This book is an action/sci-fi/thriller story about a near-future world where an addictive drug allows users to relive moments in their lives. CountrieThis book is an action/sci-fi/thriller story about a near-future world where an addictive drug allows users to relive moments in their lives. Countries, like the United States, where the drug is allowed are degenerating into anarchy. Countries like Japan, where the drug is illegal, are now the superpowers.
Unfortunately, the author uses this book as a platform to spout right-wing ideologies and a platform to shove politics into the reader's face. The book is filled with moralistic preaching and diatribes that are used to rationalize the craziness of a horrendous future world.
The main protagonist is a flashback addict, who is trying to reclaim his life and his family. Memories of his late wife suck him down a rabbit hole, allowing him to see dark, cynical, but an altogether true reason for her "accidental" death. The plot moves quickly, and often the story jumps back and forth between historical moments and the present, as the protagonist is using flashback. It can be a little hard to follow at times, but there is some sense in the jumping.
This book presents a truly horrifying future, but who knows? It could happen....more
John Reiff helps save some people when a bus falls off a bridge into an icy river. But he doesn't make it out of the bus in time.
A secret project has John Reiff helps save some people when a bus falls off a bridge into an icy river. But he doesn't make it out of the bus in time.
A secret project has taken Reiff's body, thaws him and revives him. He slowly recovers his cognitive and physical abilities. The doctors who revive Reiff do not tell him the whole story. Reiff begins to develop suspicions. And, the doctors themselves have been kept in the dark.
There are moments in the book that have a science fiction slant, as the technologies that were used for revival are mentioned. But, this book fits more squarely into a thriller genre, rather than science fiction. As a thriller, the story seems melodramatic. For example, Reiff's real job in the army ... I won't reveal any spoilers here ... isn't exactly spelled out. I vaguely cared about Reiff's character, as he is definitely a "good guy". However, I never really learned about his character, or any of the other characters. In a good novel, one or more of the characters should change. Well, Reiff did change--he was revived, and perhaps gained some skills--but his character did not develop.
The story is entertaining, and it finishes with so many loose ends and deliberate ambiguities. Perhaps this is why the book is labeled as "Revival #1", so there could be sequels.
(I received this book from the publisher in an E-book format, prior to publication.)...more
This novel is on my top-ten list of science fiction books. I genuinely like science fiction with new ideas, concepts, and some real science to top it This novel is on my top-ten list of science fiction books. I genuinely like science fiction with new ideas, concepts, and some real science to top it off. And -- this book delivers! There are so many radically new concepts in this book, it is difficult to know where to start. There is a virus designed to speed up evolution. Knowledge is passed on through an individual's genes. Game theory plays a central role in later parts of the story. The author introduces an intelligent mode of interstellar travel over the course of millennia. There is a totally new ecology based on ... I am not going to spoil the story here! New technologies are introduced, completely alien to human civilization, but completely plausible. And, what might happen if two totally alien civilizations with non-overlapping technologies mix it up in a battle?
It took me about 20 pages to really get into the story, and after that ... the pages flipped by. I couldn't help myself from reading through to the end. It's not a short book, but it's fascinating.
My only regret, is that I did not first read the science book An Immense World, by Ed Young. But I am reading it now, and the first few chapters explain so much about how different animals sense the world--completely in agreement with this great science fiction novel....more
I bought this book at Awesomecon, where I met the co-authors Paul Awad and Kathryn O'Sullivan. They are a very interesting couple. In the past, they cI bought this book at Awesomecon, where I met the co-authors Paul Awad and Kathryn O'Sullivan. They are a very interesting couple. In the past, they collaborated on a number of films. While Ms. O'Sullivan has several published books to her name, this is their first book collaboration.
This book is definitely a page-turner. I finished it in a couple of days, because I just couldn't put it down. What I really look for in science fiction books is a set of new ideas. While there are no truly new ideas or technology concepts in this story, the story-telling approach is brand new to me. The story follows a set of characters as they act in parallel, in two completely different universes. In one universe, humankind has destroyed the Earth. An alien group of "Curators" is taking the remnants of humanity to a new, habitable planet. At least, that's what they promised.
In the other universe, a single mother looks for information about her parents, who disappeared (or died) under mysterious circumstances. The characters have different relationships with each other in the two universes, but their appearances are identical, and their personalities are the same.
I have two small quibbles with the book. The short, alternating chapters almost gave me whiplash; they were just too short to gain a sense of "being there". Also, while a suspension of disbelief is necessary in just about any science fiction novel, I just cannot believe that a mother would allow her young son to leave ... regardless of the justification. (I am trying to avoid spoilers here ....)
