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bites_of_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Mountain in the Sea is a really well constructed speculative novel. We follow a couple of different characters in the not so far future where AI and technology have evolved into day-to-day tools. Along with technology, capitalism and major corporations have continued to profit and take over a lot of the world at the expense of natural resources and indigenous communities.
Ray Nayler explores the topic of humans communicating with a different species, in this case the octopus, and in the process learning a lot about ourselves. Who are we in the octopus' eyes? Are we fellow living beings or are we invaders threatening their environment?
There are so many topics discussed in this book that it's hard for me to put it all into coherent thoughts. A big one was human to human interactions. Today a lot of us live our lives mostly online, communicating with people via text, video calls, etc., and have lower face to face interactions. In this book we see what might happen if we end up replacing humans with AI as part of therapy or just because it's convenient to have someone who is just there to listen to us without us having to reciprocate the energy.
Another big topic is that of individuals choosing a path of least resistance vs the path that leads to something good. It is about individuals being brave and making choices, choosing to live and stop being indifferent to fellow people and things going on in the world.
In one of the sub-plots we follow a man who ends up as a slave on a fishing vessel that is controlled by AI. The vessel's only goal is to get as much of the scarce protein left in the ocean and the interactions in this sub-plot really left me thinking. We accept that the things we consume have to come from somewhere but we rarely actually think and acknowledge the labor that each component requires and how ethical it all is or isn't.
All in all, I highly recommend this book for everyone. If you enjoy reading about science and where it might take us this is a must read. If you care about our world and our place in it definitely read this. This is not an easy read but it's definitely necessary, it should make you think and question what is happening around us all, and hopefully convince you to make the choices that will lead us all in a better direction.
PS. For me this was like a zombie film, not really about the zombies. This is not about the octopus, it's about the humans.
Ray Nayler explores the topic of humans communicating with a different species, in this case the octopus, and in the process learning a lot about ourselves. Who are we in the octopus' eyes? Are we fellow living beings or are we invaders threatening their environment?
There are so many topics discussed in this book that it's hard for me to put it all into coherent thoughts. A big one was human to human interactions. Today a lot of us live our lives mostly online, communicating with people via text, video calls, etc., and have lower face to face interactions. In this book we see what might happen if we end up replacing humans with AI as part of therapy or just because it's convenient to have someone who is just there to listen to us without us having to reciprocate the energy.
Another big topic is that of individuals choosing a path of least resistance vs the path that leads to something good. It is about individuals being brave and making choices, choosing to live and stop being indifferent to fellow people and things going on in the world.
In one of the sub-plots we follow a man who ends up as a slave on a fishing vessel that is controlled by AI. The vessel's only goal is to get as much of the scarce protein left in the ocean and the interactions in this sub-plot really left me thinking. We accept that the things we consume have to come from somewhere but we rarely actually think and acknowledge the labor that each component requires and how ethical it all is or isn't.
All in all, I highly recommend this book for everyone. If you enjoy reading about science and where it might take us this is a must read. If you care about our world and our place in it definitely read this. This is not an easy read but it's definitely necessary, it should make you think and question what is happening around us all, and hopefully convince you to make the choices that will lead us all in a better direction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
snazzy10101's review against another edition
5.0
i have only praise for this book.
it is perfect.
no notes.
it is perfect.
no notes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Deportation
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Kidnapping, and Classism
sierrabowers's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I only read this book the entire way through because it was assigned for my book club. I would have DNF’d about 30 pages in if I could have. I think this book did have some good qualities, such as the observations made about humans and our relationship to living creatures on Earth other than ourselves. I also think it asked interesting questions about consciousness, and whether or not in the future, we should consider androids as conscious. But overall, this book was way over my head and I understood almost none of it. The ending was hopeful but it didn’t give me any satisfaction. I would not recommend unless you love science and can understand VERY complex plots.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
_annabanana_'s review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, and Murder
wishbea's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Self harm
aus10england's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Idk how they made a book about hyper intelligent octopi boring yet here we are
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Racism
pvp_niki's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood
Minor: Child death, Suicide, and War
miniingrid's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
alyxinthestars's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Self harm, Colonisation, and War
brekaboujie's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was the most FRUSTRATING read ever. The premise is very good! Modern sci fi on the moralities of AI and sentience, exploring our destruction of the planet (specifically the oceans) and the impact that has on those remaining in those spaces, both humans on the coast and all animals and creatures who live there too. I personally was excited to explore the idea that actopuses had developed some level of sentience or intelligence, society, culture etc. But MY GOD. The writing. Was so painful. And the plot was so loose and wibbly I was lost at sea (lol) pretty much constantly.
First off, the characterisation was bizarre. Ha was a very odd choice for a main character, as I never felt like I actually knew her. She's a scientist, but I'm still not 100% sure I understand anything about her studies other than she likes fish and studies communication and went to Oxford and Cambridge. There is this whole plot line about her falling madly in love with this dude who never paid any attention to her, and it made her go "crazy" and gave her Super Depression that she describes as looking up at the sun and being able to stare at it because nothing was bright anymore. Edgy. Then it turns out (mild spoiler but this didnt mean anything to me when it was revealed even though i think it was meant to)that she had had sex with this dude once, but he totally took advantage of her and never spoke to her again afterwards. She admits this late in the plot like its something she feels huge shame around and like, fair, I can imagine how that hurt emotionally but LIFE CHANGING???? What did this add to her character???? In my head it totally undermined her as this strong independent woman the author was trying to present like, maybe that was the point? Oh look how human and hurt she was and now she's a stone cold empty woman. What was I meant to learn.
