Reviews

For We Are Many by Dennis E. Taylor

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ihaveknowledge's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

thebigness's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

timinbc's review against another edition

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4.0

Good solid #2, makes me want #3.

This one builds very nicely on #1, extrapolating carefully and credibly without making any new unreasonable leaps. New tools and approaches evolve, but only as time passes. New plot threads appear, and feel plausible. The Bobs develop diverging personalities. They start to explore just what it means to be a replicant, and what possibilities can be explored if they push the comfort boundaries -- which they can do as they diverge.

There's a new enemy, in the traditional way-stronger-than-us way that always signals that "but-human-ingenuity and-grit-will-eventually-prevail" can't be far behind.

I hope book 3 will dial it back a little on the drinks. Jeeves-coffee every few pages, relieved only by occasional substitution of booze.

I hope we can accept this book for the simple adventure it appears to be, and not get into hating it because it doesn't explore human diversity in all its ways. There are plenty of books doing that, and lately they're doing it very, very well. We needn't require it of every book.

Which raises the question of why a Bobiverse? Why not a Bob-and-Carol-and-Ted-and-Alice-iverse? I suggest that it's because Taylor realized early on that it's going to be quite complicated enough just with umpteen Bobs. And just one character each representing Earth's military and religious communities.

There may be another book from someone else exploring what happens if there are hundreds of mild, intelligent Bobs but also hundreds of Alices (and I'm thinking of Alice the homicidal programmer/engineer from "Dilbert") and hundreds of smart people from a very different culture. For sure they'd spend more time dealing with each other than with external challenges.

gerceval's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

paulmichaelpeters's review against another edition

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4.0

Oh Bob. I like the first book so much (audio book driving to conference) that I bought the next in the series, For We Are Many, and listened to it on the way home.

You know that a book is really connecting with you when you slow down to listen, or go through the drive through for dinner so you don't have to stop.

Taylor has created a universe that is enjoyable to be a part of as the reader/listener. He is good a hooks to keep you listening, moving the plot forward, and keeping emotional commitment and interest.

I highly recommend Scifi fans to give the series a try.