The authors plan on writing two sequels to this book. They have left plenty of room for expansion!...more
This is the third book in the series "Poseidon's Children" by Alastair Reynolds. The first book in the series Blue Remembered Earth was wonderful. TheThis is the third book in the series "Poseidon's Children" by Alastair Reynolds. The first book in the series Blue Remembered Earth was wonderful. The second was ok. This third book, not so much. It didn't capture my imagination. I listened to all three novels as an audiobook. Perhaps I was turned off in this book by the narrator. Each character was given a different voice--which is great. But some characters were given voices that were just terrible. ...more
This futuristic detective story starts out very slow, but it swept me into the story after a while. This science fiction novel contains a number of neThis futuristic detective story starts out very slow, but it swept me into the story after a while. This science fiction novel contains a number of new concepts, which is something that I really admire in sci-fi stories. The main characters are fun, which helped to keep my interest. There is one old pun toward the very end of the book ... but no attempt anywhere else at any sort of humor.
What I didn't like about the story is that there are two characters -- Aurora and the Clockmaker -- that are simply AI concepts. I couldn't figure out what they are, and even the main characters couldn't, either. It's as if the author invented these "things" that he didn't bother to explain. There is some explanation for both of them, but it's just a bunch of arm-waving, and I, the reader, could not relate to them in any sort of reality, not even a future reality.
There is plenty of action in the story, and at times it is a bit melodramatic.
I didn't read this book -- I listened to the audiobook. John Lee is an excellent narrator, and his slight inflections for each character helped me to understand who was speaking at all times. Very nice!...more
This is a fun science fiction novel about an African family in the future. The family's grandmother has died, and she has a trail of clues for the famThis is a fun science fiction novel about an African family in the future. The family's grandmother has died, and she has a trail of clues for the family to trace. Clues to what? Sorry -- I am not going to spoil the plot.
The really intriguing aspect here, is that a 150 years in the future, Africa is the most progressive and technologically advanced of all regions of the world. This particular family has made a fortune mining distant asteroids for valuable minerals. The main character, Geoffrey, has not entered the family business. Instead, he stays in his homeland in East Africa, researching and protecting a herd of elephants.
This novel lends itself toward a beautiful movie. Hmm ... I wonder if that is being considered?...more
Two stories by Octavia Butler, each one a gem. You can read these stories in one sitting, if you want. If you have never heard of this author, well, yTwo stories by Octavia Butler, each one a gem. You can read these stories in one sitting, if you want. If you have never heard of this author, well, you are in for a treat. Her stories are about psychology and relationships. They are "science fiction" in so far as they are about non-human cultures or about civilizations on distant worlds. But all of her stories are about 1the threats of violence and intolerance. Highly recommended!
I did not read this book--I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Robin Miles. A straight-forward reading, and enjoyable. ...more
What a captivating story! I liked this book much more than Andy Weir's earlier book, The Martian. The reason is that "The Martian" was just one engineWhat a captivating story! I liked this book much more than Andy Weir's earlier book, The Martian. The reason is that "The Martian" was just one engineering issue after another. "Project Hail Mary" however, was about science, and scientific puzzles. You do have to suspend your disbelief quite a bit to enjoy the story, but the science is quite credible. And, by science, I mean a whole range of topics, including physics, astronomy, molecular biology, chemistry, thermodynamics, evolution, relativity, and the list goes on! There are no time machines, warp drives, invisibility cloaks; just lots of credible science.
Most of the fun in the book has to do with the alien biology that Weir dreams up. Along with the alien biology comes a worldview and culture that is quite alien. But, so many of the personality traits, dreams and even humor are quite similar to those of humans.
The book is suffused with subtle humor. Most of the puzzles are answered along the way, but the reason why two crew members died is never explicitly stated--it remains a puzzle. There are many surprises along the way: I could imagine any number of endings to the story, but the actual ending was quite a surprise to me. ...more
This is the third book in the Expanse series that I've read, by James Corey. (Actually, I didn't read it--I listened to the audiobook.) It's an excitiThis is the third book in the Expanse series that I've read, by James Corey. (Actually, I didn't read it--I listened to the audiobook.) It's an exciting story, with some very nice plot twists that came quite unexpectedly. My favorite character is actually Amos. Maybe it's the way the narrator, Jefferson Mays, delivers his dialog. This is a guy you really would want to have as your friend.
I think the book could have been considerably shorter, without reducing its impact. The end fight aboard the Behemoth could have been drastically shorter, despite all the twists and turns. It was just too long.
