The Saints of Salvation

Without spoilers, there's a lot of stuff happening in a lot of different times, but those times are flowing at different speed relatively to each other so the stuff that starts earlier finishes later. And, as opposed to the the first book with locations like "this space habitat" or "that bit of London" it's "in this ship, which is between these places" and I found it very hard to keep apart.

But again I also read the book at 4am, instead of failing to sleep, so that didn't help. The trilogy is concluded, but there are two hooks left open to tug on later.

I also really can't work out whether the author wants us to like billionaire autocrats or not. It very much feels like you're supposed to, in the same way that classic fantasy has "kings, what a good idea" through it, as they're all wise and fearless (the hero ones, anyway). The billionaire characters are definitely the good guys (and girls, and omnia) but it's yet another set of books that say "whoever makes their fortune in the 2200s will have it for the rest of the civilisation of the humans, if they don't outlive the others". Everyone else is spending each lifetime paying for life extensions of one form or another.

It's also nice to see PFH broaden the gender spectrum, but writing this I've realised he does do it to exactly three. No more or less.

I've been pondering this one for a few days. It's well done, as were the others in the series. However, I felt like it got more into science theory than the others, which is fine, but not my favorite. It was relevant to the actual interesting bits (to me) of the story, which is at least good, imo.

So, the story progressed in some interesting and unexpected ways, which is always cool. I liked the way Yi progressed from paranoid/unstable genius to paranoid/stable-ish/sneaky genius. I thought she had a great arc.

I did spend the last third of the book expecting a particular reveal to take place, BUT IT NEVER DID! The ending was a lovely uncertain thing, rather like the ending of La Femme Nikita (French movie) rather than the usual all wrapped up type ending of Point of No Return (American remake).

I felt the series overall was excellent and complex and enjoyable. Most of the characters had well-defined personalities and goals and were different from each other. I loved the intertwined timelines (I always have) and how Hamilton slowly revealed full identities and plots.

He has stated this trilogy is complete but that he may return to the universe. I certainly hope so!