Old Twentieth, by Joe Haldeman
Ruined by a cop-out ending
(Review posted 6 Jul 2009 16:51:51)

Posted to Amazon, too

As you'll read in the more positive reviews of this book, most of it is an enjoyable exploration of an interesting world, with decently developed characters, an intriguing history, some rather engrossing puzzles. Then in literally the last five pages Haldeman essentially throws it all away, with an ending so bad, so abrupt, so self-denying, that it reaches back and sucks most of the interest out of the earlier narrative. Not only are we not going to get the answers to the various puzzles, but the puzzles themselves might not really have existed at all. Or something.

Not recommended, unless you must read everything he's ever written. Or if you can stop just before the end, and finish it better yourself.