Marianna Neal's Reviews > The Dark Forest

“Yan Yan, do you know what the greatest expression of regard for a race or civilization is?”
“No, what?”
“Annihilation. That’s the highest respect a civilization can receive. They would only feel threatened by a civilization they truly respect.”

4.5 out of 5 stars

I'm so unsure about this rating! The only reason it's no a 5 out of 5 is because there were some glaring pacing issues in the first third and Luo Ji's dream girlfriend subplot, though necessary to an extent, felt so drawn out. I just think the point of all of that would have still been clear even if that subplot was half the length it was, and I don't think the romantic aspects were particularly well written to begin with. But this really is my only complaint though because OH MY GOD!

The Three Body Problem blew my mind multiple times, but somehow The Dark Forest went even harder. We have scientific theories and humanity scraping to come up with a defense plan, we have an insane time jump, we have a view of futuristic society... but we also have some serious sci-fi horror that will have you picking your jaw up off the floor and some next level existential dread. Oh, and the ending is simultaneously the most amazing and the most chilling thing. I need to sit with this one for a while, the whole Dark Forest hypothesis is a very... well, dark place to be. But also a fascinating one.

Basically, it's a fantastic follow-up to the first novel, and I'm probably not even ready for what's coming for me in Death's End. Especially with that cheerful title. Can't wait though.