lucky fan fiction that had come out days after the release of the third book had taken off so hard that it was later canonized with the originals. The author was quick to point out that that wasn't the intent, however, and it should be read in the spirit it was written: for fun.
So that's what I did. And in some ways, it exceeded many expectations. Think hardcore Stephen Baxter with a scope that not only spans the lifetime of the universe and beyond it, but even multiple iterations and re-dos with vast uber-intelligent entities playing out an ongoing story that attempts to settle the Dark Forest question at last.
I did enjoy the real physics talk and the exploration of living in different dimensions (not nearly as hokey as one might believe) that was explored in the originals. I also loved the grand scheme, the philosophical questions, and even in the inclusion of myths and old tales in the down-to-earth bits. (All irony included)
What I suppose I missed most, however, was the actual grounding of the novel. A love story is good, mind you, and so is an epic battle between very epic forces, but I got to the point where I didn't care EXCEPT for the high-concept bits.
The originals were much better for this.
However, there is quite a bit of good in here and I wouldn't automatically dismiss it. But please, whatever you do, read the originals first. This wouldn't make ANY sense whatsoever without them.
The Three-Body Problem series is one of my all-time favorite SFs and I was initially dismayed and then vaguely curious to hear that a lucky fan fiction that had come out days after the release of the third book had taken off so hard that it was later canonized with the originals. The author was quick to point out that that wasn't the intent, however, and it should be read in the spirit it was written: for fun.
So that's what I did. And in some ways, it exceeded many expectations. Think hardcore Stephen Baxter with a scope that not only spans the lifetime of the universe and beyond it, but even multiple iterations and re-dos with vast uber-intelligent entities playing out an ongoing story that attempts to settle the Dark Forest question at last.
I did enjoy the real physics talk and the exploration of living in different dimensions (not nearly as hokey as one might believe) that was explored in the originals. I also loved the grand scheme, the philosophical questions, and even in the inclusion of myths and old tales in the down-to-earth bits. (All irony included)
What I suppose I missed most, however, was the actual grounding of the novel. A love story is good, mind you, and so is an epic battle between very epic forces, but I got to the point where I didn't care EXCEPT for the high-concept bits.
The originals were much better for this.
However, there is quite a bit of good in here and I wouldn't automatically dismiss it. But please, whatever you do, read the originals first. This wouldn't make ANY sense whatsoever without them.
March 10, 2021
3.5
Una historia en forma de homenaje de Baoshu a una gran trilogía como es "El problema de los tres cuerpos". Responde algunas preguntas que quedaron abiertas en la trilogía original, desvela algunos misterios y le da un nuevo cierre con un detallito final que me ha parecido UNA PASADA.
Mi problema: haberlo leído habiendo pasado tanto tiempo desde que terminé la trilogía. Creo que lo hubiese disfrutado infinitamente más si lo hubiese leído cuando tocaba, hace meses, porque se me ha hecho un poco follón mental.
Pero aún así, muy chulo.
Una historia en forma de homenaje de Baoshu a una gran trilogía como es "El problema de los tres cuerpos". Responde algunas preguntas que quedaron abiertas en la trilogía original, desvela algunos misterios y le da un nuevo cierre con un detallito final que me ha parecido UNA PASADA.
Mi problema: haberlo leído habiendo pasado tanto tiempo desde que terminé la trilogía. Creo que lo hubiese disfrutado infinitamente más si lo hubiese leído cuando tocaba, hace meses, porque se me ha hecho un poco follón mental.
Pero aún así, muy chulo.
July 15, 2019
Liu Cixin has the big ideas, but is a disastrously bad writer. Baoshu -- somehow -- is even worse. This is a hilariously stupid book. Also, once again insipid Cheng Xin has one job, and blows it. What with the Japanese porn star avatar, there's a nasty vein of misogyny running through this as well.
September 13, 2020
Si bien no está al nivel de la trilogía de los Tres Cuerpos, es un libro que da un cierre todavía mejor a la trilogía de Liu y da respuesta a varias preguntas que quedan en el aire. ¿Qué le pasó a Tianming? ¿Quién es Rapsoda? ¿Que ocurre en el universo?
Una muy buena lectura para acabar de complementar el universo creado por Cixin Liu.
Muy recomendable si se ha leído la trilogía.
Una muy buena lectura para acabar de complementar el universo creado por Cixin Liu.
Muy recomendable si se ha leído la trilogía.
