Final cases
Cheng Xin and Yun Tianming are the main characters in the last volume of the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy . Once they studied together, then random events and Tianming’s falling in love made them the most important intermediaries of humanity in the war against the Trisolarans. Liu’s books tell about the helplessness of societies and the heroism of individuals who bear the responsibility of saving our planet from colonization. Character psychology is as important in this story as the technical and scientific details and visions of the future of human civilization. If you know this cycle, you know it’s monumental, rich, wise fantasy … about the defeat of the Earthlings.
Baoshu decided to refine and refine the story of Tianming – a man whose brain was sent to aliens. He was to become a spy and an intermediary, but also a prisoner with an uncertain fate, exposed to the torture and scientific experiments of Trisolaran. Liu details his sad, empty earthly life and then the fairy tales he sends from outer space to Cheng Xin. Initially recognized as love letters, they turn out to be documents describing technological achievements crucial for defeating the invaders. At the same time, the fate of this hero is a mystery to the reader from the moment of his capture by aliens.
In Death’s End, on the one hand, we have a melodramatic story of unfulfilled love, and on the other – a war and an arms race. Noble individuals who try their best and a society that exists on the principle “somehow it will be”. After all, if the Earth loses, it’s always up to blame. Liu does not condemn everyday short-sightedness – he treats it rather as a phenomenon close to the forces of nature. I find in Reclaiming Time the faintest echo of this epic, profound story.
Tianming forever
In Baoshu it turns out not only that Yun Tianming has survived the conflict between humanity and the Trisolarans, but also that he is responsible for all attempts to bring these radically different civilizations closer together. By calling things straightforward, he is the only savior and defender of people. What is extremely “cute”, meanwhile, he falls out of love and looks at Cheng Xin with a lot of irony, even contempt. He is first seen in Reclaiming Time , sitting on the grass of an alien planet with his new girlfriend. We discreetly learn that the slapstick is being done naked, because it is terribly hot. As you can see, it’s really just a fanfic demanding justice for a tragic hero. It makes it absurd, makes the characters created by Liu shallow, and finally gives it all Memories of Earth’s Pastbanal ending – because this book is a reinterpretation and disambiguation of the finale of the whole trilogy. Very blatantly showing why there is no AD 2020 Trisolaran in our world.
I know Time Recovery is getting good reviews. Unfortunately for me, it was very disappointing not so much because of the plot and the final twist, but the reworking of completely imperfect, but very authentic and noble in spirit heroes of Liu into petty shits with superpowers. These are strong words, think of them as an expression of frustration. I suspect that if the End of Death didn’t delight you, Baoshu won’t piss you off that much. But in that case, you probably won’t feel like reading it at all.
An unnecessary supplement
Reclaiming Time, perhaps defending itself as a fan art, was warmly welcomed in China and by Cixin Liu himself. My disappointment with its content is probably due to my deep faith in the publishing decisions of Rebis, which was not undermined even by the relatively weak Supernova Era . Baoshu’s book is better viewed as an exercise of the imagination and a proposal for an alternative interpretation of The End of Death, rather than literature on a par with the trilogy itself. Personally, I do not find it innovative, although I appreciate the matching of new ideas to the original plot. I would probably consider this experiment a success if Baoshu would also try to keep the psychology of the characters known from the original.
The Supplement to Memories of the Earth’s Past is not a standalone book, it cannot be read without knowing the original. And if you know and appreciate Liu, maybe there isn’t even a need for that. Reclaiming time will be interesting for those who appreciate the fantasy themes that appear from time to time in the Trisolarans trilogy.
