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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
This is an interesting novella and winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards. A new generation of people are genetically engineered to require no sleep and face increasingly serious persecution and restrictions from everyone else who does. It’s an interesting look at emergent technologies and the potential implications, the unexpected ways in which they may impact on society. Worth tracking down. I’ve not read the full novel but would be interested to based on this.
This was a pretty interesting idea, but it was too long and there were too many characters involved. It may have been better left in it's original form as a novella (which I have not read although I believe it may have been the first section of the book and the other sections were added.)
I thought the writing was good, tech/science stuff was cool and believable and my favorite part was probably the Superbrights and the irony of their plight.
So if you're looking to mark this classic off your checklist and you're a slow reader like me, I would probably suggest reading the novella instead and moving on to other classics.
I thought the writing was good, tech/science stuff was cool and believable and my favorite part was probably the Superbrights and the irony of their plight.
So if you're looking to mark this classic off your checklist and you're a slow reader like me, I would probably suggest reading the novella instead and moving on to other classics.
Well, I was never a person who liked science- fiction books, but I watched a documentary about science-fiction authors and i started exploring the genre. I finally came to this book I can honestly say that I picked the book on two things the "What if concept of the book" and also the lady on the cover looked like Angelina Jolie. So i decided to read it . WOW!!!!! it was an amazing book, it was funny because I'm a American studies major and currently in a class studying Abraham Lincoln and it was just surprising to read this and connect it to my class. It was as if divine force placed this book into my hand. I honestly have no words to type that can express my thoughts ( i feel like a super- not able to find the words to explain) but this author can write even though half the time it was hard to understand with all the science terminology. But once you began to read the book its as if like a lucid dream ( you can see the book played out in a movie)
I want to continue reading the rest of the series i want to know what will happen to the supers in the future,what will happen with drew will he ever own sanctuary?
How will the cause against Jennifer play out?
Also i want the author to dwell more on how long the sleepless norms and super-sleepless can live since they don't age and i would also like to know if sleepers can be sleepless?
I want to continue reading the rest of the series i want to know what will happen to the supers in the future,what will happen with drew will he ever own sanctuary?
How will the cause against Jennifer play out?
Also i want the author to dwell more on how long the sleepless norms and super-sleepless can live since they don't age and i would also like to know if sleepers can be sleepless?
source: honorable mention in "13 reasons to read sci-fi by women"
this was engrossing. intriguing.
a bit dated, copyrighted in 1993, the first bit takes place in a 2008 that didn't come to pass. still interesting to look at the perspective.
this was engrossing. intriguing.
a bit dated, copyrighted in 1993, the first bit takes place in a 2008 that didn't come to pass. still interesting to look at the perspective.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I learned while reading this that it started out as a novella that was expanded. I read the novella which makes up book one of this story, and I think it works pretty well as something of a drama.
But I felt increasingly unsure of what I felt about it’s message, especially in terms of politics and economics. And as I got into book two, Kress proceeds to make a person of color who is Muslim of some sort into an extremist villain and I wasn’t comfortable with that. So I lost interest in finishing the full length book!
But I felt increasingly unsure of what I felt about it’s message, especially in terms of politics and economics. And as I got into book two, Kress proceeds to make a person of color who is Muslim of some sort into an extremist villain and I wasn’t comfortable with that. So I lost interest in finishing the full length book!
This is quite the sprawling epic, which I genuinely wasn't expecting. It covers almost a century of alternate future events in primarily the USA. I felt like there were really two books in one - early in Leisha's life, through The Trial (no spoilers about what), and then everything after that.
I also have to raise my eyebrows a little bit at Kress casting the fanatical, in-group/out-group obsessed antagonist as a Muslim woman. Amid a sea of people whose names do not (as far as I know) denote particular race/ethnicity, Jennifer Sharifi's ancestry is relatively clear via name alone. She cites the Quran and is constantly described as wearing an Abaya, which is in contrast to most other characters, who rarely have their clothes described. She is a frustrating, rigid character who brooks no exceptions to the tenets of her stringently-enforced "community". It seems like a little bit of lazy writing/characterization on Kress's part, to depend on American stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs to buoy a character that does not receive the depth and understanding of many others.
That said, the definition and boundaries of "community" is the heart of this book. Thomas Paine, Abraham Lincoln, and others are regularly quoted as part of the reasoning. I deeply appreciate Kress's thoughtful analysis of responses to the development of an intellectual elite, and the limited access to the ability to create them.
