Nightmares and Dreamscapes discussion

Kristen and I are starting to read the third book in the Remembrance of Earth trilogy today. Come join if you would like (although I'd definitely recommend reading the first two books before this one).

I've gotten started. Since chapters are numbered, I'll just go by pages I guess. I'm around page 80. I'm surprised (view spoiler)[ with where this book is starting. I wasn't expecting to go back to the beginning for a parallel time line. (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "I've gotten started. Since chapters are numbered, I'll just go by pages I guess. I'm around page 80. I'm surprised [spoilers removed]"

Thanks for setting this up! I’m on kindle; and my kindle is a dinosaur and doesn’t have real page numbers. I’m at 8% so probably around page 48. I will try to catch up quickly!

I'm hit and miss on reading time, so I'm still at the same point, which I believe is about 13%.

Terry wrote: "I'm hit and miss on reading time, so I'm still at the same point, which I believe is about 13%."

I haven’t had a ton either and am only at about 11%. I am very surprised at how it started as well and am curious as to where it will go!

I read up to about 20% over the weekend. In part 2 (view spoiler)[ at least we jump ahead again almost back to where we were. I will admit, the thought of having my brain sent into space for who knows how long to be alive and possibly tormented by alien races is definitely a horror story! (hide spoiler)]

I'll admit, I already had to go back and refresh myself some from book 2! And it hasn't even been that long, lol... (view spoiler)[ I couldn't remember exactly what happened with Quantum and Bronze Age, and also with Blue Space. That was a pretty big deal. (hide spoiler)]

I hope you guys are enjoying this! I read the trilogy a couple of years ago and it blew my mind. Especially The Dark Forest. That book had one of the most unexpected endings I've ever read.

Thanks, Jody. I am enjoying. About a quarter of the way into the final book now. You're right, I absolutely did not see the end of Dark Forest coming. It had a great twist.

Terry wrote: "Thanks, Jody. I am enjoying. About a quarter of the way into the final book now. You're right, I absolutely did not see the end of Dark Forest coming. It had a great twist."

I am sorry, I have had a crazy week! I downloaded the Kindle app on my phone, and that allows me to see the page numbers. I am behind, only on page 122(17%).

I am definitely glad it’s (view spoiler)[ back to the timeline we were on before as well. The backstory was definitely needed here, but I'm glad it didn't take up too much of the book. The part with sending the brain is so crazy! (hide spoiler)]

You're not behind at all! I'm only on pg 155 (25%). I definitely agree with your spoiler comment, too.

I’m just on page 166, but I definitely now wish I had the previous book to look up (view spoiler)[ what happened with Blue Space and Bronze Age as well. I’m a little fuzzy on it already too! The part with how Luo Ji was potentially being tried for the possibility that he wiped out an entire planet was interesting! (hide spoiler)]

Kristen wrote: "I’m just on page 166, but I definitely now wish I had the previous book to look up [spoilers removed]"

Ok, so I didn’t look at the details too much when I looked them up. (view spoiler)[ Bronze Age was one of the two ships that escaped being destroyed by the first droplet that ended up destroying the rest of the space fleet. They had prepared ahead of time to jump to their top acceleration. They then got paranoid and destroyed the other ship Quantum to take their supplies.

Blue Space was one of the four ships that chased after the ship that was high jacked by the military guy (before the droplet attack) and took off away from the solar system thinking there was no chance to survive. Natural Selection was the ship running away, and Blue Space, Deep Space, Enterprise and Natural Law were the ones chasing them. Natural Selection got paranoid also and was going to destroy the other ships, but Blue Space beat them to it.

So, both were traitors who had turned on their fellow ships.

I agree about the part with Luo Ji. Never even crossed my mind that they might react that way, especially considering he’d just saved everybody. Crazy! (hide spoiler)]

I’m up to pg 250 now. With the story back in the future time, I’ve been more interested, haha. (view spoiler)[ I was surprised that the dark forest deterrence idea broke down so quickly in this. As soon as Luo Ji was out, that was it! The twists and turns have been a surprise so far.

I do think the brain that was sent off into space is going to come back into the story somehow. Seems like a wasted storyline if not. (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "I’m just on page 166, but I definitely now wish I had the previous book to look up [spoilers removed]"

Ok, so I didn’t look at the details too much when I looked them up. Bronze A..."

