The Last Theorem by Arthur C. Clarke, Frederik Pohl Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Last Theorem
Book Review: Promises, promises
Summary: 2 Stars
I have been reading Clarke for 45 years, and until this book, always enjoyed his work.
It gets off to a promising start, and then just sort of wanders around. Though while wandering, Clarke presents his idea of a Congress composed of individuals randomly selected by computer from the population, and the UN taking a hyper-aggressively proactive approach towards world peace by dropping non-lethal EMP bombs on rogue countries.
All in all, not really recommended as a good sci fi read.
Book Review: Resting on very old laurels
Summary: 1 Stars
I picked this book up hoping that it would have the same sort of magic that earlier Clarke fiction had in spades. Sadly, it was a major disappointment in every way. Other reviewers have it right - poor plot, cardboard cutout characters, oddly mocking tones, unresolved developments. It is a mystery how this could have left the galleys.
Ultimately, the worst realization for me was to conclude that had this book not been authored by two of the greatest names in the SF pantheon, it would never have been accepted for publication.
Which leads me to think that this was not really a book that had to be written by choice, but possibly to simply fulfill a contract or pay off an obligation. Clarke and Pohl mailed this one in, and it shows. Unworthy coda to an amazing career.
Book Review: Sadly, not a very good final novel
Summary: 2 Stars
Arthur C Clarke was never my favorite science fiction author but he did write some outstanding books. The best, in my opinion, is still "Childhood's End" from the early fifties although many of the others certainly had their moments. Most people remember him for "2001 a Space Odyssey" which was more of a Stanley Kubrick creation although based on a Clarke short story. Clarke's gift was in his use of technology. The solar system seemed a lot closer after reading one of his books.
The Last Theorem is a rather strange work and seems unlike other Clarke novels. Whether this is due to the collaboration with Frederik Pohl I don't know. The book is essentially the life story of Ranjit Subramanian, a Sri Lankan mathematician who becomes obsessed with finding a simple proof of Fermat's last theorem. As many people would know, this theorem has been proved in the last few years but the proof is hardly simple, running to some 250 pages. Ranjit eventually achieves his goal and his new found fame opens the door to other adventures including involvement with clandestine military forces who use new technology to overthrow troublesome countries. In parallel with this, the "Grand Galactics", the alien overlords of the whole galaxy become aware of the use of nuclear weapons on the earth and decide that the earth should be destroyed.
The strange thing about this rambling saga is that it actually has very little to do with Fermat's last theorem. It seems to be more of a homage to Clarke's adopted home of Sri Lanka and often reads like a soap opera rather than a science fiction novel. Occasional glimpses of Clarke's earlier works are given such as with the construction of a space elevator on Sri Lanka but overall I didn't find it a good read. Just prior to starting this book I had read the final book in the Time's Odyssey series in which Clarke collaborated with Stephen Baxter. It was far better in my opinion.
I was thinking of rating this three stars but I just didn't enjoy it enough for that. 2 1/2 stars would probably be an accurate reflection of my views but the ratings system only allows me to give it two.
Book Review: Tales in Serial--A Modern Day Odyssey
Summary: 4 Stars
As I read through this novel, I found that The Last Theorem is not one story, but many told in serial. This is a technique we forget about in modern sci-fi, where stories are nearly always told in parallel.
I began appreciating each tale as it came, and relishing the moments between when I could reflect on what happened. Our hero (Ranjit) becomes somewhat of a modern-day Odysseus, but his passion for Fermat's last theorem replaces fighting, while events in Sri Lanka, the world, and the Galaxy become his Odyssey.
While this book is neither author's greatest work, it's a fun collaboration, revisiting themes of mid 20th-century science fiction in an even older format. Fans of the genre will want to read this with that in mind, and to take a look at another way of writing serious science fiction.
Book Review: The Aliens Are Coming
Summary: 5 Stars
The Last Theorem (2008) is a standalone SF novel about Fermat and aliens. It is set in a universe where civilizations exist further than the mind can conceive. Within our galaxy, the Grand Galactics rule with some fairness and much wisdom.
In this novel, Ranjit Subramanian is a Tamil, but his best friend is Sinhalese. This difference means nothing to Ranjit and Gammi Bandara, but means much to their people on Sri Lanka. For a long time, the friends do everything together, but one day Ranjit's father summons him to the temple.
Ganesh Subramanian is chief priest of the famous Hindu temple of Tiru Koneswaram in Trincomalee. Ranjit loves and respects his father very much. But Ganesh tells him that his friendship with a Sinhalese is causing some dissension within the temple. He gives Ranjit the choice of shunning his friend or being shunned by Ganesh.
Ranjit sorrowfully chooses to stay friends with Gammi. Like the matter of religion, Ranjit disagrees with his father and goes his own way. But he is going to miss the conversations and kindness of his father.
In this story, Ranjit is obsessed with Fermat's Last Theorem. He has been studying the subject for years. Although a freshman at the university, he has little interest in other subjects. Even the math courses are rather boring, either because of their familiarity or their irrelevance to the Theorem.
Then he takes Astronomy 101 from Joris Vorhulst. His teacher has a doctorate from Caltech and worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Yet it isn't his education that captures the attention of his students, but his enthusiasm. From the first day, Ranjit and most students spend hours researching topics for the next class.
During his summer vacation, Ranjit meets a family living in a house on his father's property. The father is incarcerated for possession of stolen goods and his family is hard pressed to survive. Ranjit takes care of the four children for their mother while he works nearby.
One day the mother has found work near the docks and Ranjit drives the family there in the temple van. He drops them off, but later he sees the youngest waving to him and meets their father. He is lured aboard a ship and kept captive until pirates take over the liner.
Ranjit is eventually accused of being one of the pirates and taken far away to a prison where he is kept for a long while. In between his torture sessions, Ranjit starts thinking even more about Fermat's Last Theorem and develops a proof of its validity. After his return to civilization, he publishes his proof and becomes a celebrity.
This tale relates the dangers of human militarism within the Grand Galactic domain. Aliens are coming to devastate the Earth. Only luck will prevent the destruction of humanity.
The future society in this novel includes many of Clarke's innovations, providing an ambiance not found in the works of lesser writers. Pohl also contributed ideas from his previous works, including computerized personae. He probably added the parts about Fermat's Last Theorem.
Still, the novel feels more like Pohl than Clarke in many respects. Pohl has always been better at characterization than Clarke and it shows in this work.
The story is mostly about friendship and love. Ranjit not only keeps his best friend, but also meets a woman who captivates his mind and emotions and gives him very lovable children. Enjoy!
Highly recommended for Clarke & Pohl fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of mathematical investigation, galactic domination, and abundant romance.
-Arthur W. Jordin