theo@ari-hq1 (06/04/85)
From: <theo@ari-hq1>
I've just finished
THE FINAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
(pub. date is Oct.'84)
and I thought I should celebrate by letting everyone know! Given all the dis-
cussion about hack writing and sequelmania, I feel as if I ought to examine
this novel accordingly. Fortunately for those of you who don't appreciate
reams of convoluted analysis (which I'm unable to produce in the first place),
I haven't quite got a handle on all the elements.
I haven't sorted out all my thoughts yet about this 680+ page book which is
the capstone of Dickson's history/chronology known as the "Childe" series. On
the other hand, I cannot resist making a few comments and asking a few ques-
tions that more knowledgeable net.readers can answer.
- I liked it. My interest seldom flagged. There was plenty of action. The
plot moved along. Now, how I would rate it is still up in the air.
(This book certainly more than made up for my last attempt at reading
an sf novel, the 3rd DUNE book.)
- I don't think I'm as moved by THE FINAL ENCYCLOPEDIA as I was by
SOLDIER, ASK NOT. Certainly, the title, alone, is less dramatic.
TFE stands by itself quite well, although it does make references
to earlier works such as S,AN or NECROMANCER.
- I appreciated the fact that some of the characters were not of typical
European stock, however I occasionally wondered about the subtle domi-
nance of white (Caucasian) characters and attitudes/thought. (That
leads me to wonder whether Japanese sf, for example, is consistently
different in any way.)
- Sandra (?) Miesel's analysis of the novel starts on the very next page
after the story ends. It ranges from describing the nature of
the relationships between the hero and the female protagonists he met
on various planets, to comparing the good-guy-vs.-bad-guy duality with
religious/mystical figures and philosophy.
- Has anyone else read this book? (BTW, I picked this up at the library.)
Well, 'nuff said.
THE_One and only!
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