Iron Gold
(Red Rising #4)
by Pierce Brown
science fiction, dystopia
copyright 2018
read in January 2021
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
Book one was terrific, it stood alone but left me wanting more. Books two and three could not be read alone, characters had been introduced in book one, book two ended with everything lost, to be continued in book three.
This book four makes -- I guess -- very little sense unless you have read at least one of the previous books. If you have read them all -- then this book may be worth more than six. For me it was spoilt by the clear indications that there would be no conclusion. Sure enough, at the end, everyone is in mortal peril.
This book does not stand alone. Having read the previous three -- it is just another chapter, with no conclusion. This annoys me.
As a story it is as violent and nasty as the others. Nothing wrong with that... Nothing wrong with that -- if there is some conclusion. With at least some wins for the goodies. In this book, there are no winners, there are several losers.
If you want a science fiction dystopia -- if you can wait for the next two books (one is written) -- if those two actually finish a story -- then this is a terrific book. For me... I now need to brighten my mood with a lighter book or two.
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Later thought:
The book is written as three or four threads. Each thread follows one character, with some interactions. This approach gives a broad picture of what is happening, it also gets more words from the same size plot. I seem to remember that the first three books were simpler, one-main-character plots.
The multi-thread plot is typical of never-ending fantasy sagas. Is this coincidence... or has the author decided that this Mars saga will never end. I take it as a bad sign.
The series seems to have changed from a one-thread plot with a worthwhile end, to a less interesting soap opera. Yes, the various threads are related. But are they aiming towards a satisfying end? Not as far as I can tell.
As I read, I had no hope for a real conclusion. This stopped me enjoying the book.
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved
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I'd rather be super rich than completely stupid... Ginger Meggs
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