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The Long Earth #4
The Long Utopia
An alternate cover edition exists here.
2045-2059. After the cataclysmic upheavals of Step Day and the Yellowstone eruption humanity is spreading further into the Long Earth, and society, on a battered Datum Earth and beyond, continues to evolve.
Now an elderly and cantankerous AI, Lobsang lives in disguise with Agnes in an exotic, far-distant world. He’s convinced they’re leading a normal life in New Springfield – they even adopt a child – but it seems they have been guided there for a reason. As rumours of strange sightings and hauntings proliferate, it becomes clear that something is very awry with this particular world.
Millions of steps away, Joshua is on a personal journey of discovery: learning about the father he never knew and a secret family history. But then he receives a summons from New Springfield. Lobsang now understands the enormity of what’s taking place beneath the surface of his earth – a threat to all the worlds of the Long Earth.
To counter this threat will require the combined efforts of humankind, machine and the super-intelligent Next. And some must make the ultimate sacrifice . . .
2045-2059. After the cataclysmic upheavals of Step Day and the Yellowstone eruption humanity is spreading further into the Long Earth, and society, on a battered Datum Earth and beyond, continues to evolve.
Now an elderly and cantankerous AI, Lobsang lives in disguise with Agnes in an exotic, far-distant world. He’s convinced they’re leading a normal life in New Springfield – they even adopt a child – but it seems they have been guided there for a reason. As rumours of strange sightings and hauntings proliferate, it becomes clear that something is very awry with this particular world.
Millions of steps away, Joshua is on a personal journey of discovery: learning about the father he never knew and a secret family history. But then he receives a summons from New Springfield. Lobsang now understands the enormity of what’s taking place beneath the surface of his earth – a threat to all the worlds of the Long Earth.
To counter this threat will require the combined efforts of humankind, machine and the super-intelligent Next. And some must make the ultimate sacrifice . . .
433 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2015
390 people are currently reading
9037 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Baxter
403 books2,592 followersStephen Baxter is a trained engineer with degrees from Cambridge (mathematics) and Southampton Universities (doctorate in aeroengineering research). Baxter is the winner of the British Science Fiction Award and the Locus Award, as well as being a nominee for an Arthur C. Clarke Award, most recently for Manifold: Time. His novel Voyage won the Sidewise Award for Best Alternate History Novel of the Year; he also won the John W. Campbell Award and the Philip K. Dick Award for his novel The Time Ships. He is currently working on his next novel, a collaboration with Sir Arthur C. Clarke. Mr. Baxter lives in Prestwood, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 707 reviews
May 16, 2018
I am not sure why I left it so long between book 3 and this one but luckily I still had a good memory of what went before. There is nothing worse when reading a series than forgetting who did what to who in the earlier books!
I really enjoyed The Long Utopia. I think I now have my head around 'stepping' and millions of parallel worlds. I even coped with Lobsang moving from one body to another and working alongside one of his own alternate selves. I was upset with what happened to Sally, Stan and the cat.
There is a lot of explanation in this book. We find out some of the history of natural steppers and start to understand more about the Next. We also experience an alien invasion of amazing proportions. There is more out there outside the Long Earth.
I will not wait so long before reading book 5!
I really enjoyed The Long Utopia. I think I now have my head around 'stepping' and millions of parallel worlds. I even coped with Lobsang moving from one body to another and working alongside one of his own alternate selves. I was upset with what happened to Sally, Stan and the cat.
There is a lot of explanation in this book. We find out some of the history of natural steppers and start to understand more about the Next. We also experience an alien invasion of amazing proportions. There is more out there outside the Long Earth.
I will not wait so long before reading book 5!
December 21, 2016
I took this volume and the next on holidays with me. Plenty of time on the beach, waiting for flights, on flights etc to read. And these books are the perfect holiday reading material - short chapters, easy prose, great concepts.
The Long Utopia carries on the story of the main characters of Joshua, Lobsang, Sally and a few others, this time concerning the Next, homo superiors, and Lobsang's retirement with Sister Agnes to raise a family. Of course, things go wrong in a plot-movingly way.
This is very much the flavour of the previous volumes. If you enjoyed those, you'll enjoy this. If you didn't, you won't find anything new or different. These books are not brilliantly written, nor are they going to blow your mind in big set-ups. But they consistently deliver fascinating ideas and a small-scale plot. They're relaxing. They're like a great Twain ride. Nothing too strenuous or stressful, just sit back and enjoy the Long Earth.
The Long Utopia carries on the story of the main characters of Joshua, Lobsang, Sally and a few others, this time concerning the Next, homo superiors, and Lobsang's retirement with Sister Agnes to raise a family. Of course, things go wrong in a plot-movingly way.
This is very much the flavour of the previous volumes. If you enjoyed those, you'll enjoy this. If you didn't, you won't find anything new or different. These books are not brilliantly written, nor are they going to blow your mind in big set-ups. But they consistently deliver fascinating ideas and a small-scale plot. They're relaxing. They're like a great Twain ride. Nothing too strenuous or stressful, just sit back and enjoy the Long Earth.
September 8, 2015
This series of books makes me incredibly angry. It is a demonstration of the bizarre reaction that happens when you combine two authors who seemingly balance each other very well. Instead of fascinating science fiction concepts from Baxter with the exceptional character development from Pratchett you get uninspired characters from Baxter (whose work is rife with flat unbelievable people) and boring rehashed SF ideas from Pratchett (who is far better known for his use of wit than his ground breaking ideas).
These two took an idea for a series that was by no means revolutionary and instead of making it special with their unique skills as an author they just continued to force out tired over written and under plotted drivel.
For a more interesting look at people with the ability to step between parallel earths try The Family Trade by Charles Stross and for a better version of the characters in this series try any other book.
The plot drifts hither and yon with no regards for the basic concepts of pacing or linearity (or even a conscious disregard for linearity). The story collects characters like loose change and spends their lives in twee attempts to engender some emotional attachment to a story which ultimately delivers nothing in the way of real awe or amazement. While studded with creatures and places which could be fascinating or terrifying the story simply doesn't give them the time to shine in any meaningful sense leading to feeling of unreality about place which the authors want us to be able to imagine vividly. Over and over villains or disasters are built up only to be entirely undercut by the next book or brushed under a rug by a deus ex machina. This lack of suspense serves only to limit any empathy we might have for the frail shells of the almost human feeling protagonists.
The Long Earth had potential. Each book had enough plot points for 3 books and enough characters for 10 while paradoxically containing enough personality for 1/2 a book. These authors didn't need more time or more skill, they needed a good fucking editor who isn't afraid to tell two super star writers that they were putting out rubbish.
These two took an idea for a series that was by no means revolutionary and instead of making it special with their unique skills as an author they just continued to force out tired over written and under plotted drivel.
For a more interesting look at people with the ability to step between parallel earths try The Family Trade by Charles Stross and for a better version of the characters in this series try any other book.
