The Causal Angel

A good conclusion to the trilogy. I think it is easier for a story to keep going than to reach a satisfying end. The end has to top all that came before, and what came before here was already mind-boggling as possible. But I think it is done as well as possible.

We get to know the Zoku. The basic disagreement with the Sobornost seems to be that the Sobornost believe in copying things while the Zoku do not. This has a nice theoretical physical basis in that quantum states cannot be copied, and the Zoku are quantum-maniacs. They are also game-maniacs with arcane (?) pop-culture references such as "Loom-zoku" that control matter with music and "Notch-zoku" that build landscapes from blocks.

We get to know the odds the great game is played for: the Kaminari Jewel. I do not want to spoil it, so I will just say its relationship to the theory of computation is one of the many thought-provoking elements.

The poetry is still going strong:

Then I cut the link and lose myself in the data, and finally find Mieli in the memories of flowers.

Dr.? Dr. Who?

Precisely.

This book was great. The references, the ideas, the memes, the.. everything.

This series crammed more into three books than I've seen some labors extol over 12. The great part? It wasn't exhausting. Sure I was out of my depth a good chunk. Yes, I had to check wikis and read definitions, and squint my eyes in some physics texts--but you know what, I really enjoyed it.

The crazy thing? This books science felt very probable. It seems far flung but the trajectory it follows could very well be the building blocks for budding minds of a young generation of thinkers. While I hope the same actors don't evolve the technology would be amazing, scary, wonderous.

Anyhow--the third novel closes the thought loop in a succinct manner. Zoku mega scores, wishes come true, heart felt goodbyes, and BURN BABY BURN to the crooks.. or.. maybe not all of that... It all depends on what the volition can do, if you catch my drift--we are entangled right?

I'll be following this author now and am really glad I got the introduction. Splendid science fiction.

As an aside--I was talking with my wife and I wondered what Asimov would think of this modern work. Asimov had philosophy sans a good look at technology--just a wish and an imagination. These days the extrapolations can go to so many realms that have plausible outcomes--makes you wonder. I need to go re-read some early works and recall where the bearings were instead of just some subjective memory.