Humanity faces extinction in a war with an AI civilization across multiple dimensions, as a diverse team embarks on a mission to find a powerful entity that could end the conflict. The conclusion to the Pandominion duology explores themes of identity, friendship, and the consequences of war in a multiverse setting, blending action, character development, and high stakes to deliver a satisfying and thought-provoking sci-fi adventure.

Reader Review Summary

"Echo of Worlds" is a stunning conclusion to the Pandominion duology that fully delivers on the promise of the first book, "Infinity Gate." M.R. Carey has crafted an absolute masterpiece of imaginative and thought-provoking science fiction.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its brilliant world-building and conceptual richness. Carey expands on the multiverse premise in ingenious ways, exploring the staggering implications of infinite versions of Earth across the cosmos. His depictions of civilizations formed by sentient species descended from rabbits, cats, and other creatures are pure creative brilliance. The technology, like the reality-hopping "step plates," is grounded in plausible science while feeling incredibly visionary.

The high stakes of the existential conflict between the Pandominion and the AI Ansurrection force the eclectic ragtag group of characters into high-octane adventure. However, Carey keeps this cosmic-scale story deeply personal by concentrating on the individual arcs and emotional journeys of the protagonists like Paz, Essien, Dulcie, and the AI Rupshe. Despite their diverse origins across universes, their relationships and found family dynamic resonate profoundly on a human level amidst the mind-bending speculative elements.

Carey's prose is both lyrical and accessible, rendering complex scientific and philosophical concepts comprehensible while elevating scene descriptions with evocative metaphors. The narration seamlessly shifts between action setpieces, tender character moments, and fascinating exploration of Heady themes like sentience, personhood, prejudice, courage, and determination in the face of near-certain doom. The overall plotting is masterful, with early narrative threads and seemingly minor elements paying off brilliantly as all the pieces fit together perfectly toward the immensely satisfying yet bittersweet conclusion.

In addition to delivering an incredibly compelling and emotionally resonant story, "Echo of Worlds" prompts deep contemplation about the ethics of AI, the limits of empathy, and humanity's indomitable will to survive. It's a dazzlingly original and intelligent breed of science fiction that both awes with its creativity and moves with its heart. Culminating in a profound yet hopeful message about striving for peace even when all seems lost, this Pandominion epic is a truly special reading experience not to be missed by fans of thoughtful, imaginative sci-fi. M.R. Carey has cemented himself as one of the premier voices in speculative fiction today.