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rheren's review
2.0
A very tiresome book. The story had some creative points, but it was mostly just tiresome. Main strikes against it:
1) It's a utopia. Whatever else a utopia can be, it makes for a dreadfully dull book. But I could've overlooked that (it ventures outside the utopia), except that...
2) It's a preachy utopian book. The worst kind. I don't read sci-fi to get preached at: I don't have much respect for the philosophical pretensions of sci-fi authors. I don't mind thought-provoking discussion or speculation, but this was preachy. Finally,
3) Way too much sex. Yes, it's THAT kind of utopia, at least for the pompous, self-satisfied, virtually omnipotent people at the top of the strict caste system in this utopia.
I hated the utopia, and was really hoping that the ending would be some sort of insightful critique about what was good about it and what was bad, or something redeeming, but nope. There were a few bright spots, but overall, not worth the read.
1) It's a utopia. Whatever else a utopia can be, it makes for a dreadfully dull book. But I could've overlooked that (it ventures outside the utopia), except that...
2) It's a preachy utopian book. The worst kind. I don't read sci-fi to get preached at: I don't have much respect for the philosophical pretensions of sci-fi authors. I don't mind thought-provoking discussion or speculation, but this was preachy. Finally,
3) Way too much sex. Yes, it's THAT kind of utopia, at least for the pompous, self-satisfied, virtually omnipotent people at the top of the strict caste system in this utopia.
I hated the utopia, and was really hoping that the ending would be some sort of insightful critique about what was good about it and what was bad, or something redeeming, but nope. There were a few bright spots, but overall, not worth the read.
tx_drewdad's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is is an underrated gem.
hissingpotatoes's review
4.0
This book was a great, long sci-fi with a healthy dose of adventure thrown in. It was rough to get into the world, vocabulary, and distinguishing between the real world/oneirochronon and what daimones were, but after about 30-40 pages it made sense. And then after the inciting action on about page 100, I was hooked. (That might seem like a long time before it comes in, but the character and world introductions beforehand are essential.) I read the whole thing (all 450 pages) in one day. I especially appreciated seeing a bisexual, polyamorous male lead character, in a society where it's not an issue, in a book written over 25 years ago. There is so much going on here: the thorough and fascinating worldbuilding, philosophical exploration of humanity and integrity, character and relationship development, scientific and technological advances, a realistic integration of cultural aspects from around Earth as we know it into a future society, high-energy action and adventure, secrecy and betrayal, and even some undercover work on a pre-technological world. Everything balanced perfectly, I was invested 100%, and I enjoyed every minute of this ride.
tasadion's review
4.0
Really solid far-future SF, with wild-ass godlike beings playing with nano tech, leveraging implants, multiple personalities and terraforming.
Strong plot, and a fascinating universe set the book up well, and the author pulls few punches, although may have been a little obsessed with specific martial arts moves and detailed descriptions of fights.
The main characters are a little meh, but at least if you don't like them, then you get to watch them suffer!
For more info, check out a good article from the author about the book.
Incredibly imaginative, with some fascinating formatting to aid some of the concepts, this is original, clever, and well worth a read.
Strong plot, and a fascinating universe set the book up well, and the author pulls few punches, although may have been a little obsessed with specific martial arts moves and detailed descriptions of fights.
The main characters are a little meh, but at least if you don't like them, then you get to watch them suffer!
For more info, check out a good article from the author about the book.
Incredibly imaginative, with some fascinating formatting to aid some of the concepts, this is original, clever, and well worth a read.
eviljosh's review
5.0
It's rare that I read something different enough to be considered unique, but the society and culture painted in this book is something I've never encountered before.
The world building is truly stupendous. A distant future humanity, scarred by the accidental destruction of Earth, rebuilds a new civilization. One of the core values of this civilization is that information must be free, but technology has become powerful enough, dangerous enough, that it can only be wielded in all its glory by gods. So the Aristoi are created, gods among men, to play the role of the divine (though perhaps they are are best viewed as philosopher kings).
Williams describes the Aristoi, saying: "Without doubt she would achieve the rank of Ariste: the long-latent synthesis, the tumbling-together of ideas, had begun. The integrative thinking of the Aristoi, wherein each thought, each skill and idea, began to expand and multiply and reinforce the other." Describing their relationship to the rest of humanity, an Aristos states: "We dominate humanity because we can't help it, and because the others couldn't stop it even if they wanted to."
The result is a society that is simultaneously a techno-utopia and a radical authoritarian dystopia (fascism without the nationalist connotations), made all the more frightening because the thought of disobedience to an Aristos is literally inconceivable to the vast majority of indoctrinated humanity.
This marvelous world building creates a set of main characters (Aristoi and their senior bureaucrats) that is simultaneously fascinating, desirable, and appalling. They believe they are superior and entitled...nearly godlike...and the reader has a hard time disagreeing, while all the while rebelling against such a notion notion as anathema to our current liberal society based upon the notion that all are created equal.
Combine that with the strange psychology of the characters (the society believes that multiple personalities - inner demons - are to be encouraged, named, and treasured, in order for multifaceted individuals to fully unlock their true potential), and this book is well worth reading.
The world building is truly stupendous. A distant future humanity, scarred by the accidental destruction of Earth, rebuilds a new civilization. One of the core values of this civilization is that information must be free, but technology has become powerful enough, dangerous enough, that it can only be wielded in all its glory by gods. So the Aristoi are created, gods among men, to play the role of the divine (though perhaps they are are best viewed as philosopher kings).
Williams describes the Aristoi, saying: "Without doubt she would achieve the rank of Ariste: the long-latent synthesis, the tumbling-together of ideas, had begun. The integrative thinking of the Aristoi, wherein each thought, each skill and idea, began to expand and multiply and reinforce the other." Describing their relationship to the rest of humanity, an Aristos states: "We dominate humanity because we can't help it, and because the others couldn't stop it even if they wanted to."
The result is a society that is simultaneously a techno-utopia and a radical authoritarian dystopia (fascism without the nationalist connotations), made all the more frightening because the thought of disobedience to an Aristos is literally inconceivable to the vast majority of indoctrinated humanity.
This marvelous world building creates a set of main characters (Aristoi and their senior bureaucrats) that is simultaneously fascinating, desirable, and appalling. They believe they are superior and entitled...nearly godlike...and the reader has a hard time disagreeing, while all the while rebelling against such a notion notion as anathema to our current liberal society based upon the notion that all are created equal.
Combine that with the strange psychology of the characters (the society believes that multiple personalities - inner demons - are to be encouraged, named, and treasured, in order for multifaceted individuals to fully unlock their true potential), and this book is well worth reading.
hilaritas's review
2.0
Maybe I'll come back to this one, but I just couldn't finish it. It's just so impossibly 90's! It hurts me to read. It's like the Lawnmower Man dressed up in ruffled shirts at the coffeeshop. I can't hang right now.
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