The Marriage of the Living Dark: A Chung Kuo Novel: Book Eight

by David Wingrove and David Bowles

Book Overview

The final novel of the Chung Kuo Series - a science fiction masterpiece. "The Great Experiement had failed. The Ten Thousand Year Empire of the Han has lasted less than two centuries and now not a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385257368
• ISBN13: 9780385257367
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Doubleday Canada
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Excellent ending to a series

This is a great book. I loved it. Perfect ending to a wonderful series

This is one of the best series I've ever read

Take the chance and embark on a long journey with David Wingrove. You will not be let down. Problem is, you will see nothing of your friends or family for the next three months.I'm always hoping for new titles from D.Wingrove (and Barry Hughart of course.)

Amazing book

I loved this book. Read it in one night. Totally great ending for my favorite series.

True Speculative Fiction -- Almost no Sacred Cows survive !

Chung Kuo book VIII wraps up the massive series with just the right touch. Too often a series like this ends with a fizzle or a whimper. Wingrove manages to go out with a bang ! Many seem let down by this book, because it is so different from the previous books, but that is the nature of SF, and the mark of a good series. The whole series is about change and growth overcoming artificial controls -- why should the final book cover the same ground as books 1-7 ?Books 1-6 are about the conflict between 2 groups of humans: those who want to control, and adapt humanity to the strange 'city of levels', a concrete expression of the confucian culture; and those who wish to allow humanity the freedom to grow, change, and live as they like. Within those 2 factions various groups strive to be the ones in control. In story terms we get a lurid, complex historical fiction, set in the future with technology playing a minor role as demon or savior. Basically this story ends with the end of Book 6.Book 7 is the attempt to translate the same structure from the vertical to the horizontal. The reformers are now in control. But by the end of book 7 it is clear that the reforms have failed.This sets up book 8, and the amazing job Wingrove does in showing how humanity must change to survive. He weaves it all into the story, but all the terrors under the bed come out and must be dealt with: homosexuality; the idea that one needs to pick or be limited to a specific gender to be human, and worthwhile; sharing of body and mind in a loving manner with others inside or outside of marriage; the need to let go of the the childish crutch of god and the devil to become fully adult beings who take responsibility for who and what they are; the idea that maybe we can be too 'green' and plants may not be our friends; that we are the top of the heap, and have a right to dominion over the earth. While the series has mostly been dark and violent, the positive ending does work, because it shows the result of the suffering is learning to be an adult species.

Chung Whoa!

Great series! Last book? Nice try to finish a titanic story, and I guess it had to end somehow, but the last 200 pages take some wild gyrations, completely alien to the wonderful Chung Quo universe. These wild plot developments, long with major characters being snuffed out willy nilly, what? dead, just like that? made me think that the author got overwhelmed or over edited. I bet about 300 pages of story were chopped or the author was told to re-write and abbreviate. Where is the rest of the America story? Now don't get me wrong, if you enjoyed the last seven books you must read the finale, but giant spiders? Indeed!! Kan pei!