The Last Theorem (Hardcover)

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Key Phrases: silent thunder, client races, The Last Theorem, Grand Galactics, One Point Fives (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Grand Masters Pohl (Gateway) and the late Clarke (1917–2008, best known for 2001) collaborated on a can't-put-down adventure that focuses on their mutual strengths: high adventure, fun characters and hard science. Sometime in the near future, teenage Sri Lankan math prodigy Ranjit Subramanian manages to reconstruct and then publish Fermat's claimed proof of his famous last theorem. As Ranjit celebrates fame and fortune, the all-powerful aliens called Grand Galactics see the flash from early nuclear explosions and decide that humanity will have to be wiped out. When Earth's superpowers deploy a new, nonlethal way of handling renegade nations and humanity begins working on global peace and large-scale engineering projects, Ranjit and his family try to broker a truce with the destructive alien force, modeling human optimism through rationality and science. Long passages of math tricks and intrusive narration mar an otherwise enjoyable tale of the struggle between reason and fear. (Aug.)
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From Bookmarks Magazine

Despite the unparalleled reputation of its authors, no critic was very impressed by The Last Theorem. All of its major ideas and themes, one reviewer pointed out, have been more ably explored by Clarke and Pohl in other novels (see Clarke’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, Rendezvous with Rama, and The Fountains of Paradise, for example). Add herky-jerky pacing, inexplicable changes in characters’ behaviors, and a cartoonish American villain, and The Last Theorem seems to deserve its nearly universal criticism. On the other hand, at least one reviewer found a way to appreciate the book: as an insight into Clarke’s famously private inner life. In its descriptions of Sri Lanka (the author’s home for more than 50 years) and his protagonist’s uncertain sexual orientation, The Last Theorem may help readers learn something new about Clarke, if not the strength of his talents.
Copyright 2008 Bookmarks Publishing LLC

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; First Edition/ First Printing edition (August 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345470214
• ISBN-13: 978-0345470218
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #274,042 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Clarke's Worlds, Revisited, August 15, 2008

By	Patrick Shepherd "hyperpat" (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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I wish I could say that this last book by one of the greats of the field is a masterpiece, but unfortunately it's not. Instead, this book covers many of the same ideas that Clarke has worked with before: space elevators, solar sailing, omnipotent aliens, AI and computerized immortality, achievement of world peace, and set mainly in Clarke's beloved adopted homeland of Sri Lanka. There is little that is new here.

Like most of the late period Clarke books, this one has a co-author, in this case a writer who has been around almost as long as Clarke, and his influence shows in this book, I think, in deeper, more fleshed-out characterization than most of Clarke's works have, which is a definite positive. There have been few depictions of real mathematicians in sf, and the portrait painted here of a man fascinated (some would say obsessed, a trait common to those bitten by this particular mathematical bug) by Fermat's Last Theorem is well done. Those in the immediate vicinity of this protagonist are also drawn with more than light pencil sketches, as we see his family, school friends, instructors, and eventually his wife both form part of what he is and sharply influence what he does with his life. As part of this depiction, there are descriptions of certain fairly simple mathematical puzzles and games from pentominoes to the combinatorial numbers relationship with the binary number base, things most people who are interested in math at all will have at least heard of, and these provide some concrete and understandable looks at the world of number theory.

However, the alien angle is very poorly done. Not only are these beings (multiple races) inadequately described in terms of their motivations, biology, and culture (I could never visualize them as real beings), the sections of the book that detail their actions is written in almost self-mocking language at sharp variance with the tone of the rest of the book. This is not too much of problem for the about the first three-quarters of the book, as this material is limited to a few paragraphs here and there, and doesn't interrupt the main story flow, but near the end when the alien's actions become a major portion of the plot, it seriously detracted from my enjoyment of the story. Worse, the alien actions provide a far too easy `out' from the problem of achieving world peace without devolving into a police state or a dictatorship that had been so nicely set up earlier.

There is an entire subplot dealing with the protagonist's son who shows up with a certain type of brain disability that looked like it should go somewhere significant, but there was nothing ever really made of it.

The ending of this book feels very rushed and compressed, with many events glossed over or only hinted at. I think if this section had been written at the same detail level as the rest of the book, it would have made for a far stronger work.

Overall, this book provides a nice return to the ideas and themes that made Clarke famous, with more real characters than is typical for him, but its faults eventually overcame its good qualities, leaving me quite disappointed.

Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 1/2 star book, decent plot but execution, pacing issues, August 13, 2008

By	Woofdog (Miami) - See all my reviews

Notably, I have read a good bit of Pohl's published SF. This book reads a bit like him rather than clarke at times. I would be curious to know who was the primary writer, etc.

My review does contain spoilers. Consider whether to continue reading, as plot threads will be deflated.

I found the first half of the book well-paced, with the Aliens being 1-paragraph backdrops/subplot elements of the early progression of the protagonist's life, up until his kidnapping/incarceration. At that point, some plot elements seemed a bit contrived (the manner of his rescue could only be described as improbable), and furthermore the pacing of the development of the plotlines, with the protagonist's family life being a central feature, seemed to become very slow. I skipped many pages in the last third of the book to simply get to the next major plot event.

I think this book would have been better with a re-tooling of the pacing in the last half. The actual main plot-lines and ideas are fascinating, though the telescoped epilogue was confusing in terms of how the great galactics were supplanted.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A sad way to remember Clarke for, April 29, 2009

By	Jack Hsu (Jersey City, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I picked up this book in great anticipation and I really, really wanted to like this story. I just (painfully) finished this book today, and words to describe my thoughts include "disappointment", "unsatisfactory", and "thoroughly bored". I hope people do not remember Clarke by this piece of work, and I really think this is a total embarrassment to his illustrious writing career.

PLOT: Basically, I grinded through the entire book expecting the author to make his point soon and tie the entire story together. It was a case when I really wanted to put the book down, but felt that the author has a trick up his sleeves on the next page. This never happened. Ideas were raised and not followed up on, which make you wonder why it was mentioned in the first place. It seems like a mix-match of many different ideas without any direction. Some of the plots cooked up by the author also seem ridiculous and quite childish. It's one of those that makes you cringe as you read through it.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Superficial at best. Characters do not have a life and soul, and I never developed any emotional response to any one of them. Attempts at portraying real feelings make me feel like I'm reading the work of a 3rd grade student.

I'm never posted any reviews on amazon before, and I'm wondering why I felt the strong need to write something here. I think it's because I feel betrayed by Clarke.

Don't waste your time on this poorly written and conceived book.