The plot drifts hither and yon with no regards for the basic concepts of pacing or linearity (or even a conscious disregard for linearity). The story collects characters like loose change and spends their lives in twee attempts to engender some emotional attachment to a story which ultimately delivers nothing in the way of real awe or amazement. While studded with creatures and places which could be fascinating or terrifying the story simply doesn't give them the time to shine in any meaningful sense leading to feeling of unreality about place which the authors want us to be able to imagine vividly. Over and over villains or disasters are built up only to be entirely undercut by the next book or brushed under a rug by a deus ex machina. This lack of suspense serves only to limit any empathy we might have for the frail shells of the almost human feeling protagonists.
The Long Earth had potential. Each book had enough plot points for 3 books and enough characters for 10 while paradoxically containing enough personality for 1/2 a book. These authors didn't need more time or more skill, they needed a good fucking editor who isn't afraid to tell two super star writers that they were putting out rubbish.
May 29, 2016
There is a certain point in a series where a reviewer has to accept that the series is not going in the direction they expected, and either give up reading, or give up being critical of installments that don't confirm to expectation. You see I loved The Long Earth, and got really excited by the dramatically titled The Long War. Nonetheless I was disappointed by both War and Mars. There just seemed so many cool story lines not fleshed out, the weird giant blob-beetle travelling the earths, the tension between steppers and non-steppes and so on.
However, it seems unfair to review books based on what I thought should happen. For this reason I approached Utopia with an open mind.
Still didn't like it.
Much like the worlds spanning both directions from datum earth, endless story lines seemed to be introduced, I found myself struggling to grasp onto any as the key tension. Was I meant to be intrigued by Joshua's rather Dickensian family history? The reveal that possibly people could step North and South as well (way unused by the way), a plot involving the Next? or the bugs revealed on Earth number blah,blah,blah.
It wasn't until the final act and the characters explained what should have been a gut wrenching plan, if only the book spent more time coherently developing the characters beyond a strangely accepting and philosophical robot cat.
Anyway my point is even with an open mind the story lacked power as a plot, it was hard to know who to cling to and what to care about. If this is the last installment I'm disappointed but consider an end to the series as ideal if none the later books are to be as good as the first Long Earth.
However, it seems unfair to review books based on what I thought should happen. For this reason I approached Utopia with an open mind.
Still didn't like it.
Much like the worlds spanning both directions from datum earth, endless story lines seemed to be introduced, I found myself struggling to grasp onto any as the key tension. Was I meant to be intrigued by Joshua's rather Dickensian family history? The reveal that possibly people could step North and South as well (way unused by the way), a plot involving the Next? or the bugs revealed on Earth number blah,blah,blah.
It wasn't until the final act and the characters explained what should have been a gut wrenching plan, if only the book spent more time coherently developing the characters beyond a strangely accepting and philosophical robot cat.
Anyway my point is even with an open mind the story lacked power as a plot, it was hard to know who to cling to and what to care about. If this is the last installment I'm disappointed but consider an end to the series as ideal if none the later books are to be as good as the first Long Earth.
June 24, 2015
The Long Earth series is showing its age in this, the fourth book. The first book, The Long Earth, was entertaining and started out strong with an innovative take on the multiverse concept and introducing a handful of interesting characters. Those qualities were carried over into the first sequel, The Long War. The Long Mars recycled the same characters but did little to add to their growth or to continue world-building and innovation. That unfortunate trend continues in The Long Utopia, which revisits the same familiar characters but ultimately provides them with little growth, adventure, or action, and fails to exhibit any innovation or creativity. In fact, many of the characters are poorly developed cliches, and the main characters lack the animation and depth from the first two books, becoming just rubber stamps of themselves. For a book about the future and the interesting things to be found far from our mundane earth, the novel even wastes about a dozen chapters on flashbacks to 19th Century England to fill in some family background on a main character, which is clearly useless filler designed to fluff the book up into novel length to meet contractual obligations. The authors committed to delivering five novels in this series, and this one was clearly written merely to fulfill that obligation. It's too little jam spread over too much stale toast.
July 6, 2016
Something of a return to form for this series that by the end of the third instalment had threatened to become a colossal waste of time and effort. Gone is the multiple vignette style of book three, added is a fair dose of Baxter's scientific imagination and explanation, replaced is the inevitable conclusion in favour of an unexpected denouement that whilst still squeezed in to the same number of words as a description of a forest (I exaggerate) is at least moving the story in a new direction, even if that new direction is aimed at simply selling the final instalment. Baxter isn't known for his characterisation and here at least he seems to recognise that, letting the universe he created with Terry Pratchett do much of the lifting and resisting the urge to speechify in expositionary tones if not all the time then for large chunks of story. I started to think of the sequence in terms of Asimov's original Foundation trilogy and whilst not set over such a vast timeframe or with an evolving cast of protagonists (the same crew from the previous books all seem to return here) it does perhaps seem to have the same goal. The end section as Baxter/Pratchett describe events on the Earth of New Springfield is probably some of the best writing in the series and dark too, when coupled with the Granny Weatherwax/Shepherd Crown spoiler I couldn't avoid I suspect that this holds an insight in to the mood of our beloved dying author.
February 9, 2022
The Long Utopia
The fourth book in Pratchett and Baxter's addictive The Long Earth series.
The third book in The series - The Long Mars - gave us a much needed change of pace, in the right direction. But I thought the books were becoming somewhat repetitive. The endless exploration of infinite worlds, and endless Marses, was in danger of getting tedious. I, personally, was craving a change in direction. The Long Utopia didn't disappoint! The best of the series so far.
In this book we get a threat that could destroy all infinite earths. And in a subplot, we get a nice bit of welcomed history/backstory of a main characters heritage. It was almost a story within a story, about a team of gifted individuals, who are recruited by Queen Victoria, in the mid 1800's to combat threats to the empire, and to help free slaves in America. It was nice to have this excursion from the more heavy Sci-fi elements.
As these novels progress, the older the main cast of characters get. Not all of the main players will get to see the endgame. And I like it when this happens. It keeps me on my toes.
Another thing I've noticed as this series has progressed, is, sadly, Pratchett's 'voice' has become fainter in these books. I know he was ill at this stage. And Alzheimers was making it difficult for him to write. But there's enough of his DNA within these pages for him to still prominently have his name on the cover.
I'm heading straight into book five, The Long Cosmos. The last in the series.
The fourth book in Pratchett and Baxter's addictive The Long Earth series.
The third book in The series - The Long Mars - gave us a much needed change of pace, in the right direction. But I thought the books were becoming somewhat repetitive. The endless exploration of infinite worlds, and endless Marses, was in danger of getting tedious. I, personally, was craving a change in direction. The Long Utopia didn't disappoint! The best of the series so far.