Also, I don't like it when Corey pretends how today's technology will still be used in the far future, when humans have colonized the solar system. "The corridor was lined with LED lights." Really? Why LED? I think I will stop reading the series, at this point....more
This is the second book in The Expanse series by James Corey. It really helps to have read the first book, before getting to this one; some of the majThis is the second book in The Expanse series by James Corey. It really helps to have read the first book, before getting to this one; some of the major characters continue in this book.
A mysterious entity that entered our solar system eons ago has been "liberated" and then thrown off course to Venus. Surprising events occur, as people try to figure out what in the world this alien entity is trying to do--other that change humanity into something quite different. In the meantime, humans on the various planets and planetoids have formed political alliances, and are triggered to a ghastly war against one another.
This book, like the first one in the series, is quite entertaining. The characters seem so real, which of course the main point of a novel. The main character is James Holden. His temperamental and impulsive nature seems to be changing for the worse. He must recognize and correct his own character flaws, if he wants to win back the admiration (and love) of his crew members. I listened to the audiobook version, which is narrated very well by Jefferson Mays....more
The premise of this book was so intriguing--a science fiction novel about music theory! Wow--two completely different genres, both so fascinating for The premise of this book was so intriguing--a science fiction novel about music theory! Wow--two completely different genres, both so fascinating for me! However, it turned out that neither aspect of the book held any interest in the book--until I found yet a third aspect; the book's humor. The sheer inanity of the book makes it quite humorous, though after a while it just becomes so tedious.
I don't know if the book was originally written in French, and then translated. It doesn't matter. The writing is abominable. At every chance where a common English word would be sufficient, a more esoteric word--or even an imaginary word--is substituted. The book is filled with typos. Many of the sentences are so awkwardly constructed--they don't seem to be written with English grammatical structure at all! The book requires an editor, so that the stream of consciousness writing can be understood.
At first, I thought that the strange style of writing was intentional, to remind the reader that it was written in a parallel universe where people think differently. Perhaps. But then, I realized that so much of it is to render the writing in a fabulously humorous tone. For example,
Jean-Phillipe pointed out to me that a whakerbaleenist can verticalize only some of the pulsatory structures that two interpreters usually are able to.
or
I have noticed that for temporal modes from the IOI 400-550 ms range interpreters pay more care for the sonorous marking of the prosodical relationships.
The funniest paragraph is:
I must call the pharmacy and tell them that I take the whole week off. In just a few days I managed to make my wife believe that I am impotent and frustrated--while in reality I feel like flying from one flower to another, like a happy bumblebee.
There may be some interesting concepts about music theory hidden in these pages. It is all about tempo and rhythms. It is about hearing music in time, where everything of interest is in the rhythm, with no mention of pitch or harmony. The theory disregards the need for measures (bars), and instead substitute the use of milliseconds between notes or phrases. In attempts to help the main character understand this different type of music, many analogies are made between "temporalist" music and our Western style of music. As a composer, though, I cannot think of any way to incorporate this music theory into my own compositions....more
If you like the novels by Kafka, then this is definitely the book for you. The story is so very strange, and yet quite human. On an unspecified islandIf you like the novels by Kafka, then this is definitely the book for you. The story is so very strange, and yet quite human. On an unspecified island, things are starting to disappear. Things like roses, ferries, birds, novels, .... The majority of people then completely forget about the existence of those things. A minority still remember the disappearing things, and they are the targets of the memory police. The memory police hunt down the minority, and take them into custody.
This is the story of a young woman, a writer, who is in the majority of "forgetters". She befriends an older man who remembers things, and offers to hide him in a concealed basement. This novel is the story of their relationship, and also with another friend an old man who helps with handy-man tasks.
I cannot spoil the story, because everything remains a complete mystery. The reader has no idea about why these things are happening, why the memory police behave the way they do, or what happens to the inhabitants of the island. Everything is a complete mystery, with no explanations. You might classify this book as science fiction, but it is really a fantasy, as there are no explanations, even pseudo-scientific ones.
I guess that the lack of any resolutions to these mysteries is the reason why I cannot recommend this book--I just need resolution, I need loose ends tied up, and that does not happen in this book.
This book was translated very nicely from Japanese into English by Stephen Snyder--he did a great job. I didn't read this book; I listened to the audiobook, narrated quite well by Traci Kato-Kiriyama. I am not sure why a Japanese woman narrated the book, as none of it is in Japanese--I listened to an entirely English translation. ...more
I have loved all of the books I've read by Neal Stephenson. Up until this one, that is. This book is quite disappointing. Maybe it's the length; it's I have loved all of the books I've read by Neal Stephenson. Up until this one, that is. This book is quite disappointing. Maybe it's the length; it's 883 pages long, and it would have been much better if it had been half that length.
