The Last Theorem
by Arthur C. Clarke, Frederik Pohl
|
List Price: Our Price: $1.20 You Save: $25.80 (96%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Last Theorem
Book Review: Interesting but disjointed
Summary: 3 Stars
This book caught my interest for a variety of reasons. First, it was written by two authors that I like for very different reasons. Second, the title refers to one of the most fascinating stories in the history of mathematics, and I was curious to see what these great authors would handle that subject.
Although the result is an interesting read, I was a little disappointed overall. The search and eventual find of the elusive proof of Fermat's last theorem using only mathematical techniques known in Fermat's days is a capturing story, but once the proof is published the story deflates. What follows has nothing to do with the proof, and could just as well have been a different book. The authors had no problem gathering new momentum for the second part of the book, but in doing so they started more storylines than they could handle. The result is lots of loose ends and unsatisfactory resolutions of subplots.
In spite of the weaknesses, there are lots of treasures in this book. The many anecdotes and mathematical trivia that can be found in the book are enriching, and keep up the entertainment value. Overall I did not regret reading this book.
Book Review: 3 1/2 star book, decent plot but execution, pacing issues
Summary: 3 Stars
Notably, I have read a good bit of Pohl's published SF. This book reads a bit like him rather than clarke at times. I would be curious to know who was the primary writer, etc.
My review does contain spoilers. Consider whether to continue reading, as plot threads will be deflated.
I found the first half of the book well-paced, with the Aliens being 1-paragraph backdrops/subplot elements of the early progression of the protagonist's life, up until his kidnapping/incarceration. At that point, some plot elements seemed a bit contrived (the manner of his rescue could only be described as improbable), and furthermore the pacing of the development of the plotlines, with the protagonist's family life being a central feature, seemed to become very slow. I skipped many pages in the last third of the book to simply get to the next major plot event.
I think this book would have been better with a re-tooling of the pacing in the last half. The actual main plot-lines and ideas are fascinating, though the telescoped epilogue was confusing in terms of how the great galactics were supplanted.
Book Review: A sad final work
Summary: 2 Stars
I grew up reading SF, and Arthur C Clarke was one I enjoyed regularly. From the late 1980's on, however, I became less enamored with his work. To be honest, I feel he did a better job with hard science and characters that would "fit" in the world he matured in (1940's-1960's). This book also reminded me of what a poor SF author I'd considered Pohl to be: most of this work is pure Pohl. Putting these two thoughts together, this work was plagued by characters I did not care about, and lacks any scientific "hook" that drives the novel forward. Finally, the sociopolitical frame work used by the authors as the environment in which the plastic characters operated was, for want of a better term, silly. I have lived in some of these island countries, and believe me, they could not pull this off.
Regarding science, I did learn that any form of space elevator would take weeks to get material and people up to geosynchronous orbit, but this was offset by the ridiculous expedient of moving Sri Lanka a few hundred kilometers south in order to make the space elevator possible in Clarke's adopted country.
Book Review: A fitting tribute
Summary: 3 Stars
In "The Last Theorem" we are treated to a homily regarding transcendence of humanity. Arthur Clarke and Frederik Pohl cleverly elucidate their "last theorem" for the societal, spiritual, and scientific enlightenment of mankind. It involves the calculus of justice, the algebra of cooperation and the fundamental equation that science = future.
Ranjit is our reluctant Candide, of sorts, whose adventures and travails explore the state of the world. It is through his exploits, and those of his family and friends, that we witness the events that finds mankind on the precipice of destruction or salvation. The Grand Galactics and their surrogates are on their way from the stars to destroy the Earth.
Clarke and Pohl present little "prescience" fiction that punctuates their prior works. Rather, their most powerful technique in this compassionate and entertaining novel is the 360-degree mirror they hold up for society to evaluate itself. Is this truly the "best of all possible worlds" - or can it be better?
Book Review: A Poor Showing From Two Great Writers
Summary: 3 Stars
It's hard to give a poor review to a truly great author--or authors, in this case. Especially when one of them just died. /The Last Theorem/ is about a Sri Lankan teenage math prodigy (Ranjit Subramanian) who solves Fermat's famous last theorem. At the same time, the alien Grand Galactics have been attracted to Earth by our nuclear explosions and have decided that we are a threat to the universe and need to be exterminated. Under this threat, humanity rises to the challenge, finding new ways to mange international problems, engaging in cooperative projects for the good of humanity, and Ranjit engages in ongoing negotiations with the Galactics to spare the humanity.
The book, itself, is fairly boring, with more math than necessary to move the story and expository material that gets in the way more than it helps. It is also quite preachy in its depiction of how to fix the world's problems. The depiction of Sri Lanka does show Clarke's love of his adopted country, but that just doesn't provide salvation to the book.