In this book we get a threat that could destroy all infinite earths. And in a subplot, we get a nice bit of welcomed history/backstory of a main characters heritage. It was almost a story within a story, about a team of gifted individuals, who are recruited by Queen Victoria, in the mid 1800's to combat threats to the empire, and to help free slaves in America. It was nice to have this excursion from the more heavy Sci-fi elements.
As these novels progress, the older the main cast of characters get. Not all of the main players will get to see the endgame. And I like it when this happens. It keeps me on my toes.
Another thing I've noticed as this series has progressed, is, sadly, Pratchett's 'voice' has become fainter in these books. I know he was ill at this stage. And Alzheimers was making it difficult for him to write. But there's enough of his DNA within these pages for him to still prominently have his name on the cover.
I'm heading straight into book five, The Long Cosmos. The last in the series.
June 30, 2015
2 Stars
The Long Utopia (The Long Earth #4) by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter is a long...slow and mostly boring read. I have enjoyed the previous books quite a bit even though I had problems with both books two and three. I guess my feelings on this one were pretty inevitable.
The first 25 percent of this book involves pretty much nothing...sure there is a birthday and some stepping but very little happened. As a result I found myself bored and couldn't keep a focus on what was actually happening. I skim read through most of the rest and felt like this is probably it for me.
I absolutely love both authors, they are among my very favorite. They have tons of great works to gush about, this just isn't one of them.
The Long Utopia (The Long Earth #4) by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter is a long...slow and mostly boring read. I have enjoyed the previous books quite a bit even though I had problems with both books two and three. I guess my feelings on this one were pretty inevitable.
The first 25 percent of this book involves pretty much nothing...sure there is a birthday and some stepping but very little happened. As a result I found myself bored and couldn't keep a focus on what was actually happening. I skim read through most of the rest and felt like this is probably it for me.
I absolutely love both authors, they are among my very favorite. They have tons of great works to gush about, this just isn't one of them.
May 12, 2020
This is such an odd series, it's slow and rather uneventful, but ultimately very enjoyable. Of all the thought provoking series I've read in the last decade this one has kept me up at night thinking the most. The idea of stepping, of a endless necklace of interconnected worlds is just so satisfying. And TP and SB have really spent their time talking this one through, and thinking it all out.
I miss Pratchett...
I miss Pratchett...
March 23, 2018
Ich habe es schon öfter erwähnt - und ich sage es wieder: Die Reihe wird niemals mein Favorit werden. Und doch kann ich sie nicht einfach abbrechen. Warum? Ganz einfach. Mir gefällt die große Idee, die hinter der "Langen Erde" steckt.
Denn in der von Terry Pratchett und Stephen Baxter geschaffenen "erweiterten" Version unseres Universums ist es wirklich nur ein paar kleine Schritte zwischen Hochkultur und Dschungelcamp. Nur eine simple Kartoffel, untergebracht in einem kleinen Kästchen mit Schalter, trennt seine Protagonisten von der rauen Wirklichkeit unbetretenen Territoriums. Und das beste dabei ist, dass dieses unbetretene Territorium auch noch in den verschiedensten Formen daherkommt. Von Wald-Welt über Wüstenplanet - alles ist dabei. Man muss sich nur entscheiden, in welche Richtung man aufbricht.
Tja. Und dann wäre da noch der Plot, der sich nun schon über mehrere (übrigens recht dicke) Bände zieht. Denn im Grunde genommen lesen wir die Chroniken mehrerer Figuren, die sich zu einem Geschichte der Zivilisation unter den geschilderten Umständen verbinden. Das hat wunderbare Seiten (so lernen wir sie eben wirklich kennen) und negative Aspekete (manchmal ist das einfach langweilig).
In "Das lange Utopia" zum Beispiel lernen wir eine neue Spezies kennen. Eine gänzlich neue. Nicht, dass wir nicht inzwischen wüssten, dass "da draußen" (oder vielmehr: da drüben) merkwürdige Wesen herumkrebsen. Aber diese Spezies ist schon noch einmal etwas ganz besonderes. Bloß: Sie ist im akademischen Sinn interessant, nicht aber für die Entwicklung der Geschichte selbst. Wie kann ich das wohl erklären ... Moment. Es ist, als würde einem "Breaking Bad" vorgelesen. Von der eigenen Urgroßmutter. Und sie lässt die "schlimmen Stellen" weg.
Man ahnt, dass da viel mehr ist, vermutet die Bedrohung - und weiß so erst recht, was man verpasst. So ist eigentlich die ganze Reihe.
Tja. Und jetzt? Jetzt habe ich den letzten Band auf dem Nachtkästchen liegen und weiß, dass ich ihn natürlich lesen werde. Weil - auch, wenn streckenweise eben jede Action fehlt und ich permanent das Gefühl habe, Stephen Baxter verrennt sich in Details ehe er drei, vier Minuten vor Abgabe drauf kommt, dass er ja noch zehn Handlungsstrenge auflösen und ein wenig Spannung applizieren muss - ich die Chroniken auf ihre ureigene Art interessant finde.
Ich freu mich schon auf den nächsten Band. Und auf sein Ende.
Denn in der von Terry Pratchett und Stephen Baxter geschaffenen "erweiterten" Version unseres Universums ist es wirklich nur ein paar kleine Schritte zwischen Hochkultur und Dschungelcamp. Nur eine simple Kartoffel, untergebracht in einem kleinen Kästchen mit Schalter, trennt seine Protagonisten von der rauen Wirklichkeit unbetretenen Territoriums. Und das beste dabei ist, dass dieses unbetretene Territorium auch noch in den verschiedensten Formen daherkommt. Von Wald-Welt über Wüstenplanet - alles ist dabei. Man muss sich nur entscheiden, in welche Richtung man aufbricht.
Tja. Und dann wäre da noch der Plot, der sich nun schon über mehrere (übrigens recht dicke) Bände zieht. Denn im Grunde genommen lesen wir die Chroniken mehrerer Figuren, die sich zu einem Geschichte der Zivilisation unter den geschilderten Umständen verbinden. Das hat wunderbare Seiten (so lernen wir sie eben wirklich kennen) und negative Aspekete (manchmal ist das einfach langweilig).
In "Das lange Utopia" zum Beispiel lernen wir eine neue Spezies kennen. Eine gänzlich neue. Nicht, dass wir nicht inzwischen wüssten, dass "da draußen" (oder vielmehr: da drüben) merkwürdige Wesen herumkrebsen. Aber diese Spezies ist schon noch einmal etwas ganz besonderes. Bloß: Sie ist im akademischen Sinn interessant, nicht aber für die Entwicklung der Geschichte selbst. Wie kann ich das wohl erklären ... Moment. Es ist, als würde einem "Breaking Bad" vorgelesen. Von der eigenen Urgroßmutter. Und sie lässt die "schlimmen Stellen" weg.
Man ahnt, dass da viel mehr ist, vermutet die Bedrohung - und weiß so erst recht, was man verpasst. So ist eigentlich die ganze Reihe.