July 16, 2019
This review and others can be found on my blog, Black Forest Basilisks.
The Redemption of Time by Baoshu is a paraquel within Cixin Liu’s Remembrances of Earth’s Past trilogy, containing The Three-Body Problem, The Dark Forest, and Death’s End. The events within The Redemption of Time take place in parallel with the events in Death’s End and shed light on a few open-ended questions raised in the primary trilogy.
While I think there’s a lot for Three-Body fans to enjoy in this novel, I felt that Baoshu’s contribution to the universe lacked the urgency and depth of the main trilogy. Where Cixin had a set, specific danger within each of his books, Baoshu takes on more of a historian role; the first third of the book is entirely contained within a conversation between two characters, Tianming and AA, discussing what has already happened to them. The section felt very dry, as it removed much of the tension – we know how it ends and we already have a general outline from The Dark Forest regarding the interim. The “romance” (if it can be called that…) between Tianming and AA felt forced and didn’t have that je ne sais quoi that makes a love feel genuine. I can buy that two people who live on a planet together without any other human contact would eventually fall in love. I can’t buy
However, that said, it was interesting to hear a few more details on Trisolaran culture, history, and appearance. I’d always been curious as to what they looked like and how their society was structured, and The Redemption of Time absolutely pays off on this front with clear and reasonable explanations that fit nicely in to the overall series mythos.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the direction the final two thirds of the book took. It changed the scope from being “multiple civilizations against one another” to, essentially, “God vs his fallen son, Lucifer” (albeit with altered terminology). It felt rather lazy and off-tone compared to the original trilogy, which had more nuance and made a statement about existence as it is rather than creating an off-shoot fantasy-style universe. It was an odd blend of fantastic elements, scifi, and religion that simply did not work well for me.
The prose is similar to that of Cixin Liu, likely due to Ken Liu being the translator for both authors. While it’s nothing to write home about, it is functional and easy to read. Fans of poetic, purple prose are not likely to enjoy this book unless they’re also okay with dry, workmanlike writing.
Overall, this is a short, worthwhile read for fans of Three-Body thirsting for more information with the Cixin Liu stamp of approval… but if you didn’t absolutely love Three-Body, I would not recommend it.
“The average person used only a small part of their brain, and the cruel Trisolarans unintentionall forced Tianming to realize more and more of his mind’s infinite potential. Despite repeated all-out assaults in this epic of pschomania, the technologically far superior Trisolarans failed to breach the fortress Tianming had constructed in his mind, and had to admit defeat.”
The Redemption of Time by Baoshu is a paraquel within Cixin Liu’s Remembrances of Earth’s Past trilogy, containing The Three-Body Problem, The Dark Forest, and Death’s End. The events within The Redemption of Time take place in parallel with the events in Death’s End and shed light on a few open-ended questions raised in the primary trilogy.
While I think there’s a lot for Three-Body fans to enjoy in this novel, I felt that Baoshu’s contribution to the universe lacked the urgency and depth of the main trilogy. Where Cixin had a set, specific danger within each of his books, Baoshu takes on more of a historian role; the first third of the book is entirely contained within a conversation between two characters, Tianming and AA, discussing what has already happened to them. The section felt very dry, as it removed much of the tension – we know how it ends and we already have a general outline from The Dark Forest regarding the interim. The “romance” (if it can be called that…) between Tianming and AA felt forced and didn’t have that je ne sais quoi that makes a love feel genuine. I can buy that two people who live on a planet together without any other human contact would eventually fall in love. I can’t buy
However, that said, it was interesting to hear a few more details on Trisolaran culture, history, and appearance. I’d always been curious as to what they looked like and how their society was structured, and The Redemption of Time absolutely pays off on this front with clear and reasonable explanations that fit nicely in to the overall series mythos.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the direction the final two thirds of the book took. It changed the scope from being “multiple civilizations against one another” to, essentially, “God vs his fallen son, Lucifer” (albeit with altered terminology). It felt rather lazy and off-tone compared to the original trilogy, which had more nuance and made a statement about existence as it is rather than creating an off-shoot fantasy-style universe. It was an odd blend of fantastic elements, scifi, and religion that simply did not work well for me.
The prose is similar to that of Cixin Liu, likely due to Ken Liu being the translator for both authors. While it’s nothing to write home about, it is functional and easy to read. Fans of poetic, purple prose are not likely to enjoy this book unless they’re also okay with dry, workmanlike writing.
