Helliconia Winter by Brian W. Aldiss is the third book of the Helliconia Trilogy. Helliconia Spring and Helliconia Summer are the other two books in the trilogy.
Started: 4/28/2018
Completed: 7/19/2018
Recommendation: Highly recommended
Recommended By: Nobody
Words for which I sought help:
tatterdemalion -- ragged and disreputable in appearance
Review:
I really enjoyed this series and it is hard not to expect each successive book to be better than the one before. Spring was great because it was an introduction to a whole new world accompanied by new concepts and new ways of dealing with those concepts. Summer was delicious as a classic look at how fantasy and science fiction can coexist tying together a deep and disturbing look at religion. Winter seemed to veer into the nature of nuclear destruction while exposing the hellish underbelly of power.
In all three books, the world of Helliconia became richer and more believable. The concept of a cycle to all things was born out (as was necessary given the the seasonal titles of the trilogy). The twists on "Old Earth" were truly surprising and oddly unsettling. The events in the monitoring station of Helliconia were unpredictable and it feels like the drawing of those events was so light because they were a necessary backdrop (and occasional transition) for the events in Helliconia. I found the drift into philosophy lackluster.
Having established the few things I disliked about the book and the series, I wish to make clear that my dislikes melt in the sun of those things I enjoyed. I would recommend the series as a whole and this book as well.
I really enjoyed this series and it is hard not to expect each successive book to be better than the one before. Spring was great because it was an introduction to a whole new world accompanied by new concepts and new ways of dealing with those concepts. Summer was delicious as a classic look at how fantasy and science fiction can coexist tying together a deep and disturbing look at religion. Winter seemed to veer into the nature of nuclear destruction while exposing the hellish underbelly of power.
In all three books, the world of Helliconia became richer and more believable. The concept of a cycle to all things was born out (as was necessary given the the seasonal titles of the trilogy). The twists on "Old Earth" were truly surprising and oddly unsettling. The events in the monitoring station of Helliconia were unpredictable and it feels like the drawing of those events was so light because they were a necessary backdrop (and occasional transition) for the events in Helliconia. I found the drift into philosophy lackluster.
Having established the few things I disliked about the book and the series, I wish to make clear that my dislikes melt in the sun of those things I enjoyed. I would recommend the series as a whole and this book as well.
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