Tja. Und jetzt? Jetzt habe ich den letzten Band auf dem Nachtkästchen liegen und weiß, dass ich ihn natürlich lesen werde. Weil - auch, wenn streckenweise eben jede Action fehlt und ich permanent das Gefühl habe, Stephen Baxter verrennt sich in Details ehe er drei, vier Minuten vor Abgabe drauf kommt, dass er ja noch zehn Handlungsstrenge auflösen und ein wenig Spannung applizieren muss - ich die Chroniken auf ihre ureigene Art interessant finde.
Ich freu mich schon auf den nächsten Band. Und auf sein Ende.
January 30, 2016
Humanity has reached the middle of the twenty first century. Datum Earth is never really recovered from the battering of the Yellowstone caldera and has slowly moved further into the Long Earths, and started to settle. Lobsang is now an elderly and tetchy AI, living on Springfield, an exotic earth deep in the Long Earth. Settled with Agnes, they have even adopted a child, but as he embraces normal life, there are strange sightings and unusual happenings in his new home.
These strange and unusual sightings have the potential the threaten all of the Long Earth Worlds, and this threat will bring together all of mankind, Ai and the hyper intelligent Next to counter it. In doing so, they may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Over all this isn’t a bad book, Pratchett and Baxter have concentrated the story on a couple of worlds, bringing in old characters and new to counter the threat to all the Long Earth. Between them, their imagination knows no bounds. But there are a few flaws; it feels very slow moving, the characters have not really developed any depth and Pratchett’s normally sharp wit seems to be been blunted somewhat. Which is a shame really, because both authors are capable of so much more. One more to go in the series, which I will read, because it is rude to leave a series unfinished isn’t it?
These strange and unusual sightings have the potential the threaten all of the Long Earth Worlds, and this threat will bring together all of mankind, Ai and the hyper intelligent Next to counter it. In doing so, they may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Over all this isn’t a bad book, Pratchett and Baxter have concentrated the story on a couple of worlds, bringing in old characters and new to counter the threat to all the Long Earth. Between them, their imagination knows no bounds. But there are a few flaws; it feels very slow moving, the characters have not really developed any depth and Pratchett’s normally sharp wit seems to be been blunted somewhat. Which is a shame really, because both authors are capable of so much more. One more to go in the series, which I will read, because it is rude to leave a series unfinished isn’t it?
June 30, 2015
In my opinion this is the second best book of the series, behind the first. It's the first book in the series that really tries to reach for its full potential, exploring new ways of utilizing the setting and characters, rather than recycling the same old exploration plot like books 2 and 3 did. I found this to be quite enjoyable, and it shows what might have been expected from the series if not for Sir Terry Pratchett's death earlier this year. Stephen Baxter has reportedly said that, out of respect for Pratchett, he doesn't think he is going to continue the series beyond this volume, which is a decision that I understand and respect. (though that may just be a rumor, I don't know for sure) It's quite sad that the world was robbed of such a great and talented author just as this series was starting to find it's groove, and wherever Sir Pratchett may be now, I hope that he is happy. And those whom he left behind have my deepest sympathies.
That said I really enjoyed this book. It's not just the same old thing like we got with the last couple books. It goes deeper into the nature of the Long Earth, and explores different ways of using it, different moral dilemmas and goes into detail on steppers in the past, and Joshua's parentage. I quite liked the Knights of Discorporea idea, and, if anything, the book could have used a bit more of their adventures. The idea of British secret servicemen using stepping to spy and make assassinations back in the 1800s is really awesome. And the idea of invaders from a different world conquering the Long Earth is pretty awesome as well. I only wish that the previous two books had gone in this direction and developed these ideas further. The constant movie references in this book made me laugh quite a bit as well.
If you've been following this series up to now, you'll prbably enjoy this one quite a bit. If you gave up on it because it was just more of the same, I'd urge you to finish the series, because this book was really very good, and reused very little previous plotlines.
That said I really enjoyed this book. It's not just the same old thing like we got with the last couple books. It goes deeper into the nature of the Long Earth, and explores different ways of using it, different moral dilemmas and goes into detail on steppers in the past, and Joshua's parentage. I quite liked the Knights of Discorporea idea, and, if anything, the book could have used a bit more of their adventures. The idea of British secret servicemen using stepping to spy and make assassinations back in the 1800s is really awesome. And the idea of invaders from a different world conquering the Long Earth is pretty awesome as well. I only wish that the previous two books had gone in this direction and developed these ideas further. The constant movie references in this book made me laugh quite a bit as well.
If you've been following this series up to now, you'll prbably enjoy this one quite a bit. If you gave up on it because it was just more of the same, I'd urge you to finish the series, because this book was really very good, and reused very little previous plotlines.
November 30, 2015
Better than I feared ... that's the best I can say about it.
Before I forget, I must credit the sly inclusion of having Lobsang say that one thing he knows about is sweeping. Those who have read Pratchett's Thief of Time will have appreciated that. Now let's see, which Lobsang said that?
So. Long Utopia? The Utopia concept is mentioned only slightly more than Mars, which is to say in about eight words. And buh-bye beanstalks, because we spent a lot of time writing them in only to realize that we can't DO much with them, so let's handwave reasons why they were feasible but suddenly aren't.
We have a lot of characters and groups of characters to wrap up here. So let's start slowly and not get the reader all excited. Remind readers that Sally is Mysterious and Important. Maybe some flashes from the moon. Mention Yellowstone a lot so we don't forget it.
Let's have a whole bunch more of Agnes and Lobsang sighing and all "I just want .." With the occasional reminder about Sally. Now a tedious aside, which was predictable because any time Nelson appears the air is sucked out of the room. Let's read about a man named Valiente in Victorian times, then puzzle through the clues as Joshua is shown his ancestry. And completely fails to say to Nelson, "That's nice, so what?" Steppers have been around a while. Why does that matter? Sally is what matters!
And now here's Stan. Stan's special. That's a good idea, because this series didn't have anyone special in it till now. No dead people in android bodies. No one who can step through soft places. But I will accept that a Next Next is a reasonable extrapolation.
We need a crisis if we're ever going to get out of this plot. So here we are at world 1,243,567, because Sally "just knew." And she just knew who she'd need.
But first, let's explain the beetles and the pathways. Let's drop in a huge new idea completely out of nowhere, an idea that could easily carry a new series all by itself. There's our crisis! Cue the stunned military guy, who is a complete idiot but somehow rose past the geniuses below him, as they always do in novels. Cue the rabble, with the "No! This is our home!" even when the place is demonstrably disintegrating.
The book does develop the crisis well, from here's what's happening to uh-oh, here's WHY it's happening.
