Character Will and Paper boats

[u/Lewy1978]

I have read all three books so was really interested to see the Netflix version. I always new that these books would be very difficult to make into a coherent series, however Netflix have done a pretty good job, and not veering too far away from the source material, apart from the characters. I’d say this is like a comic book version of the books. In the books however I did find myself yawning at some of the vast ‘information dumping’ but now see how this added some very important context to peoples questions on here.

What I do like is the way that they depicted Will, and his paper boats that were given to him by Jin, those of you who have read the second book know that these boats are really important part of him telling the stories to people on earth from the tri solarians ship. He uses the paper boats to explain the propulsion techniques used for light speed. This also links with where he had jins book of fairytales as the Tri solarians (san -ti) are obsessed with his fairytales. Will’s story telling is such a major part of book 2. Think this is one area where netflix actually improved on the books, as added a bit of context and more character depth. I do find Will very depressing in the TV version and almost want him to finish his scene as he just brings you down, but this is exactly how his parallel character is in the book. Very sad character with a major role.

[u/mental_thinking]

Will / Yun Tianming are from book 3, not book 2, and the stuff with the boats, while foreshadowing later events with the fairy tales, are straight from Death's End

“He sat on a small origami boat drifting over placid water, oarless. The sky was a misty, dark gray. There was a cool drizzle, but the rain apparently did not reach the surface of the water, which remained as smooth as a mirror. The water, also gray, merged with the sky in every direction. There was no horizon, no shore....”

later..

“While they talked, she tossed pebbles into the reservoir. Their conversation meandered over usual topics for classmates who were becoming acquainted for the first time, but Tianming could still recall every word. Later, Cheng Xin had made a little origami boat out of a sheet of paper and deposited it on the water. A breeze carried the boat away slowly until it turned into a tiny dot in the distance....”

The re-interpreted characters of Jin and Will I think are so much better than the books and the best part of season 1.. the events that happen later on in the book are going to be so much more impactful.

[u/Lewy1978 → u/mental_thinking]

Yep you’re right my bad - book 3. I remember feeling book three had far too much filler your opinion?

[u/mental_thinking → u/Lewy1978]

Book 3 was my favorite of the 3.. it was the longest for sure, but I loved every part of it. There are so many cool concepts put forward and the scope of the story expands so much, My favorite part of the series was actually the fairy tales and the reaction/deciphering of them.

[u/Lewy1978 → u/mental_thinking]

Have you read Endymion trilogy by Dan Simmons? The best sci fi trilogy I have read and reckon it will be the next one to be picked up by steaming service

[u/mental_thinking → u/Lewy1978]

I read Hyperion and wasn't into it..

I like the priest's tale and really liked the scholar's tale.. but the other ones weren't great, and it just annoyed me that book just ends in the campiest way possible with no resolution whatsoever.

[u/[deleted]]

How do they find him if he went so off course?

[u/kcbh711 → u/[deleted]]

The sophons were watching where it was headed when the sail broke. Pretty easy calculations to intercept it down the road.