The beginning of the book is fun; sort of science fiction, I would say. then the cast of characters shifts abruptly, and there is no continuity during Sophia's trip across the country. This lack of continuity just lost me.
Then the book gets interesting again, as the protagonist, Dodge, finds himself in a new plane of existence. At this point, the book is mostly fantasy; For a while this part of the book is fascinating, a blend of the Bible, Greek and Norse mythologies all wrapped into one. Then, a major portion of the book is a quest--which starts out just fine, but drags on and on. I didn't feel for any of the characters at this point, as the members of the quest simply faced one obstacle after another. Of course, The Quest is taken from a blend of mythology and modern video games. But it drags on and on, without any rhyme or reason until the end....more
This is a fast-paced entertaining sci-fi novel. I like science fiction stories that introduce new concepts and scenarios. This book certainly fits theThis is a fast-paced entertaining sci-fi novel. I like science fiction stories that introduce new concepts and scenarios. This book certainly fits the bill. The story applies a unique approach to time travel, and the various paradoxes concerning traveling into the past.
People travel back in time, in order to "fix" situations. However, they cannot travel back to the present, because the technology hasn't been invented yet!. Instead, they must relive their lives, experiencing a slightly-altered history. When the initial point in time when the time travel is reached again, people suddenly recall alternate memories, which are very disconcerting. It is sometimes called "False Memory Syndrome". The time travel results in plenty of intended and unintended consequences. That's what makes this book so much fun!
The novel's title is quite appropriate; the story gets a little complicated, as some characters relive their lives over and over again, with the hope of changing a terrible future. Keeping it all straight gets to be a challenge, but that's all part of the fun. If you suspend your disbelief, it can be a thrilling ride. ...more
Some people are put off by the sheer volume of Neal Stephenson's books--they tend to be big, and useful as doorstops. But, I think they are all fantasSome people are put off by the sheer volume of Neal Stephenson's books--they tend to be big, and useful as doorstops. But, I think they are all fantastic. This book is just as good as any of Stephenson's other books--and I have read almost all of them, including the incredible The Baroque Cycle and Cryptonomicon. Without giving away any spoilers, this book is about magic and time travel, and handles both in a very logical, almost scientific manner. A few time travel paradoxes are mentioned, and the consequences are beautifully described.
The best part of Stephenson's books are that there are no loose ends. By "loose ends" I mean that each subplot in the book comes together in a meaningful way. In some chapters, Stephenson builds up the plot to a point where an incredible scene is unveiled, incredibly exciting, hilarious, and completely overwhelming. This book has a few such scenes, and despite the length of the book, they are like a climax of climaxes.
But here I must say, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!! I repeat, DO NOT READ IT! Instead, you must LISTEN TO THE AUDIOBOOK!! It is fabulous. The point of view of the book is mostly in the first person--but that person switches from one character to another, slowly at first, and then the switching accelerates. And, each point of view is read by a different narrator. At first, this is a bit disconcerting, because different narrators breathe life into the characters with different voices and accents. But the overall effect is remarkable. The list of narrators on Amazon's audiobook page only lists six narrators; but really there must be 10 or 15 different narrators, each of them excellent. Highly recommended for fans of Neal Stephenson....more
Here are some very good short stories, and some not-so-good stories. A couple of the stories are by Card, even placed in the setting of the Ender's GaHere are some very good short stories, and some not-so-good stories. A couple of the stories are by Card, even placed in the setting of the Ender's Game universe. Most are by other authors....more
This is a vastly entertaining trip into history. A few modern-day people are swept into an alternate world. People from vastly different ages in histoThis is a vastly entertaining trip into history. A few modern-day people are swept into an alternate world. People from vastly different ages in history find themselves in the same time period. What would happen if the Mongol Horde, led by Genghis Khan, were to confront the disciplined army of Alexander the Great? You will find the answer in this novel!
Throughout the story, it is a mystery how these people from different ages got swept together into the same time period. It has to do with the sudden appearance of a large number of spherical eyes that have popped up everywhere. It is not at all clear what these eyes are, and what they are doing.
This novel is actually a collaboration between wonderful science fiction authors Arthur C. Clarke (2001: A Space Odyssey) and Stephen Baxter. I recommend this book to all fans of science fiction....more
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