Suddenly, foot-in-mouth fools-rush-in Stan has become a demagogue [aside: it is possible, ref. Donald Trump] whose honeyed words can move masses. Well, we can't be having with that, can we? Would Stan be torn apart by the mob, or do the authors have something bigger lined up for him? We don't know. Bet Sally does. I'm starting to find Sally rather annoying.
OK, the authors do a good enough job of tying things together, especially the soft places. And the key explanation -
The ending? Pure schlock. Melodrama. Cloying. Twee. And probably the only way out of the narrative corner the authors painted them into.
But really. Pfui. The only POSSIBLE explanation is narrativium: it had to happen for dramatic reasons. One: you can't top a Noble Sacrifice. Two: They've become so powerful that we can't leave them in the plot. They've almost gone beyond Superman spinning the world backwards to make it didn't happen.
Even if Sir Terry were still with us, I don't see how this series can go anywhere from here. Oh, wait, yes I do. At the end, there's at least one Lobsang left, spinning through space into the sequel galaxy. He has a matter printer (but no way to collect raw material for it). He can probably make broom, though. He'll end up landing on a flat, circular world supported by turtles. It will be one of many such worlds ...
Before I forget, I must credit the sly inclusion of having Lobsang say that one thing he knows about is sweeping. Those who have read Pratchett's Thief of Time will have appreciated that. Now let's see, which Lobsang said that?
So. Long Utopia? The Utopia concept is mentioned only slightly more than Mars, which is to say in about eight words. And buh-bye beanstalks, because we spent a lot of time writing them in only to realize that we can't DO much with them, so let's handwave reasons why they were feasible but suddenly aren't.
We have a lot of characters and groups of characters to wrap up here. So let's start slowly and not get the reader all excited. Remind readers that Sally is Mysterious and Important. Maybe some flashes from the moon. Mention Yellowstone a lot so we don't forget it.
Let's have a whole bunch more of Agnes and Lobsang sighing and all "I just want .." With the occasional reminder about Sally. Now a tedious aside, which was predictable because any time Nelson appears the air is sucked out of the room. Let's read about a man named Valiente in Victorian times, then puzzle through the clues as Joshua is shown his ancestry. And completely fails to say to Nelson, "That's nice, so what?" Steppers have been around a while. Why does that matter? Sally is what matters!
And now here's Stan. Stan's special. That's a good idea, because this series didn't have anyone special in it till now. No dead people in android bodies. No one who can step through soft places. But I will accept that a Next Next is a reasonable extrapolation.
We need a crisis if we're ever going to get out of this plot. So here we are at world 1,243,567, because Sally "just knew." And she just knew who she'd need.
But first, let's explain the beetles and the pathways. Let's drop in a huge new idea completely out of nowhere, an idea that could easily carry a new series all by itself. There's our crisis! Cue the stunned military guy, who is a complete idiot but somehow rose past the geniuses below him, as they always do in novels. Cue the rabble, with the "No! This is our home!" even when the place is demonstrably disintegrating.
The book does develop the crisis well, from here's what's happening to uh-oh, here's WHY it's happening.
Suddenly, foot-in-mouth fools-rush-in Stan has become a demagogue [aside: it is possible, ref. Donald Trump] whose honeyed words can move masses. Well, we can't be having with that, can we? Would Stan be torn apart by the mob, or do the authors have something bigger lined up for him? We don't know. Bet Sally does. I'm starting to find Sally rather annoying.
OK, the authors do a good enough job of tying things together, especially the soft places. And the key explanation -
The ending? Pure schlock. Melodrama. Cloying. Twee. And probably the only way out of the narrative corner the authors painted them into.
But really. Pfui. The only POSSIBLE explanation is narrativium: it had to happen for dramatic reasons. One: you can't top a Noble Sacrifice. Two: They've become so powerful that we can't leave them in the plot. They've almost gone beyond Superman spinning the world backwards to make it didn't happen.
Even if Sir Terry were still with us, I don't see how this series can go anywhere from here. Oh, wait, yes I do. At the end, there's at least one Lobsang left, spinning through space into the sequel galaxy. He has a matter printer (but no way to collect raw material for it). He can probably make broom, though. He'll end up landing on a flat, circular world supported by turtles. It will be one of many such worlds ...
May 17, 2016
The Long Earth series of books presented an intriguing idea, that of being able to 'step' into parallel Earths, each an untouched wilderness and each one slightly different until they became very different planets. How would this affect people on a personal level and how would it affect the social and political stability of the original 'Datum Earth'?
The second book, The Long War explored the political theme further with the superpowers attempting to control the equivalent populations on the other Earths - and mostly meeting resistance to any governance at all. It also introduced the concept of the Next, a super intelligent sub-species of humanity.
The third book, The Long Mars had further incredible iterations of Earth on display and also did the same thing for Mars on a quest to discover a material to use to make a space elevator. The Next also started to organise and to separate themselves from the rest of humanity.
Each of these took the original concept and gave us more interesting worlds and lifeforms. Although the law of diminishing returns was starting to bite - Earth fatigue if you like - the main interest was in seeing what new ideas the authors could wrestle for each new Earth or Mars.
That is where this book fails. It is almost exclusively interested in only one copy of Earth, which comes under direct threat. All the usual suspects - Joshua, Sally, Lobsang and the Next must join forces to prevent a catastrophe threatening the whole Long Earth. There is also a sub-plot involving Joshua's antecedents which although interesting in itself is essentially a Long Earth short story of no relevance to the rest of the plot.
Whereas the previous books had a sense of wonder at each world, this loses that completely. It is in fact a completely standard science fiction story and probably would have been better told as a stand alone story rather than being shoe-horned into the Long Earth concept, which doesn't actually add anything interesting to it. It reads very much like Baxter wanted to write a story about a Dyson motor and as he was contracted to write a Long Earth novel, that's what was used. Unfortunately even this story is not well told with stilted and flaccid dialogue, zero character development and no dramatic tension at all. It was a real struggle to read in places, there is no zip or flow to the story or writing.
Various bits of the plot don't make a great deal of sense and the ending is very lame indeed with the chain of Long Earth worlds being essentially fixed by just thinking about it. The Next decide that Stan Berg, a newly discovered one of their kind, is the only one to 'fix' this despite basically no contact. They are supposed to be super intelligent and think many moves ahead but this just struck me as absurd.
Overall, I would only suggest that Long Earth completists read this. Those who enjoy the Long Earth for its diversity and novel concepts would be better off leaving this one on the shelf.
The second book, The Long War explored the political theme further with the superpowers attempting to control the equivalent populations on the other Earths - and mostly meeting resistance to any governance at all. It also introduced the concept of the Next, a super intelligent sub-species of humanity.
The third book, The Long Mars had further incredible iterations of Earth on display and also did the same thing for Mars on a quest to discover a material to use to make a space elevator. The Next also started to organise and to separate themselves from the rest of humanity.
Each of these took the original concept and gave us more interesting worlds and lifeforms. Although the law of diminishing returns was starting to bite - Earth fatigue if you like - the main interest was in seeing what new ideas the authors could wrestle for each new Earth or Mars.
