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on November 4, 2013
This book certainly has flaws in character development and some peculiar verbiage, but on the whole it is the single best summation of all of the transhuman/posthuman science fiction themes in one package. If you had to read only one book about the technological singularity, read this one (due apologies to Verner Vinge).
The story spans several generations of a 'family' from just before the singularity until well past it. As with all Charles Stross books, the tone is cheeky, irreverent, and slightly manic, all of which produces a very engrossing read that makes this book hard to put down. And some of the ideas espoused in this book, especially what lies ahead in the post-singularity world, represent by far the strangest and most entertaining fiction I have read in a long time.
Although this may be an odd comparison, I felt that this book did for transhuman/posthuman genre what Neuromancer by William Gibson did for the cyberpunk genre- both built a well defined new world in which to tell weird tales and set the benchmark against which all other novels in their respective genre must measure themselves.
The story spans several generations of a 'family' from just before the singularity until well past it. As with all Charles Stross books, the tone is cheeky, irreverent, and slightly manic, all of which produces a very engrossing read that makes this book hard to put down. And some of the ideas espoused in this book, especially what lies ahead in the post-singularity world, represent by far the strangest and most entertaining fiction I have read in a long time.
Although this may be an odd comparison, I felt that this book did for transhuman/posthuman genre what Neuromancer by William Gibson did for the cyberpunk genre- both built a well defined new world in which to tell weird tales and set the benchmark against which all other novels in their respective genre must measure themselves.
on September 10, 2016
A fantastic and utterly realistic speculation of what comes from the race for bandwidth in Stoss' signature hard science style. It has all the hallmarks of a space opera with the gritty realization that connectedness of minds and information isn't always inherently good but more or less the amoral steamroller of the future paving its way through to our current technological extrapolations.
on January 7, 2014
The first few pages threw me a bit due to his using lots of colorful techno-filled language. However it soon became part of the story (not just a vice) and I didn't notice after an hour of reading.
All except the end was totally fantastic. The end was good, but not what I expected. 10/10 for the first 4/5ths of the book and 8/10 for the last chapter or so.
All except the end was totally fantastic. The end was good, but not what I expected. 10/10 for the first 4/5ths of the book and 8/10 for the last chapter or so.
on March 29, 2013
What ever Mr. Stross gets his hands on, turns into gold.
Im comparing him with Stephen Donaldson (The White gold Wielder series, to start with)
A writer that has an excellent mind to write books not only in one genre, which is rather common, but to trying out several! And succeeding!
From fantasy, excellent job. To a comical take on witches and deamons, having the "hero" using Powerpoint to create spells, great books! Then this, the Sci-Fi series taking off.
His take on technology makes it truly enticing and marvelous. Love his characters and what you can expect from the future. Mind boggling, scary, so much hope and yet so much to fear.
This writer is something to cherish. Read all his books, you will not be disappointed!
Im comparing him with Stephen Donaldson (The White gold Wielder series, to start with)
A writer that has an excellent mind to write books not only in one genre, which is rather common, but to trying out several! And succeeding!
From fantasy, excellent job. To a comical take on witches and deamons, having the "hero" using Powerpoint to create spells, great books! Then this, the Sci-Fi series taking off.
His take on technology makes it truly enticing and marvelous. Love his characters and what you can expect from the future. Mind boggling, scary, so much hope and yet so much to fear.
This writer is something to cherish. Read all his books, you will not be disappointed!
on June 14, 2013
I enjoy good SF authors that can really WRITE, and Stross delivers! You almost need a dictionary to keep up with his rich prose and high concept thinking. It's as if Vernor Vinge was channeling Ray Kurzweil (the futurist and author of "The Age of Spiritual Machines", readers may enjoy his movie "The Singularity is Near"). The central characters unify a delightful romp through a series of well considered human singularity events. It did surprise me that his vision of extrapolated future humanity relies so heavily on capitalist styled economic systems. I would expect humanity to transcend all that in a world of nano-tech where resources and energy are effectively free. A great read overall!
on September 18, 2015
I love this book and how weirdly possible some if it seems (especially seeing it 10 years after it was published). And not to mention, some of the tongue-in-cheek references made me grin. That being said, I want more of the story: the ending caught me completely off guard, and I expected at least another chapter, though there really is probably another book here. More, please!
on November 1, 2016
One of the best transhumanist/futurist sci-fi novels ever written, and the last one you'll ever need to read.
on July 3, 2015
Absolutely loved this book. It's a challenging read, and it helps to know at least something about computers to understand it. That said, it moves at a ferocious pace, sort of like the technological future it portrays. Highly recommended.
on July 14, 2013
I found this an entertaining and plausible story about the singularity and what happens beyond it. Very richly textured, i found reading it on my iPad a good choice because I could look up the references to technologies, real and imagined, and authors in the story. Stross has an interesting theory on the resolution of the Fermi paradox (if intelligent aliens exist in the universe, why aren't they here yet?) that I won't spoil here.
If you enjoy Vernor Vinge, this will be right up your alley. Futurism wrapped in a good yarn.
If you enjoy Vernor Vinge, this will be right up your alley. Futurism wrapped in a good yarn.