Overall, this is a short, worthwhile read for fans of Three-Body thirsting for more information with the Cixin Liu stamp of approval… but if you didn’t absolutely love Three-Body, I would not recommend it.
November 18, 2018
Lo suyo seria 3.75, pero como no se puede y es una lectura que he disfrutado bastante, le pongo las 4 estrellas.
Lo que más me ha gustado de esta historia es la gran cantidad de información que se nos revela y que nos ayuda a comprender mejor ciertas partes de la trilogía original. Estas revelaciones las obtendremos gracias a Tianming, un personaje bastante misterioso durante los libros anteriores, y que ahora gana un merecido protagonismo.
El mayor problema de esta novela, es que llegado el momento, la trama principal se desvía de lo visto hasta el momento, y a pesar de que el camino que toma no me desagrada, si lo hace el modo narrativo en el que lo hace, algo caótico y sin terminar de sacar provecho a lo que se nos cuenta.
Resumiendo, lectura muy recomendable para los seguidores de Liu, ya que estoy convencido de que vais a disfrutar mucho con ella.
Como siempre, os dejo el enlace a mi blog, por si queréis darle un vistazo a la reseña más completa que dejé allí:
https://fantasiascifiymuchomas.blogsp...
Lo que más me ha gustado de esta historia es la gran cantidad de información que se nos revela y que nos ayuda a comprender mejor ciertas partes de la trilogía original. Estas revelaciones las obtendremos gracias a Tianming, un personaje bastante misterioso durante los libros anteriores, y que ahora gana un merecido protagonismo.
El mayor problema de esta novela, es que llegado el momento, la trama principal se desvía de lo visto hasta el momento, y a pesar de que el camino que toma no me desagrada, si lo hace el modo narrativo en el que lo hace, algo caótico y sin terminar de sacar provecho a lo que se nos cuenta.
Resumiendo, lectura muy recomendable para los seguidores de Liu, ya que estoy convencido de que vais a disfrutar mucho con ella.
Como siempre, os dejo el enlace a mi blog, por si queréis darle un vistazo a la reseña más completa que dejé allí:
https://fantasiascifiymuchomas.blogsp...
October 10, 2019
The book started out well. The story fills out some of the loose threads. Alas after about 120 pages we got lost in a dimensional time warp with characters like the Master and the Lurker. Baoshu is trying to explain too much. Sometimes it is better to leave things unsaid.
March 27, 2021
2.6| Dieser Roman hinterläßt bei mir einen sehr zwiespältigen Eindruck, einerseits hinterläßt der Erstling von Baoshu, angesiedelt in Cixin Liu's (und von ihm autorisiert) Trisolaris-Trilogie (
,
,
) einen ambitionierten Eindruck, andererseits ist die Handlung noch verschwurbelter und esoterischer als der 3. Teil der Trisolaris-Trilogie. In diesem Fanroman erzählt Baoshu von den Abenteuern Yun Tianmings, der bei Cixin Liu's Trilogie als Bewusstsein/Hirn in die Gewalt der Trisolarier gerät und dabei bis auf Blut gequält, manipuliert und vereinnahmt wird. Später findet er dann einen Ruheplatz auf Planet Blau in einem künstlichen Mini-Universum, wo er mit einer attraktiven Frau leben darf und ein scheinbar „normales“ Menschenleben bis zum Ende führen wollte, bevor er von omnipotenten Mächten auf eine Reise bis ans Ende der Zeit und durch viele Universen geführt wird. War er Roman zum Anfang noch einigermaßen verhaftet in unserem wissenschaftlichen Weltbild, so wird er zum Ende hin immer verquaster und esoterischer, er führt schließlich zu einer absurden Kosmologie, wo Dimensionen gelöscht und wieder erhöht werden, wo gottähnliche Figuren mit Universen hantieren, sie erschaffen und wieder löschen und vieles andere mehr. Ich kann gar nicht all den absurden Kram hier erläutern, der fast auf jeder Seite dargelegt wird. Einen poetischen Moment hat der Roman doch noch, als ein Ingenieur eines chinesischen Atomkraftwerks namens Cixin Liu in einem neuen Universum die Geschichte Yun Tianmings aufschreibt und den ersten Band der Trilogie "Die drei Sonnen" nennt...