That is where this book fails. It is almost exclusively interested in only one copy of Earth, which comes under direct threat. All the usual suspects - Joshua, Sally, Lobsang and the Next must join forces to prevent a catastrophe threatening the whole Long Earth. There is also a sub-plot involving Joshua's antecedents which although interesting in itself is essentially a Long Earth short story of no relevance to the rest of the plot.
Whereas the previous books had a sense of wonder at each world, this loses that completely. It is in fact a completely standard science fiction story and probably would have been better told as a stand alone story rather than being shoe-horned into the Long Earth concept, which doesn't actually add anything interesting to it. It reads very much like Baxter wanted to write a story about a Dyson motor and as he was contracted to write a Long Earth novel, that's what was used. Unfortunately even this story is not well told with stilted and flaccid dialogue, zero character development and no dramatic tension at all. It was a real struggle to read in places, there is no zip or flow to the story or writing.
Various bits of the plot don't make a great deal of sense and the ending is very lame indeed with the chain of Long Earth worlds being essentially fixed by just thinking about it. The Next decide that Stan Berg, a newly discovered one of their kind, is the only one to 'fix' this despite basically no contact. They are supposed to be super intelligent and think many moves ahead but this just struck me as absurd.
Overall, I would only suggest that Long Earth completists read this. Those who enjoy the Long Earth for its diversity and novel concepts would be better off leaving this one on the shelf.
July 24, 2015
Kinda wimped out giving it a three, lol.. so went with a diplomatic four! What? Why did I want to give it a three, I hear you ask! Well, I'll tell you for why!
Although I have enjoyed all four of these books, I can't help feeling that it's kinda indecisive. It just can't seem to decide whether it's going to be one long interconnected story that's going to build up to one final and brilliant climax or individual stories that only have a few interconnected bits.
Personally, I think what this series needs is one long interconnected story etc etc. I've enjoyed them separately, don't get me wrong but I just feel that someone wants it to be a long story, ahem, and someone else wants it to be individual and it just causes a bit of confusion in my ole noggin whenever I finish a book and that influenced my 3* (if I hadn't wimped out and gave it a 4*) decision.
Anyway, that being said.. I did enjoy it as I enjoyed the others and I'll definitely suggest other people read them because they're good.. it just needs to make it's mind up!
Although I have enjoyed all four of these books, I can't help feeling that it's kinda indecisive. It just can't seem to decide whether it's going to be one long interconnected story that's going to build up to one final and brilliant climax or individual stories that only have a few interconnected bits.
Personally, I think what this series needs is one long interconnected story etc etc. I've enjoyed them separately, don't get me wrong but I just feel that someone wants it to be a long story, ahem, and someone else wants it to be individual and it just causes a bit of confusion in my ole noggin whenever I finish a book and that influenced my 3* (if I hadn't wimped out and gave it a 4*) decision.
Anyway, that being said.. I did enjoy it as I enjoyed the others and I'll definitely suggest other people read them because they're good.. it just needs to make it's mind up!
January 3, 2018
I love The Long Earth series very much indeed and this, the fourth, is, I think, my favourite. Mixing sadness with light, it delves deeper into the hearts and souls of a very special group of people (not all of whom are entirely human) to investigate the nature of the Long Earths as well as the greatest threats challenging its survival.
January 12, 2018
3,5/5.
Después de dos novelas algo descafeinadas o que por lo menos a mi me transmitieron poco, La utopía larga me ha reconciliado con esta saga (aunque sigue habiendo cosas que no me convencen). El final de lo mejor, deseando que nos llegue traducida la conclusión de este viaje.
Después de dos novelas algo descafeinadas o que por lo menos a mi me transmitieron poco, La utopía larga me ha reconciliado con esta saga (aunque sigue habiendo cosas que no me convencen). El final de lo mejor, deseando que nos llegue traducida la conclusión de este viaje.
March 7, 2018
Die Reihe "The Long Earth" von Terry Pratchett und Stephen Baxter stellt mich immer wieder vor ein grosses Problem: Ich erwarte etwas komplett anderes, als ich erhalte. So bietet die eigentliche Welt zwar viele tolle Grundsätze und Möglichkeiten für fesselnde Geschichten, aber leider finden die beiden Autoren auch im vierten Band "The Long Utopia" viele Wege diese zu umgehen. Bekannte Charaktere werden nicht wirklich weiterentwickelt, neue Personen so merkwürdig eingeführt, dass sie einem gar nicht ans Herz wachsen können. Ebenso passiert zwar vieles, aber zugleich wirkt auch alles belanglos.
"The Long Utopia" könnte ein wirklich gutes Buch sein, wenn man sich etwas mehr auf die technische Sci-Fi verlassen hätte und gewisse, doch sehr ursachenreiche Gegebenheiten nicht bloss unerklärt passieren lassen würde. So wäre der Anteil der "Siedler- und Bauernfantasy" kleiner und ich zufriedener.
"The Long Utopia" könnte ein wirklich gutes Buch sein, wenn man sich etwas mehr auf die technische Sci-Fi verlassen hätte und gewisse, doch sehr ursachenreiche Gegebenheiten nicht bloss unerklärt passieren lassen würde. So wäre der Anteil der "Siedler- und Bauernfantasy" kleiner und ich zufriedener.
October 16, 2023
The wit and imagination of Sir Terry Pratchett, the scientific knowledge and innovative thought of Stephen Baxter. You can't go wrong. I am left with the vision of an endless string of earths, strung out like green and blue pearls. All you have to do is step sideways from one to the other.
July 20, 2016
The Long Earth universe has unlimited potential, literature-wise. So, imagine my disappointment when books 2 and 3 in the series were no more than rehashes of the first novel, in which we are introduced to an endless string of Earths that people can travel, or "step" to, with the help of a potato.
The Long Earth is a novel of discovery. We follow the characters as they travel from Earth to Earth and witness the staggering array of worlds and lifeforms, intelligent and not, that make up the Long Earth. I, personally, forgive the authors for cramming it full of stepping and descriptions of Earths instead of focusing on an intricate plot. It is, after all, an introduction to a whole new universe, both for the reader and for the characters.
The Long War is The Long Earth but with a different title. There is only the barest hint of a war, most likely because the authors were preoccupied with stepping.
The Long Mars is The Long Earth but on Mars. Plot points are introduced, but the story never really goes anywhere, unless you count all the friggin' stepping.
With The Long Utopia, we finally get a novel that focuses on plot instead of countless chapters crammed full of stepping. I was pleasantly surprised by the actual plot development, the buildup of tension, and the ending that read like an actual ending instead of something the authors tacked on because, well, a book's gotta have an ending. This book also did a much better job of pulling the events and characters of the previous books together. While it's not without its faults, it's still a damn sight better than the previous two in the series.