This book was also the ultimate lesson in telling not showing, and it was arguably the worst part. Everytime we were introduced to a new idea or feeling, a character would then explain it to us, or the narrator would tell us exactly what was going on. I wasn't able to form any of my own opinions because I had this constant voice mansplaining every tiny detail to me. The narration had no clear voice either, and often we'd skip descriptions all together and just have pages of dialogue or huge monologues from single characters. We'd also have whole sentences or paragraphs just... repeated later on. There is a scene with Evrim where Ha describes him as sexless and god-like and then we just get that description again near the end. Ha's weird trauma from the island is described to us by the narrator and then she repeats it again to Evrim. Dude, everything you write should be for the reader - WHY do you share this now? What has changed since last time? (spoilers, nothing, I think he just wanted to emphasise a dramatic piece of writing). All very annoying.
Rustem. Where did my boy Rustem go. I liked his storyline, it was interesting and intriguing and because it wasn't the main one I felt like I had more freedom to think and use my brain to try and work out what was going on. Butit just ENDS?????? Who was the random man???? Who was the shiny woman?????? What happened????????????? .
Also side point. Why was there so much nakedness. My guy my dude my man, stop putting Altantsetseg in the goo totally nude. Why is she naked. Why is she in goo. Stop it man, free her.
And finally. The end. I'm not even gonna put this in spoilers so just stop reading this if you really wanna read this book I guess but honestly..... NOTHING HAPPENS.
What the hell was that "plot twist" with Altantsetseg??????? I legit almost missed it it went so quickly. No lead up, no oh wow yeah that all lead to this! moment. Nothing. Also what happened with the octopuses????? Why was Ha a weird chosen one? Why kill off the doctor lady and not make her a giant evil woman who was in this all for a whole other plan all along??? She was just an idiot!!!!! That's the whole plot!!!!!!!!! WHAT HAPPENED???????
So yes. That's that I guess, sorry Ray please don't read this review lol but also please get a better publisher/editor because the idea had so much promise and they just let you wiggle along your plot until you'd rinsed it dry and then let you just slap a plaster on it and call it an ending. Oh man.
First off, the characterisation was bizarre. Ha was a very odd choice for a main character, as I never felt like I actually knew her. She's a scientist, but I'm still not 100% sure I understand anything about her studies other than she likes fish and studies communication and went to Oxford and Cambridge. There is this whole plot line about her falling madly in love with this dude who never paid any attention to her, and it made her go "crazy" and gave her Super Depression that she describes as looking up at the sun and being able to stare at it because nothing was bright anymore. Edgy. Then it turns out (mild spoiler but this didnt mean anything to me when it was revealed even though i think it was meant to)
This book was also the ultimate lesson in telling not showing, and it was arguably the worst part. Everytime we were introduced to a new idea or feeling, a character would then explain it to us, or the narrator would tell us exactly what was going on. I wasn't able to form any of my own opinions because I had this constant voice mansplaining every tiny detail to me. The narration had no clear voice either, and often we'd skip descriptions all together and just have pages of dialogue or huge monologues from single characters. We'd also have whole sentences or paragraphs just... repeated later on. There is a scene with Evrim where Ha describes him as sexless and god-like and then we just get that description again near the end. Ha's weird trauma from the island is described to us by the narrator and then she repeats it again to Evrim. Dude, everything you write should be for the reader - WHY do you share this now? What has changed since last time? (spoilers, nothing, I think he just wanted to emphasise a dramatic piece of writing). All very annoying.
Rustem. Where did my boy Rustem go. I liked his storyline, it was interesting and intriguing and because it wasn't the main one I felt like I had more freedom to think and use my brain to try and work out what was going on. But
Also side point. Why was there so much nakedness. My guy my dude my man, stop putting Altantsetseg in the goo totally nude. Why is she naked. Why is she in goo. Stop it man, free her.
And finally. The end. I'm not even gonna put this in spoilers so just stop reading this if you really wanna read this book I guess but honestly..... NOTHING HAPPENS.
What the hell was that "plot twist" with Altantsetseg??????? I legit almost missed it it went so quickly. No lead up, no oh wow yeah that all lead to this! moment. Nothing. Also what happened with the octopuses????? Why was Ha a weird chosen one? Why kill off the doctor lady and not make her a giant evil woman who was in this all for a whole other plan all along??? She was just an idiot!!!!! That's the whole plot!!!!!!!!! WHAT HAPPENED???????
So yes. That's that I guess, sorry Ray please don't read this review lol but also please get a better publisher/editor because the idea had so much promise and they just let you wiggle along your plot until you'd rinsed it dry and then let you just slap a plaster on it and call it an ending. Oh man.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Vomit