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sfstagewalker's review against another edition
4.0
This review really is about all three books in the series. I found that this is a very well considered, epic story that takes a far future concept and brings it to a time that is close enough to our own to make geopolitical attitudes and alignments logical. I find that the series was a bit of a challenge to get through on a first reading however, due to its ever growing cast and unrelenting tension. While there are brief moments of respite, I generally found the book to be exhausting, with so much high tension that I would hesitate to pick it up if I was already feeling stressed out. I think that the book will suffer less from this on re-reading, and that I will be better able to enjoy the intellectual and geopolitical game of chess that Naam has laid out for the reader.
reuben_surrender's review against another edition
5.0
A short review - It has been a very long time since I read a good new cyberpunk thriller. I'm glad that there are some authors out there still writing in this genre. The problem with writing a novel in this genre is that we live in a world where we are totally jaded and lost all sense of wonder. We lost our ability to dream what the future might holds. Part of the reason is that the technological dreams of yester-year never quite materialize - the jet-packs, the flying cars, the moon-bases. As a result, our visions are bleak and based on some dystopian future which typically is a mere reflection of what our society is now.
I'm glad to read a novel that breaks out of the mold. The ideas presented in the novel are interesting. The idea of human augmentation (post-human, trans-human) is not new. But the repercussions of implementation at the cusp of this new technology is what is discussed in this novel. How does one cross from being totally natural human, to an augmented post-human? What does it mean to society? How does it impact human psychology and acceptance? These are the underpinnings of this novel.
I'm glad to read a novel that breaks out of the mold. The ideas presented in the novel are interesting. The idea of human augmentation (post-human, trans-human) is not new. But the repercussions of implementation at the cusp of this new technology is what is discussed in this novel. How does one cross from being totally natural human, to an augmented post-human? What does it mean to society? How does it impact human psychology and acceptance? These are the underpinnings of this novel.
mgiuntoni's review against another edition
4.0
Fresco e stimolante. Perfetta lettura estiva di genere!
jpark414's review against another edition
2.0
4 stars for thoughts about a trans human transition
But not for the fiction.
But not for the fiction.
read247_instyle_inca's review against another edition
3.0
A fascinating view of the political, economical, and moral implications of mind-to-mind technology in the not so distant future. An interesting and fast-paced read. I felt the fight scenes were too graphic and drawn out.
jickyjacks's review against another edition
4.0
It's 25 years in the future and augmenting human intelligence is a reality thanks to new technology. Some in power think this is a good thing and want to use it for control and power over others. Others in power want to do anything necessary to halt it and the progress of science. Caught in the middle is Kade, a young scientist on the cutting edge of the new tech. He just wants everyone to get along and help humankind. It's a fun, fast paced story that does get one thinking about what it means to be human and the role of technology in our lives. I plan on reading the sequel(s).
mauvealert's review against another edition
2.0
I was disappointed in the plot and characters. There's some interesting (but not novel) consideration of transhumanism and posthumanism. The plot has a typical "defy and evade government" arc. The characters are mostly used to present different viewpoints and just didn't interest me very much. I did enjoy parts of it, but I was also bored for a significant chunk.
johnald1266's review against another edition
4.0
A little more character development would have helped but it did enough to round out a fast moving techno thriller. If you like brain hacking narratives, this is for you.