I can only hope that the final book in the series provides a satisfying conclusion to the Long Earth series.
The Long Earth is a novel of discovery. We follow the characters as they travel from Earth to Earth and witness the staggering array of worlds and lifeforms, intelligent and not, that make up the Long Earth. I, personally, forgive the authors for cramming it full of stepping and descriptions of Earths instead of focusing on an intricate plot. It is, after all, an introduction to a whole new universe, both for the reader and for the characters.
The Long War is The Long Earth but with a different title. There is only the barest hint of a war, most likely because the authors were preoccupied with stepping.
The Long Mars is The Long Earth but on Mars. Plot points are introduced, but the story never really goes anywhere, unless you count all the friggin' stepping.
With The Long Utopia, we finally get a novel that focuses on plot instead of countless chapters crammed full of stepping. I was pleasantly surprised by the actual plot development, the buildup of tension, and the ending that read like an actual ending instead of something the authors tacked on because, well, a book's gotta have an ending. This book also did a much better job of pulling the events and characters of the previous books together. While it's not without its faults, it's still a damn sight better than the previous two in the series.
I can only hope that the final book in the series provides a satisfying conclusion to the Long Earth series.
May 11, 2017
If you've gotten this far in the series, you might have some questions and a desire to see some of the stranger threads come together, like the parentage of our MC's, some of the hints of the stranger alien/Earthlings, the oddest Earths, and, of course, Lobsang.
I can characterize all of these novels as Pioneer Fiction, easily, but they're also heavy SF written in a very engaging and easy way, full of wonderful characters and simple, interesting plots.
Now, I must admit that the last one and this one don't really have quite the same vibrant flavor as the first two, at least with the characters, but the science bits and the sense of scale... almost a billion Earths and Mars, is absolutely gorgeous.
Beetle aliens are tearing up an Earth in a mind-boggling construction effort that acts upon Dyson-level energies and terraforming for a goal that is just as mind-boggling, and everyone else is kinda freaking out.
The kinds of political and war-like efforts are petering out because there's just way too much space and no way to rule over this much of an exodus, a diaspora of people. I mean, just think about it... The Datum Earth we all belonged to has just undergone an extinction-level event and everyone has mostly left it, the governments freaked out because now there's no way to control ANYONE or prevent them from stepping across dozens of empty Earths, let alone hundreds of thousands or MILLIONS of them.
People are free. Free to do whatever they want.
This, more than anything, including the history of the people who could "step" before the diaspora, or any of the "too little, too late" political machinations, hooks me good and solid. It's pretty amazing.
Utopia, indeed.
Too bad about all the other extinction-level events on the way, right? Oh, plot. :)
I can characterize all of these novels as Pioneer Fiction, easily, but they're also heavy SF written in a very engaging and easy way, full of wonderful characters and simple, interesting plots.
Now, I must admit that the last one and this one don't really have quite the same vibrant flavor as the first two, at least with the characters, but the science bits and the sense of scale... almost a billion Earths and Mars, is absolutely gorgeous.
Beetle aliens are tearing up an Earth in a mind-boggling construction effort that acts upon Dyson-level energies and terraforming for a goal that is just as mind-boggling, and everyone else is kinda freaking out.
The kinds of political and war-like efforts are petering out because there's just way too much space and no way to rule over this much of an exodus, a diaspora of people. I mean, just think about it... The Datum Earth we all belonged to has just undergone an extinction-level event and everyone has mostly left it, the governments freaked out because now there's no way to control ANYONE or prevent them from stepping across dozens of empty Earths, let alone hundreds of thousands or MILLIONS of them.
People are free. Free to do whatever they want.
This, more than anything, including the history of the people who could "step" before the diaspora, or any of the "too little, too late" political machinations, hooks me good and solid. It's pretty amazing.
Utopia, indeed.
Too bad about all the other extinction-level events on the way, right? Oh, plot. :)
December 2, 2019
The series starts to remind me of Flatland, where the authors made a theoretical exercise with multiple dimensions. The long read expand on our characters' lives who even when trying to live a normal quiet existence, get pulled back into the thick of things to try and make sense of the latest step option into another axis of possibilities.
I have to note that some of the few amusing moments throughout the series is whenever they reference some "arcane" piece of cultural heritage such as Star Trek and other genre works.
I have to note that some of the few amusing moments throughout the series is whenever they reference some "arcane" piece of cultural heritage such as Star Trek and other genre works.
April 17, 2024
Space....
This one was so unexpected for me. Not at all the story I expected, but I loved it. All of the references to movies from the 80's, like The Blues Brothers really drew me in. The first few books in the series were so good but this one takes such a new direction and truly expands your thinking. It's amazing for me to think I fell into this series because I was reading the 42 book Discworld series and wanted something new. I tried the first book, which was quite long, and I was hooked. I'm sad there is only one book left in the series, but there are so many other books I want to read as well.if you enjoy good sci-fi then try these, you won't be disappointed.
This one was so unexpected for me. Not at all the story I expected, but I loved it. All of the references to movies from the 80's, like The Blues Brothers really drew me in. The first few books in the series were so good but this one takes such a new direction and truly expands your thinking. It's amazing for me to think I fell into this series because I was reading the 42 book Discworld series and wanted something new. I tried the first book, which was quite long, and I was hooked. I'm sad there is only one book left in the series, but there are so many other books I want to read as well.if you enjoy good sci-fi then try these, you won't be disappointed.
June 10, 2022
Not bad for a 3rd sequel
This is the 4th book in Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter's Long Earth series.
Humanity has discovered how to "step" between an apparently infinite series of alternate Earths, each unique and (mostly) uninhabited by sentient beings.
But what happens when one of the Earths in the chain gets tangled with another chain inhabited by alien creatures with a completely alien agenda that is likely to destroy the Long Earth?
I like these books because I've read many of both Pratchett's Discworld books and Baxter's Xeelee books, and I think their writing styles harmonize beautifully.
This is the 4th book in Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter's Long Earth series.
Humanity has discovered how to "step" between an apparently infinite series of alternate Earths, each unique and (mostly) uninhabited by sentient beings.
But what happens when one of the Earths in the chain gets tangled with another chain inhabited by alien creatures with a completely alien agenda that is likely to destroy the Long Earth?
I like these books because I've read many of both Pratchett's Discworld books and Baxter's Xeelee books, and I think their writing styles harmonize beautifully.
April 25, 2025
Nun habe ich auch den vierten Band beendet. Die Geschichte der langen Erde ist nach wie vor unglaublich faszinierend. Mit leichter Wehmut starte ich morgen dann den letzten Band der Reihe, aber die Vorfreude überwiegt ganz klar.