I’m still a bit behind you, page 193. I totally agree! (view spoiler)[ That was so crazy how they were assessing the percentage for each person and they attacked as soon as Luo Ji was out. I kept thinking she was going to do something to save it last minute but, like you said, that was just it! (hide spoiler)]

Thanks for the refresher on the two ships! That was more or less what I was thinking. I am hoping to get a good chunk done over the next few days!

Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "I’m just on page 166, but I definitely now wish I had the previous book to look up [spoilers removed]"

Ok, so I didn’t look at the details too much when I looked them up. Bronze A..."

Oh, and I hope you’re right about the (view spoiler)[ brain in space. I really don’t want it drifting into space to be the end of that storyline! Agree, it seems like a waste. (hide spoiler)]

Sounds like your memory was better than mine, haha.

I've made it up to pg 302, so just about 48%. I'll pause until you catch up. So far I'm liking where this has gone. (make sure not to look at this spoiler until you get to at least 48%) (view spoiler)[ And the brain is back! That didn't take long, lol. Very curious where it takes us now.

I was surprised that the Trisolarans were destroyed this quickly in the story also. Still half way to go.

And this stuff with the 4th dimensional space, I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around that. I cannot picture what they are seeing. I like the idea, just can't envision. (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Sounds like your memory was better than mine, haha.

I've made it up to pg 302, so just about 48%. I'll pause until you catch up. So far I'm liking where this has gone. (make sure not to look at th..."

Sorry I’m so slow! I’m on page 246, about 38%, so I’m gaining. I hope to get to where you are today!

Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Sounds like your memory was better than mine, haha.

I've made it up to pg 302, so just about 48%. I'll pause until you catch up. So far I'm liking where this has gone. (make sure not..."

No worries! I'm enjoying it and don't mind the pace we're going at all.

Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Sounds like your memory was better than mine, haha.

I've made it up to pg 302, so just about 48%. I'll pause until you catch up. So far I'm liking where this has gone..."

This is so weird, I definitely posted something a few days ago saying I was up to page 310 (there’s a discrepancy between my kindle app on my phone and my ancient kindle, the phone says 49% and the kindle says 48, no clue what that’s about). I have no idea what happened to my post and I can’t remember exactly what I wrote but I’ll do my best!

I agree with both your comments! (view spoiler)[ I couldn’t believe how suddenly they were destroyed. I know that was a possibility and the entire reason they left, but it still seemed out of the blue!

I had a really hard time with the four dimensional stuff too. I even tried googling it. Just cannot picture it at all.

I am so curious to see where this all goes with the brain storyline. It’s gotta be a huge key to them getting out of this. (hide spoiler)]

I got a little sidetracked by the King book but I just finished it so now I’m all in on this one!

Haha, Goodreads can be so untrustworthy for posts! Sounds good, I'll pick back up again.

I'm glad I'm not the only one on the (view spoiler)[ 4th dimension stuff. (hide spoiler)] Its too hard!

I agree about the rest of the book.

Terry wrote: "Haha, Goodreads can be so untrustworthy for posts! Sounds good, I'll pick back up again.

I'm glad I'm not the only one on the [spoilers removed] Its too hard!

I agree about the rest of the book."

Could I have somehow typed the entire message then never verified that it posted? That is entirely possible! I caught up to you that day too, then figured you were just busy over the holiday weekend. I thought I’d check yesterday to make sure I didn’t miss anything and then I saw it never posted. Sorry about that!

Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Haha, Goodreads can be so untrustworthy for posts! Sounds good, I'll pick back up again.

I'm glad I'm not the only one on the [spoilers removed] Its too hard!

I agree about the rest..."

No worries whatsoever. I would blame it on Goodreads, lol!

It was definitely a busy weekend. Hope you had a good holiday!

Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Haha, Goodreads can be so untrustworthy for posts! Sounds good, I'll pick back up again.

I'm glad I'm not the only one on the [spoilers removed] Its too hard!

I agre..."

Same to you! And yes, I like the idea of blaming Goodreads much better!

I am up to page 371, 59%. I hope my page numbers coincide with yours, they have to be close. My kindle app says 371 out of 604. I’m so curious to hear your thoughts on this last part. This guy is so creative!

