The Supernova Era

Supernova Era by Liu Cixin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very imaginative book best approached with no preconceived notions. It certainly isn't as dark as Liu's previous trilogy, nor is it as complex. It is a fascinating look at human nature and the inertia of geopolitics and social organization. I think it is both realistic and optimistic and it's certainly unique. It is nothing at all like Lord of the Flies, so please dispense with that notion.

It moves in its storytelling at a rather predictable pace. You can easily imagine the scenarios presented at the beginning and middle of the book. But as the children take over and their ultimate values make themselves evident things evolve in a fashion nobody could predict. Because we're adults, that's why.

The case is very clear that children and adults think very differently and I think Liu has nailed it. In some way this book is conceptually reminiscent of Dennis Taylor's Outland. The very fact that the protagonists are young heightens the sense of danger and drama.

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