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Chung Kuo #7
Days of Bitter Strength
The final book in David Wingrove's critically acclaimed science fiction masterpiece is set among the red-roofed houses of "China on the Rhine," where former freedom-fighter Emily Ascher now serves as mother to the orphan boys of a war-devastated land. But unto the people of Chung Kuo, two children will be born, a baby girl smothered and thrown away, but not yet dead, and a baby boy delivered into a hostile land, yet determined to fight for his life. They are part of a new generation who will see more death than any who have gone before.
Although peace seems to reign, the puppet master of an army of giant androids plans one final absolute destruction. And although the great T'ang, the dictators of Earth, are gone, mega corporation GenSyn remains*as does its pleasure drug which will turn Chung Kuo into a funeral pyre. Now the only escape lies in sending survivors toward new stars, or joining Emily Ascher in a battle for liberty and a new Earth.
Although peace seems to reign, the puppet master of an army of giant androids plans one final absolute destruction. And although the great T'ang, the dictators of Earth, are gone, mega corporation GenSyn remains*as does its pleasure drug which will turn Chung Kuo into a funeral pyre. Now the only escape lies in sending survivors toward new stars, or joining Emily Ascher in a battle for liberty and a new Earth.
672 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 1997
1 person is currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
David Wingrove
50 books164 followersDavid Wingrove (born September 1954 in North Battersea, London) is a British science fiction writer. He is well-known as the author of the "Chung Kuo" novels (eight in total). He is also the co-author (with Rand and Robyn Miller) of the three "Myst" novels.
Wingrove worked in the banking industry for 7 years until he became fed up with it. He then attended the University of Kent, Canterbury, where he read English and American Literature.
He is married and, with his wife Susan, has four daughters Jessica, Amy, Georgia, and Francesca.
Between 1972 and 1982 he wrote over 300 unpublished short stories and 15 novels.
He started work on a new fictional project called A Perfect Art. Between 1984 and 1988, when it was first submitted, the title was changed twice, becoming first A Spring Day at the Edge of the World and then finally Chung Kuo, under which title it was sold to 18 publishers throughout the world.
A prequel to the Chung Kuo series, called When China Comes, was released in May 2009 by Quercus Publishing, which also re-released the entire series: "The series has been recast in nineteen volumes, including a new prequel and a new final volume. After a series launch in May 2009, Quercus will embark on an ambitious publishing programme that will see all nineteen volumes available by the end of 2012."
He has plans for a further a novels, a a first person character novel called Dawn in Stone City and three very different novels: The Beast with Two Backs, Heaven's Bright Sun, and Roads to Moscow.
Wingrove worked in the banking industry for 7 years until he became fed up with it. He then attended the University of Kent, Canterbury, where he read English and American Literature.
He is married and, with his wife Susan, has four daughters Jessica, Amy, Georgia, and Francesca.
Between 1972 and 1982 he wrote over 300 unpublished short stories and 15 novels.
He started work on a new fictional project called A Perfect Art. Between 1984 and 1988, when it was first submitted, the title was changed twice, becoming first A Spring Day at the Edge of the World and then finally Chung Kuo, under which title it was sold to 18 publishers throughout the world.
A prequel to the Chung Kuo series, called When China Comes, was released in May 2009 by Quercus Publishing, which also re-released the entire series: "The series has been recast in nineteen volumes, including a new prequel and a new final volume. After a series launch in May 2009, Quercus will embark on an ambitious publishing programme that will see all nineteen volumes available by the end of 2012."
He has plans for a further a novels, a a first person character novel called Dawn in Stone City and three very different novels: The Beast with Two Backs, Heaven's Bright Sun, and Roads to Moscow.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 8, 2020
Less disjointed, stronger in its dismantling of the worldwide system. Perhaps a more realistic and sympathetic description of characters though, again, Wingrove cannot fail to be seduced by the comic book disasters that continually reap his worldbuilding. We could rename this series: how many can I kill now?