,
,
) einen ambitionierten Eindruck, andererseits ist die Handlung noch verschwurbelter und esoterischer als der 3. Teil der Trisolaris-Trilogie. In diesem Fanroman erzählt Baoshu von den Abenteuern Yun Tianmings, der bei Cixin Liu's Trilogie als Bewusstsein/Hirn in die Gewalt der Trisolarier gerät und dabei bis auf Blut gequält, manipuliert und vereinnahmt wird. Später findet er dann einen Ruheplatz auf Planet Blau in einem künstlichen Mini-Universum, wo er mit einer attraktiven Frau leben darf und ein scheinbar „normales“ Menschenleben bis zum Ende führen wollte, bevor er von omnipotenten Mächten auf eine Reise bis ans Ende der Zeit und durch viele Universen geführt wird. War er Roman zum Anfang noch einigermaßen verhaftet in unserem wissenschaftlichen Weltbild, so wird er zum Ende hin immer verquaster und esoterischer, er führt schließlich zu einer absurden Kosmologie, wo Dimensionen gelöscht und wieder erhöht werden, wo gottähnliche Figuren mit Universen hantieren, sie erschaffen und wieder löschen und vieles andere mehr. Ich kann gar nicht all den absurden Kram hier erläutern, der fast auf jeder Seite dargelegt wird. Einen poetischen Moment hat der Roman doch noch, als ein Ingenieur eines chinesischen Atomkraftwerks namens Cixin Liu in einem neuen Universum die Geschichte Yun Tianmings aufschreibt und den ersten Band der Trilogie "Die drei Sonnen" nennt...
August 30, 2019
A word of caution for fans of the Remembrance of Earth's Past: steer clear of this.
I tried to approach this boo with an open mind, but no, there's no denying the bad.story. even considering it independent of the original trilogy it's a lousy science fiction story.
I should've DNFed it. Everything that made Remembrance of Earth's Past is amiss here. The whole deconstruction against humanity being a special snowflake comes back with a fistful. Who else can save the entire universe (s)? Of course! A human! Who can outsmart the most advanced civilizations and the two most powerful beings? Again, a human. *Rolls eyes* The speculatative science, even the most dubious, remained quite hard and even credible in the original trilogy; here everything becomes a handwave + magic. Of course, no matter how shitty your life was, after all suicide was pretty much welcome, because in the end love conquers all and heals even thousands of subjective years of torture. Lastly, the fourth wall breaking is awfully jarring.
I tried to approach this boo with an open mind, but no, there's no denying the bad.story. even considering it independent of the original trilogy it's a lousy science fiction story.
I should've DNFed it. Everything that made Remembrance of Earth's Past is amiss here. The whole deconstruction against humanity being a special snowflake comes back with a fistful. Who else can save the entire universe (s)? Of course! A human! Who can outsmart the most advanced civilizations and the two most powerful beings? Again, a human. *Rolls eyes* The speculatative science, even the most dubious, remained quite hard and even credible in the original trilogy; here everything becomes a handwave + magic. Of course, no matter how shitty your life was, after all suicide was pretty much welcome, because in the end love conquers all and heals even thousands of subjective years of torture. Lastly, the fourth wall breaking is awfully jarring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2020
This is a fan-fiction continuation of Cixin Liu's trilogy, the first book being The Three-Body Problem. Baoshu explains how this book came to fruition in the preface of this and explains how he had the backing and support of Cixin Liu as well as Ken Liu.
The Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy is one of my favorite works of science fiction, ever. And as a big fan, there was a lot of this I enjoyed reading about - imagine getting a book after the conclusion of your favorite story; you may want to get a peek as to how everyone and everything is doing. This is that peek. We get to see what happens with the two-dimensional fold, the Singer, Sophon, Universe 647, Cheng Xin, and of course, Yun Tianming.
While the tone of this story was a bit different - obviously because it's a different author - the overall feel and spirit of the original trilogy are in this book. And the ending was a big surprise I enjoyed immensely.
When it comes to the book on its own, I did find that Part One - the first 100-ish pages, while having some good moments, was overall kind of slow, especially in comparison to the rest of the book. Though one of my critics in The Three-Body Problem was the lack of character development and realness - very 2D characters - (thought that was improved in The Dark Forest and Death's End - the second and third book), Baoshu did a really good job making the characters feel real from the very beginning.
Overall, I enjoyed this. I would highly recommend it to big fans of the trilogy. And I would not recommend it as a standalone. I think there would be a lot of questions and it would not make much sense.
The Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy is one of my favorite works of science fiction, ever. And as a big fan, there was a lot of this I enjoyed reading about - imagine getting a book after the conclusion of your favorite story; you may want to get a peek as to how everyone and everything is doing. This is that peek. We get to see what happens with the two-dimensional fold, the Singer, Sophon, Universe 647, Cheng Xin, and of course, Yun Tianming.
While the tone of this story was a bit different - obviously because it's a different author - the overall feel and spirit of the original trilogy are in this book. And the ending was a big surprise I enjoyed immensely.
When it comes to the book on its own, I did find that Part One - the first 100-ish pages, while having some good moments, was overall kind of slow, especially in comparison to the rest of the book. Though one of my critics in The Three-Body Problem was the lack of character development and realness - very 2D characters - (thought that was improved in The Dark Forest and Death's End - the second and third book), Baoshu did a really good job making the characters feel real from the very beginning.
Overall, I enjoyed this. I would highly recommend it to big fans of the trilogy. And I would not recommend it as a standalone. I think there would be a lot of questions and it would not make much sense.
August 22, 2019
A good argument for why fan fiction lives on the internet and isn't published.
The first section is fine but inessential. It involves a long conversation between two characters that fills in blanks that didn't really need filling in. It's not bad retconning but we don't need it.
The second section would have been more interesting as a standalone not in this world. That's because it lays out totally new stakes that detract from the source material but are potentially interesting.
The third section though costs the book two stars. The setup from the second part doesn't payoff in a particularly satisfying way, with key developments mostly happening offscreen. But the absolute worst is the very ending which sort of wrecks the sense of finality from Death's End and adds on a dumb level of metaness involving the original author of the trilogy that was so bad it left me saying out loud "you have to be kidding me."
So yeah, don't bother.
The first section is fine but inessential. It involves a long conversation between two characters that fills in blanks that didn't really need filling in. It's not bad retconning but we don't need it.
The second section would have been more interesting as a standalone not in this world. That's because it lays out totally new stakes that detract from the source material but are potentially interesting.
The third section though costs the book two stars. The setup from the second part doesn't payoff in a particularly satisfying way, with key developments mostly happening offscreen. But the absolute worst is the very ending which sort of wrecks the sense of finality from Death's End and adds on a dumb level of metaness involving the original author of the trilogy that was so bad it left me saying out loud "you have to be kidding me."
So yeah, don't bother.
August 19, 2019
I was thrilled to be diving into this novel, as you probably know the original books are some of my absolute favorites, but I was still surprised how much this novel recaptured for me the feelings of reading its predecessors. This novel extends past the conclusion of Death’s End, while also filling in backstory for its key characters that would have taken place during the earlier books. Baoshu’s writing maintains Liu’s style, and I delighted in the walls of dialogue, and the wild unimaginable directions he took the story, which still somehow felt so perfectly correct. Absolutely completely LOVED!
October 11, 2022
I loved Liu Cixin's trilogy. While reading this book, I kept forgetting that this was a different book by a different author. Maybe the translator also deserves credit. This is the end of a wonderful journey. This book answered many questions I had during the trilogy. I loved the last page very much. Let's see what happens in this universe now.
November 30, 2020
En castellano luego de la reseña en inglés.
To better understand this book you must have read Liu Cixin's trilogy "The Remembrance of the Earth's Past", more commonly known as "The Three Body Problem". The redemption of time is based on these books, it is like a review, comment and extension of them. What some call a fan fiction.
Having made that clarification, I will say that although I enjoyed the reading and it was not a hard reading, it is not that I was really excited reading this book. It basically delivers what it promises, but not in an extraordinary way. For me the best thing is the third part, quite well done, and also the fact that it manages to frame the Cixin trilogy in an even greater scope if possible, which is a great achievement by the way.
What I would like to know, and this is a personal affair, what character (outside of the trilogy) Tomoko refers to, it was not clear to me and I became a fan of her. Finally, Do I recommend it? Yes, but only to die-hard fans of the original trilogy.
------------------
Para entender este libro debes haber leido la trilogía de Liu Cixin "El recuerdo del pasado de la tierra", más comunmente conocida como "El problema de los tres cuerpos". La redención del tiempo está basada en dichos libros, es como un repase, comentario y ampliación de ellos. Lo que algunos llaman un fan fiction.
Hecha esa aclaración, diré que aunque disfruté la lectura y no se me hizo pesada, pues tampoco es que me haya emocionado leyendo este libro. Básicamente cumple lo que promete, pero no de una forma extraordinaria. Para mi lo mejor es la tercera parte, bastante bien lograda, y el hecho de que logra enmarcar la trilogía de Cixin en un ámbito aún mayor si cabe, lo cual es un mérito por cierto.
