📚心得【Expanse #5：Nemesis Games】 by Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck, 2015
#Space_Opera #Drama #Plot_Shakeup #Underdog_Rebellion #Planetary_Terrorism
This book is truly the most successful sequel I have ever read, bar none. Often, series with an excellent first installment limit themselves with fixed characters or a set world. But Nemesis Games took a clever approach: if you're boxed in, why not just shake everything up? With a major plot twist, let's just destroy it all! Now's the time for the good guys to turn bad and the bad guys to turn good!
This approach isn't uncommon. Many Japanese manga series do something similar, using a main villain to absorb everyone's resentment. But what makes Nemesis Games special is that it doesn't just focus all the anger in one place. In the chaos, everyone is a bit complicit, and the main characters are no exception. It's like a long-term bullying situation in a classroom where the victim has done their best to seek help, but teachers and classmates look the other way, or even add a few kicks. Then, when something big happens and the school is massacred, people start blaming others, blaming themselves for not helping in time, and blaming the perpetrator for not being rational. But for people who have nothing to lose, it is a completely reasonable and unsurprising act to become a self-proclaimed "Messiah" when the opportunity arises. Furthermore, even though the characters are scattered and almost completely cut off from communication, facing their own challenges and battles, they are still implicitly and closely connected, working toward the "right" direction for the same cause.
The two authors masterfully weave multiple parallel storylines, constantly building tension and anticipation until the characters finally converge at the end of the book to face an even bigger challenge. The book also extensively discusses the concept of "right." Often, what is right is contradictory—an action that's correct for an individual can be selfish for humanity as a whole. How should one choose between the two?
The novel’s turning point vividly portrays destruction and chaos, instilling a sense of urgency and fear. Naomi's role is also crucial, adding depth and emotional resonance to the story. As her past resurfaces and her conscience is tested, her actions become decisive for the fate of both humanity and the main group. Throughout this, each character’s journey follows a different path; new alliances are forged, and old relationships become strained. This re-arrangement not only adds complexity to the story but also provides new perspectives and room for character growth. The authors' background as screenwriters is evident, as their narrative arrangement is simply more skillful than that of typical authors.
The only flaw I see in this book is the ending. Although it sets up the current situation, it's a cliffhanger, which is something the <Expanse> series has never done before. However, this is not uncommon in other series I also love, like <Bobiverse> and <The Three-Body Problem>. Personally, I find cliffhangers acceptable for weekly TV shows, but for a book series that updates once a year, it makes a reader want to slam the table. Additionally, the <Expanse> series consistently focuses on plot over philosophical ideas. So, while the story and narrative are truly close to perfect, there isn't yet a core concept for in-depth discussion.
IMO Rating: 89. It's on par with the first book in the series and is the single best sequel I have ever read, without exception.Core Theme: ★★★★☆ (*5)
Plot Quality: ★★★★★ (*4)
Character Development: ★★★★★ (*3)
Science Validity: ★★★★★ (*3)
Ending Satisfaction: ★★★☆☆ (*3)
Readability: ★★★★★ (*2)
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