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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
Normally, the idea behind a science fiction novel can never carry it beyond its writing. Egan's ideas, however, sometimes carry enough kinetic force to neatly puncture this axiom.
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Well this book started a little slow and at times was bogged down by it's own weird tech jargon and explanations the ideas put forward were fun to explore and watch unfold. The story definitely picks up and does a good job of creating a sense of wonder but also fear and apprehension about ideas of immortality. It also does a good job holding up to more recent scifi and general ideas about digital lives and existence.
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This was a refreshing read after the last book I read, and it holds up very well for a cyberpunk novel about virtual reality and artificial life written in 1995. It has some quite interesting things to say about consciousness and causality, and though the characters aren't really detailed well or very likeable, you appreciate their journey and want them to succeed.
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
a challenging brain bender, worlds in worlds
Hard scifi with a capital H. On the Mohs scale of hardness this book is an 11. This is the carbon nanotubes of science fiction.
My favorite kind of scifi is large scale, sometimes absurd, thought experiments and I cannot believe how many ideas about consciousness are crammed into this short book. Recommended to people who liked the Black Mirror Christmas episode or, to a lesser extent, Dollhouse.