Lo que si, y esta es una duda personal, me gustaría saber a qué personaje (fuera de la trilogía) hace referencia Tomoko, no me quedó claro y me volví fan de ella. ¿Si lo recomiendo? Si, pero solo fans acérrimos de la trilogía original.
To better understand this book you must have read Liu Cixin's trilogy "The Remembrance of the Earth's Past", more commonly known as "The Three Body Problem". The redemption of time is based on these books, it is like a review, comment and extension of them. What some call a fan fiction.
Having made that clarification, I will say that although I enjoyed the reading and it was not a hard reading, it is not that I was really excited reading this book. It basically delivers what it promises, but not in an extraordinary way. For me the best thing is the third part, quite well done, and also the fact that it manages to frame the Cixin trilogy in an even greater scope if possible, which is a great achievement by the way.
What I would like to know, and this is a personal affair, what character (outside of the trilogy) Tomoko refers to, it was not clear to me and I became a fan of her. Finally, Do I recommend it? Yes, but only to die-hard fans of the original trilogy.
------------------
Para entender este libro debes haber leido la trilogía de Liu Cixin "El recuerdo del pasado de la tierra", más comunmente conocida como "El problema de los tres cuerpos". La redención del tiempo está basada en dichos libros, es como un repase, comentario y ampliación de ellos. Lo que algunos llaman un fan fiction.
Hecha esa aclaración, diré que aunque disfruté la lectura y no se me hizo pesada, pues tampoco es que me haya emocionado leyendo este libro. Básicamente cumple lo que promete, pero no de una forma extraordinaria. Para mi lo mejor es la tercera parte, bastante bien lograda, y el hecho de que logra enmarcar la trilogía de Cixin en un ámbito aún mayor si cabe, lo cual es un mérito por cierto.
Lo que si, y esta es una duda personal, me gustaría saber a qué personaje (fuera de la trilogía) hace referencia Tomoko, no me quedó claro y me volví fan de ella. ¿Si lo recomiendo? Si, pero solo fans acérrimos de la trilogía original.
August 18, 2019
This is a pretty excellent extension of the Three Body Problem trilogy. It helps flesh out the original trilogy while also advancing the story. As a huge fan of the books, I found the extra details and explanations very satisfying, albeit over story telling that was a little dry. The prose is not particularly good and the author's ideas about romance are very idealized and frankly, a little naive. The female characters are also not particularly well done Otherwise, this short read is worth your time if you're itching for more Three Body Problem. I would consider this book canonical.
March 11, 2023
I greatly enjoyed this addition to the trilogy. Even though some ideas introduced where totally crazy, but in a good way. Some stories introduced were incredible, especially that of Singer's.
There was some cringe inducing stuff however, silly romance and endless references to a .. erm ... Japanese 'actress'. All in all about fifty sentences that I wouldn't have missed if they weren't there. So I give 4.5/5.
There was some cringe inducing stuff however, silly romance and endless references to a .. erm ... Japanese 'actress'. All in all about fifty sentences that I wouldn't have missed if they weren't there. So I give 4.5/5.
February 7, 2023
This book was sooo good!
It’s not similar at all to the writing style of Liu Cixin, and it’s not as serious or dark as the three main books in the series, however it is a lovely ending to the story and has a much more enjoyable conclusion.
I really enjoyed every part of the story, the beginning on planet blue, the story of Tianming’s time with the trisolarans, 艾AA’s secret, the conversation with GOD, that filthy alien singer, and the ending. All of these were short but had so much information that they were still impactful.
This book was originally a fan fiction and it still reads like one, but in a good way. It’s written by another fan of the series and it has a lot of attention to detail and love for the universe it is endeavoring to contribute to. It’s cathartic to read and finally have a happy ending to the tumultuous and often traumatizing events of the previous three books. However, Cheng Xin is still able to mess things up.
I would totally recommend this book to anyone who has read the other three, I loved it and there was a part that was so enjoyable, even tho it only lasted a page and a half. 🥲
It’s not similar at all to the writing style of Liu Cixin, and it’s not as serious or dark as the three main books in the series, however it is a lovely ending to the story and has a much more enjoyable conclusion.
I really enjoyed every part of the story, the beginning on planet blue, the story of Tianming’s time with the trisolarans, 艾AA’s secret, the conversation with GOD, that filthy alien singer, and the ending. All of these were short but had so much information that they were still impactful.
This book was originally a fan fiction and it still reads like one, but in a good way. It’s written by another fan of the series and it has a lot of attention to detail and love for the universe it is endeavoring to contribute to. It’s cathartic to read and finally have a happy ending to the tumultuous and often traumatizing events of the previous three books. However, Cheng Xin is still able to mess things up.
I would totally recommend this book to anyone who has read the other three, I loved it and there was a part that was so enjoyable, even tho it only lasted a page and a half. 🥲
September 25, 2020
Eek! Does not compare.
I know that's not the point or whatever--I mean if you were gonna enter anyone's canon, why Cixin Liu's?! Give yourself a break, man! That's like writing, "Here's where I think Molly sometimes was in James Joyce's Ulysses." The comparisons will be inevitable.
No I'm not a reader of fan fiction like at all, haven't read any of it other than this. In fact the Three-Body world was the first world that gave me the impulse to want to revisit it if possible, but when I did it was just sad. It's over, dude.
Just cash grab AF. Even the author is like, "Well, my short story went viral so I got to do this because I got there first. Later, other short stories didn't go viral so others didn't get to."
Well, it worked, didn't it? I bought it after all. Congrats, everyone :P
I know that's not the point or whatever--I mean if you were gonna enter anyone's canon, why Cixin Liu's?! Give yourself a break, man! That's like writing, "Here's where I think Molly sometimes was in James Joyce's Ulysses." The comparisons will be inevitable.
No I'm not a reader of fan fiction like at all, haven't read any of it other than this. In fact the Three-Body world was the first world that gave me the impulse to want to revisit it if possible, but when I did it was just sad. It's over, dude.
Just cash grab AF. Even the author is like, "Well, my short story went viral so I got to do this because I got there first. Later, other short stories didn't go viral so others didn't get to."
Well, it worked, didn't it? I bought it after all. Congrats, everyone :P
September 28, 2020
This is an interesting addition to the original trilogy, with a different author. It serves similar to Ender's shadow, bringing new details to the already established plot from a different perspective. A past outside of time as it was described, mimics the originals quite nicely both in its ups and downs, delving from time to time into the science and theory of topology a bit much.
I am glad to have read it, though a bit disappointed in its bounded dimensions, so to speak.
I am glad to have read it, though a bit disappointed in its bounded dimensions, so to speak.
June 30, 2019
I can recommend this book to anyone who has read and loved the The Remembrance of Earth's Past Trilogy (aka the Three Body Problem series), however there were serious flaws in this book that would certainly make it difficult to enjoy for someone not already heavily invested in the series. The flaws mirror those of the original trilogy, but are made much more apparent to the reader and are more damning tot he story overall.
The Redemption of Time is both an extended epilogue to the Remembrance trilogy and also greatly expands on the details regarding Yun Tianming's experience with the Trisolarans, further contextualizing several aspects of the original Trilogy (mostly for the better, but sometimes I felt the details cheapened the original story). The story picks up more or less where the original trilogy left off where Guan Yifan and Cheng Xin are still making their way back to the planet under the new, slower speed of light. Yun recants his past adventures (most of which is new to the reader) to AA, where the reader learns about Yun's interaction with the mysterious "Spirit". It ends up that Yun is a part of a Universe-scale war waged since the beginning of time.
The concept is very interesting and I really enjoyed the new perspectives it offers the reader on the ideas explored in the original trilogy (particularly the Dark Forest). Most of the additional details the reader learns about Yun Tianming (and AA) are interesting and add to the original story positively, though I felt some details were superfluous and really took me out of the story too much (e.g. the fact that Sophon's human appearance was based off of a porn star that Yun was obsessed with).
The main issue with this story is that, unlike the original trilogy, it is very focused on specific characters, Yun Tianming and AA. When reading the Remembrance Trilogy, I regarded character development as by far the weakest aspect of the story, but the nature of the story made that a minor grievance. To me, it was Humanity that was the main character. In this story this is not the case. Yun Tianming is clearly the main character, yet as a character he is quite weak. There is little personal development, nor does it feel as if his flaws or personal challenges are driving the narrative at all. Rather, he feels more like a plot device meant to drive the bigger story, which I grant is a very interesting one. Some of the more minor characters felt more developed and interesting by comparison, such as a couple of aliens responding to the destruction of their civilization.