Interestingly, in the second half of the book, Kress creates new social stratifications which mirror some of those in LeGuin's writings. I'm still not sure I find these paeticular divisions of power, responsibility, and privilege convincing, but they are interesting.
Overall, a really effective and interesting analysis of social dynamics in an alternate near-future America. It has some weaknesses, but taken as a whole, it is an interesting melding of genetic science, technology, political science, philosophy, and sociology. In summary, thoughtful and realistic science fiction.
I also have to raise my eyebrows a little bit at Kress casting the fanatical, in-group/out-group obsessed antagonist as a Muslim woman. Amid a sea of people whose names do not (as far as I know) denote particular race/ethnicity, Jennifer Sharifi's ancestry is relatively clear via name alone. She cites the Quran and is constantly described as wearing an Abaya, which is in contrast to most other characters, who rarely have their clothes described. She is a frustrating, rigid character who brooks no exceptions to the tenets of her stringently-enforced "community". It seems like a little bit of lazy writing/characterization on Kress's part, to depend on American stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs to buoy a character that does not receive the depth and understanding of many others.
That said, the definition and boundaries of "community" is the heart of this book. Thomas Paine, Abraham Lincoln, and others are regularly quoted as part of the reasoning. I deeply appreciate Kress's thoughtful analysis of responses to the development of an intellectual elite, and the limited access to the ability to create them.
Interestingly, in the second half of the book, Kress creates new social stratifications which mirror some of those in LeGuin's writings. I'm still not sure I find these paeticular divisions of power, responsibility, and privilege convincing, but they are interesting.
Overall, a really effective and interesting analysis of social dynamics in an alternate near-future America. It has some weaknesses, but taken as a whole, it is an interesting melding of genetic science, technology, political science, philosophy, and sociology. In summary, thoughtful and realistic science fiction.
Read this one years ago! I loved it and the rest of the series.
The concept of genetic modification for sleeplessness is fairly minor as SF premises go, but of course in addition to being an extrapolation of scientific advancement, it also works as an allegory of the social interactions between the general public and a subset of people who are seen as elites for whatever reason. The fact that the sleepless gene modification also conveniently makes people more intelligent, more even-keeled, more joyful, and more rational, really, creates a convenient subclass with numerous advantages over their fellow humans, and the built in resentment that generates.
Although this was written in 1991, I have to assume that Kress had all this in mind, but it’s striking how well it applies in 2024, when the anti-science, anti-elite mob threatens democracy and civilized society in general. It’s easy to sympathize with the Sleepless (even their most extreme member, Jennifer), since they are, after all, correct that this mob shouldn’t be allowed to trample on civilization with its selfish grievances and false nostalgia for a less technological time.
And that makes the character of Leisha all the more impressive, as the one Sleepless who recognizes that they must continue to share the world with the Sleepers, even if compromise seems unfair and difficult.
The tone of the book reminds me of other authors who explore the impacts of science fictional occurrences on society, on families, and on particular people. Robert Sawyer and Ben Bova come to mind. The characters remind me a bit of the families, generations, and dynasties developed by Julian May in the Galactic Milieu series, though on a smaller scale here.
I wasn’t wild about every character; Drew in particular was a bit too unlikeable for my taste. But the writing is top notch, and the story is certainly engaging. All in all, a well-written, thought-provoking, and enjoyable book.
Although this was written in 1991, I have to assume that Kress had all this in mind, but it’s striking how well it applies in 2024, when the anti-science, anti-elite mob threatens democracy and civilized society in general. It’s easy to sympathize with the Sleepless (even their most extreme member, Jennifer), since they are, after all, correct that this mob shouldn’t be allowed to trample on civilization with its selfish grievances and false nostalgia for a less technological time.
And that makes the character of Leisha all the more impressive, as the one Sleepless who recognizes that they must continue to share the world with the Sleepers, even if compromise seems unfair and difficult.
The tone of the book reminds me of other authors who explore the impacts of science fictional occurrences on society, on families, and on particular people. Robert Sawyer and Ben Bova come to mind. The characters remind me a bit of the families, generations, and dynasties developed by Julian May in the Galactic Milieu series, though on a smaller scale here.
I wasn’t wild about every character; Drew in particular was a bit too unlikeable for my taste. But the writing is top notch, and the story is certainly engaging. All in all, a well-written, thought-provoking, and enjoyable book.