further thoughts on the book

[zengar]

I regret having read the book I mentioned last post. The whole thing is a rather remarkable anti-technology screed, especially surprising in light of the pro-technology slant of the author's other books. I find the political machinations of the characters unlikely, the economical theories bizarre, and the science, in many places, laughable. The main character, as I said before, was a messianic figure who produced profound changes in a galactic empire, yet people were doubting he even existed in just a couple of centuries. While that sort of forgetfulness is unlikely in a literate and bureaucratic society, in this case it is made understandable through an even less believable idea. Within just a generation or two of easy abundance being provided, the society basically reverted to agrarian with only very rare individuals caring about any technology beyond pre-industrial levels. Oh, and don't get me started on the fact that it took the main character more than a century to acquire any real personal enemies, despite being a highly abrasive individual; all opposition to him before that was man vs. environment or man vs. bureaucracy. Did I forget to mention that he was immortal?

Honestly, the difference in both quality and content between this trilogy and the rest of the author's work is so great that I have to question whether they are really by the same individual.