Klare Empfehlung weiterhin für alle Science Fiction Fans
Klare Empfehlung weiterhin für alle Science Fiction Fans
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June 25, 2015The first Pratchett book to come out since the chap who talks in capitals came for him, and as such sure to be a melancholy read whatever its content. Though obviously this series was always a collaborative effort, and in some ways this one feels tilted more Baxter's way than its predecessors. There are occasional bursts of stilted dialogue, undigested exposition and repetition more familiar from his work than Pratchett's – though as with such an assessment of any collaboration, this is pure inference on my part, and very likely wrong.
The first Long Earth book, too, where I read a review before getting my own review copy. First world problems, I know, having to wait for the very fine local library service to hook me up. The reviewer in question liked this more than anything in the series since the first book, because it felt more like a novel again. I feel pretty much the opposite about that return to conventionality, especially disliking the misplaced historical subplot here. I liked the intervening books, the way the characters and the plots had become little more than an excuse for unfettered world(s)-building. But then I like Olaf Stapledon, whose influence is still strong here, and who was usually much more interested in the big picture than standard novel business. That said, like this book he would find time for the occasional uneasy encounter between humans and their strange progeny, in which the lacks on both sides are felt as forcefully as the benefits. I was reminded too of John Crowley's 'Great Work of Time', and several stories by the great Clifford Simak - the eponymous 'Utopia' here is at least partly bittersweet, a sense that the great human experiment is being abandoned for a more pastoral and nomadic life in the endless forests of the Long Earth. A utopia to some, but a quiet apocalypse or dying fall for others, especially the old-timers who remember a humanity confined to one Earth. At times, the back-to-nature thinking involved is just maddening; there's one scene which is clearly supposed to be heartbreaking, but is instead as needless and infuriating as the finale of [a popular recent-ish SF series I don't want to drive-by spoiler, just in case].
Helpfully, the book opens with a diagram clarifying one key concept. Unfortunately, it's a concept which is supposed to be a mystery for the first 200-odd pages. It might have been better placed in an appendix.
The first Long Earth book, too, where I read a review before getting my own review copy. First world problems, I know, having to wait for the very fine local library service to hook me up. The reviewer in question liked this more than anything in the series since the first book, because it felt more like a novel again. I feel pretty much the opposite about that return to conventionality, especially disliking the misplaced historical subplot here. I liked the intervening books, the way the characters and the plots had become little more than an excuse for unfettered world(s)-building. But then I like Olaf Stapledon, whose influence is still strong here, and who was usually much more interested in the big picture than standard novel business. That said, like this book he would find time for the occasional uneasy encounter between humans and their strange progeny, in which the lacks on both sides are felt as forcefully as the benefits. I was reminded too of John Crowley's 'Great Work of Time', and several stories by the great Clifford Simak - the eponymous 'Utopia' here is at least partly bittersweet, a sense that the great human experiment is being abandoned for a more pastoral and nomadic life in the endless forests of the Long Earth. A utopia to some, but a quiet apocalypse or dying fall for others, especially the old-timers who remember a humanity confined to one Earth. At times, the back-to-nature thinking involved is just maddening; there's one scene which is clearly supposed to be heartbreaking, but is instead as needless and infuriating as the finale of [a popular recent-ish SF series I don't want to drive-by spoiler, just in case].
Helpfully, the book opens with a diagram clarifying one key concept. Unfortunately, it's a concept which is supposed to be a mystery for the first 200-odd pages. It might have been better placed in an appendix.
July 24, 2015
Sigh.
I have yet to read a good Long Earth book.
Which is a pity, because Pratchett was always one of my favourite authors, even if his later works started becoming too serious (perhaps understandably, giving what he went through).
However, having made (slogged) it through the previous three Long Earth books ( The Long Earth, The Long War and The Long Mars) I thought I would still give this one a chance: we live in hope, after all!
Unfortunately, and despite occasional flashes of some interesting ideas and plot (mainly connected with the history of Joshua's ancestors and the Steppers of the past), this was still a long, slow and laborious read.
I'm not sure whether Baxter will continue with the series following Pratchett's death earlier this year but if he doesn't, and unlike the Discworld novels, I doubt I'll miss this series that much or be in a hurry to re-read any of them.
I have yet to read a good Long Earth book.
Which is a pity, because Pratchett was always one of my favourite authors, even if his later works started becoming too serious (perhaps understandably, giving what he went through).
However, having made (slogged) it through the previous three Long Earth books ( The Long Earth, The Long War and The Long Mars) I thought I would still give this one a chance: we live in hope, after all!
Unfortunately, and despite occasional flashes of some interesting ideas and plot (mainly connected with the history of Joshua's ancestors and the Steppers of the past), this was still a long, slow and laborious read.
I'm not sure whether Baxter will continue with the series following Pratchett's death earlier this year but if he doesn't, and unlike the Discworld novels, I doubt I'll miss this series that much or be in a hurry to re-read any of them.
September 13, 2015
So this as much a commentary on the last book as it is the series itself. I read in another review that one of the great strengths of this series is the unique and creative world that they creative. I have to agree that the concepts are very cool. Where I think it falls short is on the actual execution of those ideas. This trend has only seemed to get worse as the series has progressed. In this last book it feels that the ending has almost nothing to do with what they were building towards for the first half of the book. The ending felt rushed and honestly unsatisfying. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a preference for one type of ending over another, so the way it ended in that regard wasn't the problem. It just felt like a different book's conclusion. Incongruent seems to be the word that fits for this book. I guess it comes down to a question of which is worse...to have at ideas but not seem to flush them out and execute well or to have mediocre ideas that are well developed? I am left with that for this one.
August 8, 2016
2 stars from Kate, read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE
I read this book thinking it was, finally, the end of Terry Pratchett and Steven Baxter’s LONG EARTH series. Unfortunately, I have since read that one more is going to come out. In some ways, this is fine. The Long Utopia (2015) in no way provides a conclusion to many of the plotlines that Pratchett and Baxter have set in motion in previous installments and about which I am still, despite my better instincts, curious. In other ways, though, it is tedious, since my experience of these books cannot really be described as “enjoyment.”
In The Long Utopia, life on the Long Earth continues as it did when we left it. The Next, the evolved super-smart humans we met in The Long Mars, have found a home up in... FANTASY LITERATURE
I read this book thinking it was, finally, the end of Terry Pratchett and Steven Baxter’s LONG EARTH series. Unfortunately, I have since read that one more is going to come out. In some ways, this is fine. The Long Utopia (2015) in no way provides a conclusion to many of the plotlines that Pratchett and Baxter have set in motion in previous installments and about which I am still, despite my better instincts, curious. In other ways, though, it is tedious, since my experience of these books cannot really be described as “enjoyment.”
In The Long Utopia, life on the Long Earth continues as it did when we left it. The Next, the evolved super-smart humans we met in The Long Mars, have found a home up in... FANTASY LITERATURE
August 31, 2025
You can read my first review here: http://embracingmybooks.blogspot.be/2...
And my second review here: https://embracingmybooks.blogspot.com...
And my second review here: https://embracingmybooks.blogspot.com...
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