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Aug 23, 2017AaronAardvark1940 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This second book in the proposed trilogy is a step down from the first book. The interview/file report/diary entry format used in the first book was engaging; almost like reading a screenplay (does Neuvel have film hopes?), but it doesn’t work anywhere near as well in this second book. With everything that needs deeper explanation, he must add many pages of straight narrative disguised under the previously established rubrics. While the text is necessary for understanding, it disturbs the flow. He also scatters Star Wars references, including in his acknowledgements. There are battle scenes between giant robots using grand-scale lightsabers as weapons, and all kinds of death and dying. I like the underlying puzzle that will be carried into the third book in the trilogy, but it now looks as if there will be several hours of slogging through the book to reach the resolution. After a high level of anticipation for this second part, my hopes for the third part are greatly diminished.