The Sword and Laser discussion

Does anyone else feel like the book would have been far better if we didn't get the last section of the book? I've just been thinking it would have been so interesting and strong if that last section (the weakest in my eyes) wasn't there at all.

YES!!! I was just telling my husband yesterday that I thought he would like this book. And then today I read the last section and I'm like "so, yeah, um, maybe not so much on this book for you". I almost feel a little cheated by how long I spent reading it and that was the ending I was given.

I liked the ending. Without it, the message behind the book doesn't work.

define "last section". The return or the body surfing? I was fine with both, but wanted more closure personally

Well, the entire book just wasn't my thing, but yeah, I would have been ok knowing that they (view spoiler)[all went into hibernation to make it back to earth and assuming that they/most of them made it back. No need for the pseudo orbital mechanics and the entire section back on Earth (hide spoiler)]. I skimmed a lot at the end.

By the last section I mean everything more or less after ship's exit. I get what KSR was going for, but the same message was conveyed elsewhere in the book and the pov change felt abrupt and unearned.

I was fine with it. I agree it could have ended with the ship's POV. Once it started though, I felt the "How Stela Got Her Grove Back" section was needed to end the story.

I had more issues with the waves, not that she got in trouble, but how she got whacked the second time. But that's the former lifeguard in me talking.

Personally, I thought the surfing bit was a lovely way to end the novel, and made the story nice and circular. I liked the sudden jeopardy of a tranquil scene, and I like the way it was quietly resolved. It felt very poignant.

I thought the body-surfing ending was disappointing because I found it boring. It's why I gave Aurora 4 stars instead of 5.