Do You like book Eon (1991)?
Review – ReduxThere should be a picture of Eon in the dictionary: right next to “Sense-of-wonder-SF”.Reading this book was like listening to a complicated symphony. Eon opens as a near future artifact, or big-dumb-object, tale largely inspired by Rendezvous With Rama. The novel then progresses through a number of movements, each more mind-numbing and awe-inspiring than the previous. It is therefore no great surprise that the book eventually evolves (or devolves, depending on your point of view) from Hard Science Fiction to a form of Space Opera. Then, of course, there is the grand finale, which is really something else.Like the early Uplift novels by David Brin Eon seems to be a bridge between old school and the new as far as Science Fiction is concerned. I am by no means a buff. Anyway, I really enjoyed the novel. It embodies what I have come to love about Sci-Fi. There was a lot about the novel I didn't understand at all, but I was awed. Another work I was reminded of while reading this was Ringworld (Larry Niven). It was a challenge to envision what I was reading, but getting there is part of the thrill.Despite the dated cold war politics, which seems to be a grievance to some reviewers, this book did not seem dated at all. Considering the alternate universes and time-lines being casually tossed about here, that kind of thing shouldn’t even be an issue. The focus did shift unexpectedly between characters from time to time, but I felt that this was in tune with the way the novel was constructed. Each new discovery leads to a new focus, until the discoveries spiral out of control and the reader is left breathless and stunned.A novel as ambitious and complicated as this is bound to draw negative criticism. I would never expect different. However, I would urge you to form your own opinion. So, if you enjoy artifacts in Science Fiction, this is mandatory reading. I have to agree with another reviewer - there are moments when you have to put the book down and just stare into space, assimilating. This is an experience, not a read.RecommendedFavourites
—Dirk Grobbelaar
EON.Not really sure how I feel after reading this. It certainly is full of some very good sci-fi ideas. Hard Sci-Fi for sure. I like the idea of the infinately long linear universe, 'The Way', created by man kind's future descendents. Within this 'corridor' universe, humanity has evolved into several different kinds of entity; some humanoid, some completey abstract and exist as recorded memories. A whole new social structure exists, strange and complex.The book deals with how our current mankind deals with his future, and his tragic past. The tragedy at the start of the book is of the worst order. The future is uncertain.The technology throughout the book is beyond understandable science, but within the acceptable level of imagination. My problem with the book is that Greg Bear has not created any characters whom I feel any affinity to. None of the characters have much depth beyond what is required to allow the plot. It is with some sadness that I can say that after reading this, I couldn't care what happened to any of them!The universe is described in a purely scientific method. I understand the size of everything in metres; I can visualize the shape of everything in terms of poygons, discs, spheres etc.. But I did not feel any atmospheric description of any of the locations. All a bit cold and sterile.The book took a while to get through because I just could not stay hooked long enough. The book left me a little underwhelmed.Although... I have thought about it a lot in my mind since, which is a good thing!In my humble opinion.. quite good.
—Bill Wellham
If you like your space epics meaty - Greg Bear offers you possibly one of the meatiest epics of all. Eon takes a cast of heavyweight characters, a grand stage, and a complex space-time problem that'll make your nose bleed every other chapter.The stage for the story is "The Stone", a large asteroid in Earth's orbit. The Stone is hollowed out and devised into a number of chambers, each chamber serving a specific purpose. A multi-national group of scientists and forces are responsible for researching the Stone, but the political set-up and secrecy around the project is responsible for serious political tensions that has repercussions throughout the story.All this seems relatively pedestrian, until a discovery is made which transforms the story along a completely different line, bringing in elements of time travel, alternative universes, advanced beings and some heavyweight relativity.It's brilliant.It's stitched together amazingly well, throwing bucket loads of science-fiction at the reader whilst maintaining a cohesive narrative. The characters are well fleshed out, and there's some excellent development of those characters as the story progresses. It's a great effect, and makes for quite a pacey story, while still having real meat to it. The world-building is effective, from the Stone itself to the cities revealed later in the book.Eon is the first book in "The Way" trilogy. I have only read this one, and it stands well enough alone, but there is plenty of material here which makes the idea of a full trilogy perfectly feasible.Worth every page - but read while either awake or caffeinated. It is not dry, but it is most certainly heavy reading, in concept if not in verse.
—Kian