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The Long War

The Long War (The Long Earth, #2)The Long War by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Just finished The Long War, the second book in the Long Earth series, and I'm finding it leans heavily into fantasy rather than hard sci-fi. Pratchett's influence is clear, with the inclusion of familiar characters like the Kobolds and the Beagles (sentient dogs). Honestly, I'm only continuing because 1) it was recommended, and 2) I foolishly bought the whole set at once. Here's hoping The Long Mars brings the science back!

The Long War itself isn't your typical military conflict. It's more of a sprawling, societal struggle sparked by "stepping" – the ability to instantly travel to parallel Earths. This opens up a practically infinite frontier, leading to a scramble for resources as people flee the overpopulated "Datum Earth." Competition and clashes are inevitable, not just for land and materials, but also between emerging ideologies. Some embrace technology, others a simpler life, and these philosophies often collide.

While large empires are hard to sustain across the Long Earth, smaller communities rise and fall, sometimes driven by shared beliefs or ethnicity. And as if internal struggles weren't enough, hints of older, possibly more advanced civilizations, and the potential for unknown dangers, loom on the horizon, adding another layer of tension.

Ultimately, The Long War is less about battles and more about the massive social, political, and philosophical shifts caused by stepping. It's a story about humanity grappling with infinite possibilities, questioning its place in the universe, and fighting not just with weapons, but with ideas and beliefs. It's a journey of self-discovery disguised as a multi-Earth adventure.

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