Ok, my paperback also has 604 pages, so our percentages should be close at least. I'm at page 385 now, or 62%. This whole last part with (view spoiler)[ the fairy tales has been crazy! I wasn't able to decipher anything out them on my own, but the things they're coming up with out of it make sense. You are right - it is so creative and imaginative. Of course, I don't know how they're going to accomplish these things they're planning on, but very cool! (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Ok, my paperback also has 604 pages, so our percentages should be close at least. I'm at page 385 now, or 62%. This whole last part with [spoilers removed]"

Yes! I am at the same spot. I couldn’t wait to hear what you thought about (view spoiler)[ the fairytales. I was so hooked reading them, and the whole time just kept thinking - how did he come up with this?? I can’t wait to see how this all wraps up now! (hide spoiler)]

I haven't made much more progress. Right at pg400. But, (view spoiler)[ wow, the part where AA had to pick 3 children to get on the spaceship was brutal! (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "I haven't made much more progress. Right at pg400. But, [spoilers removed]"

Yes it was! That whole thing was wild!

Up to pg 430. I am so hesitant to guess where this book is going to finish. It seems wide open at this point still.

I was thinking the same thing. I honestly have no idea what is going to happen. I am on 432, so right around the same spot. Hoping to have some time to get a little more done today!

Also, I cannot wrap my mind around the whole (view spoiler)[ slowing down the speed of light thing! (hide spoiler)]

Kristen wrote: "Also, I cannot wrap my mind around the whole [spoilers removed]"

Me neither! We seem to be saying that quite a few times now in this series, haha.

I read a little more this evening, up to pg460 now. I think (view spoiler)[ I would definitely be on the side in favor of figuring out light speed space travel. Just trying to survive in space cities in the shadow of Jupiter doesn’t seem like the right future. And the black domain idea just seems impossible. (hide spoiler)]

I stopped at pg510 tonight. I’m having a hard time putting this down now as I just want to see where it all leads. (view spoiler)[ I just can’t imagine that it all ends the way it’s going down right now! I feel like another alien race is going to step in to help.

I’m again having just as much difficulty now imagining this 2D thing happening to the solar system and turning everything into a picture - I can’t picture it!

So, wow, for me, the ultimate horror idea out of this is imagining an alien race somewhere in the Orion arm of our galaxy throwing photoids at the speed of light towards any star system they detect intelligent signals from. That is such a disheartening idea! (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "I stopped at pg510 tonight. I’m having a hard time putting this down now as I just want to see where it all leads. I just can’t imagine that it all ends the way it’s going down right now! I feel l..."

I am on page 475. ! I just finished the part where (view spoiler)[ the vector for “cleansing” is sent. Wow. (hide spoiler)]. I am going to try and catch up to you today, but please keep reading! It’s way too hard to put down at this point!

So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ended up finishing it tonight. I have to say, this did not go where I expected! I'll wait to see what you think when you get finished before I say anything. Can't wait to see how Netflix takes on this series now!

Terry wrote: "So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ended up finishing it tonight. I have to say, this did not go where I expected! I'll wait to see what you think when you get finished before I say anyth..."

Awesome! I’m on page 510, and dying to see how this ends! I’m of the same mindset as you were. (view spoiler)[ My best guess right now is that somehow Yun Tianming is going to be a factor, or maybe the remaining Trisolarans. This entire idea really is quite horrifying, I'm with you there! (hide spoiler)]

Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ended up finishing it tonight. I have to say, this did not go where I expected! I'll wait to see what you think when you get finished befo..."

I can’t remember if they figured out the (view spoiler)[ umbrella spinning metaphor to avoid being flattened in the painting? Maybe my guess will be that Cheng Xin figures that out at the last minute and saves the human race. Unless they already addressed that and I’m not remembering. (hide spoiler)]. Going to try to finish up by tomorrow morning!

Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ended up finishing it tonight. I have to say, this did not go where I expected! I'll wait to see what you think when you g..."

Okay, I just finished, and WOW. I don’t even know where to start. I was not expecting that either. I don’t say this lightly, but that blew my mind. The whole description of the (view spoiler)[ solar system collapsing into two dimensions was gut-wrenching. Then Cheng Xin and AA escaping at the last minute. And then the part where she’s going back to meet Yun Tianming, and they get stuck and 18 million years pass, and she finds that he made her a universe. Just…holy crap. That’s as eloquently as I can put it. The whole trilogy was great, but the last quarter or so of this one was just amazing! (hide spoiler)]

Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ended up finishing it tonight. I have to say, this did not go where I expected! I'll wait to see what you ..."

Your reaction is much the same as mine was! That's just was not what I was expecting. (view spoiler)[ We were thinking the same thing in your post from message 34. Something was going to happen to save them. When it didn't happen, I was shocked too. The end of the solar system. And of course, I couldn't picture the whole 2-D thing. And you're right, could Cheng Xin be more tortured! When she gets so close to Tianming, and then not able to see him - devastating!

This was really good, I thought. Very deep ideas. Really glad we read it! (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ended up finishing it tonight. I have to say, this did not go where I expected! I'll wait ..."

I couldn’t believe it went there. I thought maybe when they went to see (view spoiler)[ Luo Ji, he would have some kind of answer. It was so shocking and it was drawn out and painful! I honestly felt emotional reading it. I kept thinking something was going to happen then bam, there goes the Earth. I had been thinking, wow Cheng Xin doomed humanity TWICE! And now she’s escaping. But I liked how both AA and Guan Yifan both said that it wasn’t her fault. AA said it’s impossible to know what would’ve happened if she made different decisions. And Guan’s point that a single person cannot destroy an entire civilization.

It was such a gut punch when they realize their time was 18 million years. When they say they could have had children, and started an entire civilization. I mean, 18 million years! I kind of saw that coming when the death lines ruptured and they had to hibernate, but I never imagined it to be that drastic. I loved it coming together with AA carving into stone. I am fascinated that someone could weave such a story! It was so well done and the ending was really amazing! (hide spoiler)]

Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ended up finishing it tonight. I have to say, this did not go where I expect..."

Yeah, (view spoiler)[ I agree with the liking that AA and Guan Yifan explained how it wasn't her fault. It may have felt that way, but they're right. It took a lot of decisions beyond her for that all to happen.

Such a dark story about how we really have not chance against the other intelligent species in the Forest. It's too hard for me to believe that is the case in reality. (hide spoiler)]

The part about time that you mention - I'm assuming you've seen the movie Interstellar? I don't want to spoil it if not so I'll hide it (view spoiler)[ but their time jump getting close to the black hole was only 7 years I believe. That seemed crazy enough, but 18 million - unfathomable! (hide spoiler)]

I'm not sure what I think about (view spoiler)[ the mini-universe part. That's another big science idea that I have a hard time with. Hard to believe that would be possible. And, that whole line of happening made it seem like the Trisolarans were really more advanced than us than I'd imagined. (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ended up finishing it tonight. I have to say, this did not g..."

I agree! I do not (view spoiler)[ want to believe that this is what is out there either. (hide spoiler)]

Surprisingly, I have never seen Interstellar! I am always behind on the good movies, but will definitely try to check that one out soon.

I had a tough time with the (view spoiler)[ mini-universe concept as well. I think just the vastness of the universe in general is something that I am constantly trying so hard to visualize but I just can’t fathom it, so the mini-universes were hard for a similar reason. There is no doubt, this guy has some imagination. (hide spoiler)]

I am definitely looking forward to the Netflix series. I really hope it does the books justice. That is just so hard to do. Maybe they will do a good job with some of the concepts we were struggling to visualize! Not that I still fully got this one, but picturing the (view spoiler)[ solar system in two dimensions was definitely helped by comparing it to the Starry Night painting. That part was interesting! (hide spoiler)]

One thing I felt after the third book was that, as much as The Dark Forest was slow in the beginning, in the end I kind of feel like it was all necessary for the overall picture. The last book made me appreciate all that background more.

Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ended up finishing it tonight. I have to say, ..."

Man, I almost didn't cover up the Interstellar spoiler - glad I did now! You should watch it. I enjoyed it a lot. I even read the book The Science of Interstellar to try to figure out everything that was in it. That was quite enjoyable as well.

I agree with you about The Dark Forest. It was a necessary piece to make the ending make sense. The whole trilogy plays well together.

Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ended up finishing it tonight...."

I am definitely going to check it out. I will let you know!

My brother’s birthday was the other day and my daughter wanted to get him a book, so we sent him this trilogy! He’s been wanting to read it. I’m glad we read these all at the same time. It was great having someone to discuss with!

Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ended up finishi..."

Hope your brother enjoys them! I totally agree, it was way more fun sharing this read with you. We’ll have to find some more to buddy read in the future!

Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I took your advice and kept reading. 😊 I ..."

Absolutely!!