Customer Reviews

Watermind

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book had an interesting premise behind it, but it was not well executed. One issue I had with this book was structural. The transition between the dialog and thoughts of the different characters really isn't that smooth. I'd be reading along and with no warning they'd suddenly be talking about another character.

Another thing that bothered me was from a sci-fi/technical standpoint. They'd mention all these items, technological and otherwise, that the Watermind/mote computers would pass in the river on its way to Louisiana, but never explained how most of those items related back to its make-up and/or evolution.

This lack of detail extended to the dialog as well. It was just enough to keep the story moving forward, but not enough to give us any real insight into the characters. Why was Max's ex-wife given primary custody of their daughter? What was the whole thing between CJ and her father? You never do find out. This, plus the whole pacing of keeping things moving down the river, made the story read more like a TV or movie script than a book.

My advice is to skip this book.

Mad scientists are a standard part of science fiction. In movies, they are usually old men with funny accents, who are nonetheless brilliant. This time, the mad scientist is a beautiful young rich woman. By the end of the book, she's also pregnant, probably by her young Creole lover, a poorly educated laborer and musical genius. The word is "probably" because she has some hot moments with a South American billionaire, too. There's a lot of action in this book.

The sci fi action revolves around an intelligent synthetic liquid being, spontaneously emerging from a mass of electronic, chemical, and genetic junk dumped into the Mississippi. Somehow, it becomes alive and starts to grow and move, causing lots of harm as it goes. Everyone tries to contain or destroy it, with only our heroine trying to preserve it for the knowledge we can gain and the good it can do.

It's a very good science fiction book, with good plausible science and good characters. The writing is excellent, with vivid, strong descriptions of the scenery and events. It would make a great movie. I see Scarlett Johansen as the scientist. And someone who looks a lot like me as her young boyfriend. If only!

Although her future seemed bright, CJ Reilly dropped out of MIT graduate school. She heads south with hopes of cleansing her disturbed mind. In sweltering but polluted Devil's Pond, Louisiana she finds a strange phenomena that should not be there: ice. After testing a sample, CJ believes she has found a magical elixir to save the water supply; the ice purifies water.

However, the ice turns even more mysterious when she observes it react to music and display locomotion skills. When the ice kills scientist Roman Saxony, CJ reconsiders her belief she will be a world hero. Instead she needs to destroy the metamorphosing ice that has "waded" into the Mississippi before it destroys the world.

An engaging cautionary science fiction warning people to watch how they dispose of their discards (in this case electronic, but easily extrapolates to drugs in the water systems and nuclear energy byproduct waste, etc). In some ways the ice seems like the Blob; however unlike both of the films that stars heroes, none of the humans especially CJ is heroic as everyone seems to have their own agenda. Fans will enjoy touring Louisiana with the WATERMIND host.

Harriet Klausner

I don't really understand the critical reviews because I find this book to be of very high quality, intelligently written, and fun to read, with an excellent story and interesting characters. My friends and family all loved it, too, even those who are not science fiction readers. "Watermind" is a cut above ordinary genre fiction, and the author has won several awards for her work, including the prestigious Philip K. Dick Award. Give it a try if you like great characters and a gripping story in your science fiction.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It seems to be a cautionary tale, warning us of the folly of using nature as our very own dumping ground, yet it also shows that something beautiful can come out of garbage.

Some of the science was simplistic, though that was probably necessary to keep the story running and not become weighed down with theoretical nonsense. A lot of the water science, though was pretty accurate and really made that part of the story hold together.

I was left wanting more, though I suppose that sets the stage for a sequel, which I will also read and be happy with if it's half as good as this book.

All in all, WATERMIND is a good read; suspend your disbelief and dive in, the water's fine!

M.M. Buckner's WATERMIND receives an excellent narration by Tanya Eby Sirois and tells of a dangerous life evolving in toxic waterways. A sexy self-destructive dropout cleaning up a small pollution spill comes across the mysterious Watermind - and finds it holds a murderous danger to all.

The story is decent, but the science and financial areas could have used some research, as the book has many blatant flaws in those areas.