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Liked It “wow really really good wow wow wow wow the only thing is it's kinda pg13 maybe even pg15” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“wow really really good wow wow wow wow the only thing is it's kinda pg13 maybe even pg15”
Gabriella C wrote this review Wednesday, October 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I absolutely was fascinated by this trilogy as an adolescent...mostly by the idea of people who have no need to sleep and by the philosophical and ethical questions raised by genetic modification...I was glad upon rereading to discover that they age well upon rereading. ”
Sara B wrote this review Saturday, August 8 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Interesting concept. In the near-future, science acquires the ability to genetically engineer humans who have no need to sleep, and who do not age at the same rate as unaltered people. A divide develops in society between Sleepless and sleepers, and most of the Sleepless retreat into a heavily guarded sanctuary to live separate, sleep-free lives. A few of the Sleepless remain among the general population, believing that people of all kinds need to work together for the good of society.
emilysk wrote this review Friday, April 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
After a generation or so, the Sleepless in Sanctuary start tinkering with their genes again, and produce the next generation of genetically engineered children. They are exponentially more intelligent, but are also strange-looking and think in completely different ways from their parents.
I don't know. I was certainly sucked into the story and found it interesting, but it was kind of a bleak look at how most of society shuns those who are different. ”
“I have the complaint that this author's characters seem to *be* their situations--I never really felt like I *knew* any of them--but her storytelling is smooth and her plot and CONCEPTS were pretty wowing. This involved people genetically modified to not require sleep. Partially inspired by this book to wish I didn't have to sleep either, I did a sleep experiment using polyphasic sleep and have had much success with it. So, thanks to Nancy Kress's idea and the Uberman Schedule posted on Everything2.com , I have been very positively affected. Yahoo!”
swankivy wrote this review Wednesday, January 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really liked that this book made me think. It had many philosophical ideas that it touched upon, and would be so great to discuss as a group. I felt the book was easy to read. I did not rush through it, I took my time reading it,it was just enjoyable. I loved the concepts that it brought up and the way it was written was fullfilling in that the characters grew throughout the book. I would re-read this book. ”
Kimmay wrote this review Wednesday, December 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Sort of a chilling look at where the world is headed at the present time. ”
Freddie Lynch wrote this review Friday, August 15 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book is such great fodder for discussions about society, equality, productivity, genetic engineering, and evolution of humankind. I'd love for all my friends to read it so we can explore the various issues she raises. I'd read the novella Beggars in Spain, which is part one of this book, many years ago. It has long represented my favorite book. Finally, I have read the trilogy! I'm impressed with the way Kress was able to further the ideas she developed in Part I. Her descriptions of the Supers' way of thinking seemed a bit thin to me, but then they would, because we're mere mortals, right? The book isn't a triumph in character development, but the ideas are rich and the effect is brilliant. ”
Jennifer H wrote this review Wednesday, March 5 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Beggars in Spain is one of the key SF works on genetic engineering, tackling some of the difficult questions of how society will deal with a class of genetically-superior "Haves" while the overwhelming majority of humanity remain unenhanced "Have-Nots."
Britt wrote this review Monday, December 10 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
A genetic enhancement that eliminates the need to sleep has the unexpected side effect of greater intelligence and immortality. The story is told from the point of view of the Leisha Camden, who, despite her best efforts, is unable to heal the rifts that form between her fellow Sleepless and the rest of society, the Sleepers.
Is the fear, anger, mistrust, and violence that springs up between the Sleepers and the Sleepless inevitable? What does it mean to be human? Sleeper and Sleepless must both wrestle with the meaning and interpretation of the phrase "all men are created equal" if democracy will survive. What do the superior owe to society? What does society owe to the strong? To the weak?
These questions are then raised to the next level when the Sleepless find their supremacy challenged by their own success in engineering Superbright children.”
“Sleepless, hyperintelligent, nearly immortal genetic modifications? I'll take two.”
krimon wrote this review Thursday, November 29 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Long and boring. Almost amatuerish writing. A protagonist that is merely an observer rather than an active participant. However pedantic her presentation, Kress nicely explains a superior social philosophy which obliterates anything Ayn Rand ever thought of.”
Clifford H wrote this review Thursday, November 15 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
