The Long War / Pratchett & Baxter

The Long War

(Long Earth 2)

by Terry Pratchett, Stephen Baxter

science fiction

copyright 2013

read in March 2015

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

The Long Earth introduced a series of parallel worlds, all easily accessible. The book explores the "what if" of having an Earth-times-infinity area for humanity to explore and settle. The Long War expands on the way in which humans would deal with the new reality.

Ho hum.

You could say that it's a clever and detailed exploration of humanity's response to a new situation. Yes, a few people travel the worlds and discover ways in which humanity has taken advantage of all that free space. There's a comparison of the American response versus the Chinese response. A visit to a settlement of science nerds using the new possibilities to explore space.

A great analysis of the "what if". A weak attempt to insert a plot for a novel.

A few characters head off -- actually, more than a few, and that's another problem. The head off to explore and to govern. Really, they head off to allow the author (authors?) to describe several settlements in the new worlds.

In reality, though, they are all being stage-managed by a super-computer. Sure, they are allowed to "choose" whether or not to follow the pushes and shoves of the super-computer. Ha ha. I prefer free will.

I also prefer a book where characters are introduced because they have a part to play. A part to play in *this* book. The Long War introduces several characters who do so little, that you hope that they have a more relevant role -- or any role at all -- in the next book in this series.

If you enjoy the multi-novel exploration of an interesting idea -- with only vague action to hold it together -- then read this series.

I read this book to pass the time. If there's no third book, I won't miss it.

Meanwhile, what about the actual response of humanity to the sudden availability of all this new space ?

There are some characters, perhaps a few hundred, we meet just a couple, who pop around the worlds just to see what is there. They may explore, they camp, live off the land, move on. Minimum impact tourists. They see the "long Earth" as a great opportunity for peace and quiet and living without destruction.

Every other one of the billions of humans wants to rape and pillage.

Just one example: In an infinite series of worlds, each with an Earth-sized empty area ready for settlement, one village is set up next to a forest full of noxious plants. Just breathe in this forest and you will suffer from a violent and uncontrollable high. These plants are new, they do not exist anywhere else.

Silly villagers, says the clever leader of a government expedition. You should not live so close to such rare and noxious plants. So what's her clever advice ?

Burn the plants ! she says !

In an infinite series of worlds, each with an Earth-sized empty area ready for settlement, one small village has been set up next to a unique but dangerous plant. Can't they just move ?! No, the clever advice is, destroy all specimens of the plant.

And that's the overall theme of the book: Humanity invades new worlds, destroys as much as possible and breeds like rabbits.

I can hardly wait for the next book in the series, The Long Destruction: One thousand years on and each one of the infinite Earths is packed full of teeming humanity. Each Earth is covered in steel and concrete and smog. Humanity has exterminated every other living organism. Brave scientists are finally exploring space, looking for other planets to exploit.

The Long Earth introduced an interesting "what if" scenario. What a pity that the authors could not imagine a better outcome.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge
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Sir Francis Bacon - "If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties."