📚心得【Expanse #8：Tiamat's Wrath】 by Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck, 2019
近幾年看小說的頻率愈來愈低了，但這系列剩最後2集了！我也很好奇Ring Builders到底曾經是怎麼樣的一個文明，肯定會騰出時間來看完的！
掌握Ring Builders關鍵科技的Laconia帝國勢如破竹，面對數艘以一擋百的強大艦艇，通訊、指揮又存在著各種障礙，反叛軍能如何在各種困難下逆轉呢？
這集反叛軍的各種關鍵策略與行動非常精彩，充分利用了隨機密語通訊、無所不在的人脈網絡、掌握關鍵資訊，並緊抓帝國因為傲慢與好奇心導致的漏洞迅速擴張、串連行動，控制樞紐後在Laconia包圍戰中靠數量讓機動性、武力都佔優勢的帝國軍疲於奔命，最後才能以最小傷亡破壞帝國最重要的設施。在後期做統整、組織的Naomi無疑是最大功臣。
思想方面，這集有些篇幅在討論兩個無法溝通的文明之間的賽局理論：人類與觀測不到的Goths之間，交流只能透過「特定條件下會發生的反應」。人類希望Goths能讓步，怎麼做呢？Duarte這個昏君的想法是：像教狗一樣，有壞舉動就打牠、處罰牠，愈打愈大力，直到對方學乖。
這做法笨的地方真不少，首先期待對方文明有與人類相同的邏輯，二是錯估雙方的實力差，三是假設了對方能理解舉動與處罰之間的因果關係，這麼做有高機率會觸怒對方，只會加深對方將傷害自己的「害蟲」想方設法排除的動機。
這集難得幾乎沒有主角Holden出馬的機會，各方都被監控的俘虜是沒有通訊管道的，完全只能靠關係、小手段、帝國新聞獲取資訊，盡量達到挑撥離間的效果，但感覺最後效果也不大；同時，幾個「舊時代」的主角群成員們也開始犧牲了，在很多時刻變成如同Detective Miller一般活在仍在行動的他人心中的聲音。
Ring Builders的設定與他們過去面對的敵人面目也逐漸明朗了，目前我還是純猜測：反物質總得從哪裡獲取，若有個反物質宇宙存在的話，拿走他們一個光子，對方的宇宙可能也就真的永久失去了一個光子，對方當然也會想拿回來，導致這場物質與反物質宇宙的生存戰爭變成了賽局理論的掠奪競賽。
IMO總分：77分，與具壓倒性優勢帝國以精彩的游擊與巷口戰術博弈，大概是自第5集以來難得的又一次劇情高峰。
核心思想：★★★★☆ 核心討論議題是否有趣*5
劇情細節：★★★★☆ 綜觀整體劇情的質與量*4
角色刻畫：★★★★☆ 角色群的必要性與深度*3
科學軟硬：★★★☆☆ 是否符合現實物理現象*3
結局滿意：★★★★☆ 結局滿意度與有無餘韻*3
易讀程度：★★★★☆ 閱讀時章節是否難消化*2
#Space_Opera #Strategy #Rebel_against_Empire
In recent years, I've been reading novels less and less, but there are only two books left in this series! I'm also really curious about what kind of civilization the Ring Builders once were, and I'll definitely make time to finish it.
The Laconia Empire, which controls the key technology of the Ring Builders, is advancing like a storm. Facing several powerful ships that can each take on a hundred, and with communication and command facing various obstacles, how can the rebels turn the tide under such difficult circumstances?
The various key strategies and actions of the rebels in this book were brilliant. They fully utilized random-key communications, an omnipresent network of connections, and control of crucial information. They also quickly expanded and linked up their operations by seizing upon the weakness caused by the Empire's ignorance and curiosity. After taking control of the hub, they used sheer numbers in the siege of Laconia to wear down the superior mobility and firepower of the Imperial fleet, ultimately allowing them to destroy the Empire's most important facility with minimal casualties. Naomi, who organized and coordinated everything in the later stages, was undoubtedly the greatest hero.
In terms of themes, this book dedicates some pages to discussing game theory between two civilizations that can't communicate: humanity and the unobservable Goths. Communication can only happen through "reactions that occur under specific conditions." Humanity wants the Goths to yield, but how? The tyrannical Duarte's idea is to treat them like a dog: if they do something bad, you hit them and punish them, hitting them harder and harder until they "learn their lesson."
There are many foolish things about this approach. First, it expects the other civilization to have the same logic as humans. Second, it misjudges the tech power disparity between the two sides. Third, it assumes the other party can understand the cause-and-effect relationship between actions and punishment. This approach has a high probability of enraging the other side and will only strengthen their motivation to find a way to eliminate the "vermin" that are hurting them, and since they can't tell humanity is in factions, they may eliminate all.
In this book, it was rare for protagonist Holden to have a chance to act. As a monitored prisoner, he had no communication channel. He had to rely entirely on face-to-face relationships, minor schemes, and imperial news reports to get information, trying his best to sow discord. At the same time, several members of the "old guard" of the main cast began to sacrifice themselves, becoming a voice that lives on in the minds of others still in action, in a sense much like the good o' Detective Miller.
The lore of the Ring Builders and the true nature of their past enemies are also gradually becoming clearer. Right now, this is just my pure speculation: antimatter must come from somewhere. If an antimatter universe exists, taking one photon from it might mean their universe permanently loses a photon. The other side would naturally want to take it back, turning this survival war between a matter and an antimatter universe into a zero-sum game theory competition.
IMO Rating: 77. The brilliant guerrilla and doors-and-corners tactics used to contend with an overwhelmingly superior empire mark another rare peak in the series' plot, likely the best since book 5.
Core Theme: ★★★★☆ (*5)
Plot Quality: ★★★★☆ (*4)
Character Development: ★★★★☆ (*3)
Science Validity: ★★★☆☆ (*3)
Ending Satisfaction: ★★★★☆ (*3)
Readability: ★★★★☆ (*2)
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