[Sir Thursday]

I just finished reading Peter Watts' Blindsight from his webpage and I have to say I was stunned. It's one amazing novel, and he's put a Creative Commons License on it so you can read it free on the internet, despite the fact it's available in hardcover! Yay!

I think he was motivated in part by the fact that Tor were implying they wouldn't be doing a second printing, despite the fact that the books were selling rather well. Although he has put most (if not all) or his previous work on the internet as well - it appears to be pathological.

Here's my mini-review:

I have to say I thought it was excellent. The aliens were well thought out and most definately original - and I liked the most interesting of revelations that he drops in later. On the science front I thought it was also well written - good planning, a conceivable future (although the vampires were a bit out of the ordinary) and some nice philosophical baggage in there too. Watts has obviously done a lot of thinking and background reading about the nature of consciousness, which is one of the key themes dealt with in the novel.

Some may complain that this is a very 'talky' novel: the conversation:action ratio is rather high - but I felt that that particular aspect was well handled and made for a far superior novel than one which was a pure action read. The book is peppered with flashbacks, which in a similar fashion to The Lies of Locke Lamora did break up the flow at times, but overall I thought they were great insights both into the state of the planet in 2082 and the unique psyche of the narrator, Siri Keeton. One in particular had me in stitches (The Book of Oogenesis), although in general there wasn't an awful lot of comic relief. This meant that that particular incident stuck out like a sore thumb - it didn't quite fit with the tone and style of the rest of the novel.

The characterisation was generally well done, particularly the Keeton and Sarasti; the former made to seem analytical and objective in the extreme, the latter exuding an air of menace whenever he appeared. Susan James, the original personality in the Gang of Four (four personalities inhabit her body), was the one character I felt I didn't get to know as well as the others.

Peter Watts is going straight into my list of favourite science fiction authors, and as soon as I have the time I'm definately going to check out his other material available on the internet. I might even buy myself a copy if I see it on the shelves anywhere...


Sir Thursday

[pat5150]

Hey there!

Finally, the full Q&A is live on the blog. Man, that guy is candid! He doesn't pull any punches, that's for damn sure!

For that reason alone, I encourage you all to take a glimpse. Not only to discover more about BLINDSIGHT, but to meet an author who's definitely not afraid to speak his mind. And then some!

Incidentally, I'm almost done with BLINDSIGHT and I'm enjoying it so far. Fine book, to say the least.

Cheers,

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

[pat5150]

Hi there!

Just finished Peter Watts' Blindsight. If you're looking for a fascinating and thought-provoking novel, this one is for you! Could well win the Hugo Award in 2007.

Check the blog for the full review.

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

[Morgoth]

I read this book in the flight back from the US and loved it! One of the best reads of 2006 I would say.

[Abyss]

So i finally got around to reading this... a preliminary point: as stated above, it's available for free on the internut. Use Sir Thursday's link above or Google Peter Watts Blindsight and you'll find it.

This is a heavy hard sf book. And it's not just the science of space travel Watts gets into. Before he's done he hits evolution, society, sociology, psychology, cybernetics and sex. And it works. It's heavy reading at times, but wow it works.

21st century earth gets a clear sign of alien presence out in space and sends a mission to investigate and make contact. For reasons that are complicated, the team includes a biologist who only feels sensation through cybernetics, a communications specialist who has multiple personalities working cooperatively in her head, a soldier who has a small army of robots wired into her skull, and a vampire. Yes, a vampire... but he's under orders not to eat them. They think.

The narrator is the final member of the team - he's missing the half of his brain that would allow him to empathize with fellow humans. He's apparently got the emotional capacity of a zombie, but he's learned how to fake it really really well.

The aliens are truly alien. I can't describe them in any way that will do them justice except to say Watts REALLY puts the thinkymeatz to work here.

There is action too, which Watts does a nice job of describing, particularly in how much of it takes place in a setting that is complicated in a number of ways.

This is worth the read. And it's free. Go on, give your thinkymeatz a workout and take a look.


- Abyss, because the world needs more brainzzzz....

This post has been edited by Abyss: 24 November 2008 - 04:25 PM

[Hinter]

I discovered this on my bookshelf a few days ago. Unfortuantely I borrowed it from the library over a year ago so I've probably got a rather hefty fine waiting for me. I remember reading the first chapter or so and being unconvinced but will certainly give it another go after the previous comments. If its gonna cost me a small fortune when I return it I might as well read it!

[Morgoth]

I just have to jump in now, two years after my last post in this thread to tell that Blindsight is still awesome! In my opinion one of the best sci fi books out there.

[Aptorian]

A vampire on a spaceship? I'm going to read this...

[Abyss]

The vampire element in this book is unusual - VERY cool and original.

- Abyss, ...so take THAT Anne Rice...

[Sir Thursday]

If you look on his website, there's a spoof powerpoint presentation with voiceover about the discovery of the vampires in the book. It's kind of long, but very awesome .


http://www.rifters.c...ht/vampires.htm



Sir Thursday