Another shortcoming, which is shared by the original trilogy, is how the story handles female characters (and the concept of femininity all together). Femininity is stereotypically associated with love, caring, and overall weakness. This was a recurring theme in the Remembrance Trilogy and, while it is actually less of an issue all together in Redemption of Time, it is made blatantly obvious. For example, AA has a PhD in astronomy and yet one would ever know this by the way her character behaves. Were it not for a few direct reminders put in for the reader, it really would never have come up. The first half of this story is meant to not only expand on Yun's past adventures, but to develop the relationship between him and AA. Not only does it fail to do this because of poor character development and dialog, but AA as a character feels flat and pointless to the story. Her only role, it seems, is to provide a companion for Yun to be naked with on the lonely Planet Blue, a fact that the reader is repeatedly reminded of for little reason. Many of the interactions between Yun and AA, particularly the intimate ones, ended up taking me out of the story and feeling as if I were reading the fan fiction of a horny college boy. At best these details were unnecessary and at worst they further betray the misogyny inherent in the book and really the entire series.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book for the creative concept it put forth for the origin and future of the Universe, and because I was already heavily invested in the world developed in the original Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy. There are seriously flaws in the story that definitely hindered my overall experience.
The Redemption of Time is both an extended epilogue to the Remembrance trilogy and also greatly expands on the details regarding Yun Tianming's experience with the Trisolarans, further contextualizing several aspects of the original Trilogy (mostly for the better, but sometimes I felt the details cheapened the original story). The story picks up more or less where the original trilogy left off where Guan Yifan and Cheng Xin are still making their way back to the planet under the new, slower speed of light. Yun recants his past adventures (most of which is new to the reader) to AA, where the reader learns about Yun's interaction with the mysterious "Spirit". It ends up that Yun is a part of a Universe-scale war waged since the beginning of time.
The concept is very interesting and I really enjoyed the new perspectives it offers the reader on the ideas explored in the original trilogy (particularly the Dark Forest). Most of the additional details the reader learns about Yun Tianming (and AA) are interesting and add to the original story positively, though I felt some details were superfluous and really took me out of the story too much (e.g. the fact that Sophon's human appearance was based off of a porn star that Yun was obsessed with).
The main issue with this story is that, unlike the original trilogy, it is very focused on specific characters, Yun Tianming and AA. When reading the Remembrance Trilogy, I regarded character development as by far the weakest aspect of the story, but the nature of the story made that a minor grievance. To me, it was Humanity that was the main character. In this story this is not the case. Yun Tianming is clearly the main character, yet as a character he is quite weak. There is little personal development, nor does it feel as if his flaws or personal challenges are driving the narrative at all. Rather, he feels more like a plot device meant to drive the bigger story, which I grant is a very interesting one. Some of the more minor characters felt more developed and interesting by comparison, such as a couple of aliens responding to the destruction of their civilization.
Another shortcoming, which is shared by the original trilogy, is how the story handles female characters (and the concept of femininity all together). Femininity is stereotypically associated with love, caring, and overall weakness. This was a recurring theme in the Remembrance Trilogy and, while it is actually less of an issue all together in Redemption of Time, it is made blatantly obvious. For example, AA has a PhD in astronomy and yet one would ever know this by the way her character behaves. Were it not for a few direct reminders put in for the reader, it really would never have come up. The first half of this story is meant to not only expand on Yun's past adventures, but to develop the relationship between him and AA. Not only does it fail to do this because of poor character development and dialog, but AA as a character feels flat and pointless to the story. Her only role, it seems, is to provide a companion for Yun to be naked with on the lonely Planet Blue, a fact that the reader is repeatedly reminded of for little reason. Many of the interactions between Yun and AA, particularly the intimate ones, ended up taking me out of the story and feeling as if I were reading the fan fiction of a horny college boy. At best these details were unnecessary and at worst they further betray the misogyny inherent in the book and really the entire series.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book for the creative concept it put forth for the origin and future of the Universe, and because I was already heavily invested in the world developed in the original Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy. There are seriously flaws in the story that definitely hindered my overall experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2019
Amazing piece of fan fiction, no wonder it was canonized! I’ve heard others say this can be read as a stand-alone from the original Three Body trilogy. I very much disagree - the background is almost completely necessary to really enjoy this work. Additionally The Three Body Problem is one of the most unique and well done contemporary sci-fi stories of our time so why wouldn’t you start at the beginning!
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