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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
3.5 rounded down.
The thing with writing scifi is that the basic premise is to imagine some future technology or changes and then explore what interesting things that would mean to your characters — how the world would be different and how it would affect them. But that's tricky because if you're not careful you can spend a lot of time just proselytising your tech idea and showing examples of how it's cool.
Basically the first half of Crux feels like that.
It's not helped by the fact that there are so many different plot lines — the book jumps around so much, I found it difficult to keep up until I had figured out who everyone was and what I was expected to remember from the first book (it's been a while).
Fortunately the second half contains all the good themes of the first book (aside from all those plot switches every few pages) which means it's full of action and interesting plot twists based on all the nexus technology can do.
I'll read the third book but my enjoyment of the series has been dulled a little compared to the strong start.
The thing with writing scifi is that the basic premise is to imagine some future technology or changes and then explore what interesting things that would mean to your characters — how the world would be different and how it would affect them. But that's tricky because if you're not careful you can spend a lot of time just proselytising your tech idea and showing examples of how it's cool.
Basically the first half of Crux feels like that.
It's not helped by the fact that there are so many different plot lines — the book jumps around so much, I found it difficult to keep up until I had figured out who everyone was and what I was expected to remember from the first book (it's been a while).
Fortunately the second half contains all the good themes of the first book (aside from all those plot switches every few pages) which means it's full of action and interesting plot twists based on all the nexus technology can do.
I'll read the third book but my enjoyment of the series has been dulled a little compared to the strong start.
Just as interesting, creative, and exciting as the first one. I love how Naam is exploring so many of the very realistic human consequences of the events he began with. Can't wait for "Apex"!
Following in the footsteps of 'Nexus', this book continues detailing the alternative near-future world where technology has progressed to a point where manipulation of electronic devices just using thought is possible and direct brain-to-brain communication is spreading around the world.
Crux keeps up the excellent pacing, depth of character and storyline of the first book. as cliched as this is, it is a real pager turner.
Can't wait to finish the series with Apex
Crux keeps up the excellent pacing, depth of character and storyline of the first book. as cliched as this is, it is a real pager turner.
Can't wait to finish the series with Apex
I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. There was a lot going on and I don't think I kept up with the flow very well. Oh well
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow! I didn't think Ramez Naam would be able to top the first book in this series, Nexus, but he surprised me by making this book just as riveting, if not more so. The series takes current day research and extends it out 30 years to build a believable future where technology is in the cross-hairs of political and religious leaders.
The story revolves around Kade who is trying to evade the corrupt US spy agencies, crime bosses, and a billionaire who each want to use Kade's Nexus for personal gain. Nexus is a software program that leverages the brain as the computer to run the code. It allows people to communicate via direct mind contact, opening up the possibility of huge improvements in science and technology; however, some have used it to rewire people's brains to become slaves and commit crimes. Kade has the only back door into the software and needs to determine whether he should use it to fight against these crimes or close it before it gets into the wrong hands.
The characters are well thought out and you start to root for the good guys and hope the bad guys are stopped. I'm hoping this is only the second book of a longer series as it ends with some unfinished story lines. Overall, this is a great read that I would highly recommend.
The story revolves around Kade who is trying to evade the corrupt US spy agencies, crime bosses, and a billionaire who each want to use Kade's Nexus for personal gain. Nexus is a software program that leverages the brain as the computer to run the code. It allows people to communicate via direct mind contact, opening up the possibility of huge improvements in science and technology; however, some have used it to rewire people's brains to become slaves and commit crimes. Kade has the only back door into the software and needs to determine whether he should use it to fight against these crimes or close it before it gets into the wrong hands.
The characters are well thought out and you start to root for the good guys and hope the bad guys are stopped. I'm hoping this is only the second book of a longer series as it ends with some unfinished story lines. Overall, this is a great read that I would highly recommend.
The first book in the Nexus series blew my mind and I was ravenous for more. The second book felt like it was teasing me with just a bit more of the novelty, the excitement, the Big Ideas that got me hooked on the first one. Like a junkie, I couldn't put this book down, even though it wasn't giving me the same rush that the first one had.
Strong science fiction
If you've read the first book of the trilogy you're already committed. No need for me to convince. The adventures of Jade, Rangan, Feng, Sam and the children continue. New nemesis arise. The world gets more complicated, more tangled, more real. Looming within it all is the Shu/ling character slowly coming to clarity, evolving into a world destroyer or savior. Her madness muddling her intentions.
The most interesting part of the series is the ambiguities of Nexus enhanced, the misunderstanding on the part of all parties involved, the very human errors being wrought on the proceedings.
If you've come this far, you've got to see it to the end.
If you've read the first book of the trilogy you're already committed. No need for me to convince. The adventures of Jade, Rangan, Feng, Sam and the children continue. New nemesis arise. The world gets more complicated, more tangled, more real. Looming within it all is the Shu/ling character slowly coming to clarity, evolving into a world destroyer or savior. Her madness muddling her intentions.
The most interesting part of the series is the ambiguities of Nexus enhanced, the misunderstanding on the part of all parties involved, the very human errors being wrought on the proceedings.
If you've come this far, you've got to see it to the end.
More of the same pulpy fast-paced stuff. I enjoyed the first ride but that’s enough thank you
The writing is still pretty shaky, but understandable I suppose now that I know the author's background. "Not bad for a scientist." There are so many threads of this story, and Naam does a good job of weaving them together. The amount of military technology, operations details, and secret government machinations remind me very much of Tom Clancy, honestly. No great wordsmith there, either, but a great storyteller.Sure, you have to suspend a lot of disbelief--for instance, it's hard to believe that with all the advanced weaponry described (some of which they are using, some being used against them), Feng and Sam are still able to fend off attack after attack. And it's also hard to believe that Kade's un-augmented body could endure the damage to his own body that a crude physical program like "Bruce Lee" would inflict as he activated it to fight off attackers. The science is intriguing, but what struck me most is how the Buddhist underpinnings were just as intriguing, just as compelling. Are you wiser than all humanity? The more I read, the more I felt like none of the powers angling for control of Nexus could be trusted with it, no matter how "right" their motives might be. I hope Naam is busy working on the third book.