November 14, 2020
In the aftermath of DeVore's attack on Earth only Li Yuan remains, last of the Seven T'angs who once ruled the world. Now power struggles, with the American Enclave, the neighboring Warlords and with his own wife, as well as between his closest advisors threaten his rule and his plans for succession. Emily Ascher, rebuilding among the ruins of the old order, once again becomes a fugitive, Ben Shepherd descends further into madness as he seeks to perfect his artificial realities, the Shell, and find what lies within the darkness of death, his rival Kim Ward abandons Earth for the Jupiter colonies and reveals an audacious plan to leave the dying Earth and seed humanity across the stars...and in a long abandoned GenSyn laboratory a pleasure drug called "Golden Dreams" mutates into "The Hollower" and well become the deadliest plague in history.
Things are definitely picking up as Chung Kuo enters its 7th and penultimate book of its original run, as ancient secrets are revealed and hinted at with the true nature of DeVore and the Machine, the Tyrant Li Yuan finally falls after proving to be unfit to rule for so long, and the futile dreams of City Earths founders are painfully washed away.
This is not the book to start you on the series, but if you made it this far you'll be satisfied with the time spent with it and the world of Chung Kuo. Now one hopes Wingrove can do the hardest thing of all, stick the landing in Book 8.
Things are definitely picking up as Chung Kuo enters its 7th and penultimate book of its original run, as ancient secrets are revealed and hinted at with the true nature of DeVore and the Machine, the Tyrant Li Yuan finally falls after proving to be unfit to rule for so long, and the futile dreams of City Earths founders are painfully washed away.
This is not the book to start you on the series, but if you made it this far you'll be satisfied with the time spent with it and the world of Chung Kuo. Now one hopes Wingrove can do the hardest thing of all, stick the landing in Book 8.
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October 23, 2025In the spring of 2232, hopes for a more humane world become manifest in the red-roofed houses of "China on the Rhine." There, Emily Ascher, once a freedom fighter, lives as Mama Em, mother to the orphans of a war-devastated land.But unto the people of Chung Kuo, two children will be born: "Coffin Filler," a baby girl smothered and thrown away but not yet dead, and baby boy Josef, delivered into a hostile land, yet determined to fight for his life. They are part of a new generation who will see more death than any who have gone before.While peace seems to reign, the puppet master of an army of giant androids plans one final, absolute destruction. And while the great T'ang, the dictators of Earth, are gone, the mega corporation GenSyn remains. And soon its pleasure drug called "Golden Dreams" will make Chung Kuo a funeral pyre for golden corpses--until the only escape lies in sending the survivors toward new stars. . . or joining Emily Ascher in a battle for liberty and a new Earth.
July 3, 2020
I actually enjoyed this one, now knowing where it would lead me next. Too bad it shifter from the political tale of Chung Kuo to the metaphysical, and the pace and style shifted so much it is hard to catch up with what's happening. So much missed potential. I really hope David Wingrove would make it better in the recast, but I couldn't wait and rad the old books.
February 14, 2018
I wish I could say finishing it would have been more satisfying. I felt as though there was a lot unanswered, and maybe a rush to finish.
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June 17, 2019Finito nel 01/gen/1970 00:00:00
February 9, 2009
This series is great for a futuristic sci-fi. By book number seven some of the core characters and themes are getting stale. I believe there is an eighth book, but I never read it since this one went downhill so badly.
May 14, 2012
Wingrove turns everything on it's head in this 7th instalment of the Chung Kuo epic. I think that with this volume he found new purpose and I am keen to continue straight on to the final volume instead of taking another (10 year) break like I did after volume 5!!
May 27, 2010
Go references: 264,294,299-300,305,500-505,534.
May 19, 2016
A decent finish but there is one more book. not sure if going to read. have seen nothing but bad reviews for it and the library doesnt have it so I might be done!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews