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Liked It “Two words: Space. Vampires. |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I’m always complaining about the lack of original characters in literature today. I suppose it was karma that came and whacked me in the head with Peter Watts’ Blindsight. For the record: the blow gave me a massive headache. And then I stopped complaining. |
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“Two words: Space. Vampires.
Wonder Dog wrote this review Monday, September 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Turns out sentience isn't all it's cracked up to be.”1 of 1 members found this review helpful“I’m always complaining about the lack of original characters in literature today. I suppose it was karma that came and whacked me in the head with Peter Watts’ Blindsight. For the record: the blow gave me a massive headache. And then I stopped complaining.
Rána wrote this review Tuesday, January 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Even after several months, I honestly haven’t decided whether or not I liked Blindsight. I’m not sure what it is that keeps me so firmly on the fence about it. Perhaps it is the fact that Watts had so many good ideas, but he implemented them in a way which was so puzzling that I have no frame of reference with which to judge my reaction.
Well, it’s unique, anyway. I’ll give Watts that much. He did a great job creating original characters--there’s no questioning that. But I feel like he went to such extremes in his creations that he removed any chance for me to emphasize with them. I never once felt connected to the crew; it’s hard to care about people who don’t seem to have emotions. They honestly could have lived, died or done the cha-cha, and I don’t think I would have cared either way. I was pretty ambivalent about the characters throughout the entire novel.
The one thing that did stir a reaction in me was Watts’ liberal use of content from the well-known medical book The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat: And Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks. Watts noticeably lifted many symptoms from Sacks’ case studies; it was as though he took the whole book and dumped it into his sci-fi novel. Granted, Sacks’ patients and their stories are fascinating, but Watts went a little overboard when he started picking so many ideas from it. Anyone who reads the two books would see the glaring similarities.
Overall, I think that Watts had good intentions to create something fresh and original with Blindsight, but he went to such extremes that I was unable to recognize what he ultimately placed in front of me--and what I did recognize was from another book. I wouldn’t recommend it. ”
“Deep space voyage to a first contact. Pressure-cooker story of a group of unstable people trapped in a spaceship.
Christina M wrote this review Friday, September 26 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Some people love this book fiercely, but I couldn't muster affection for the characters or the plot. The extended scientific expositions slowed down the story and dissipated dramatic tension; much violation of the principle of "show the reader how it works, don't explain it" occurred. The main characters were altered in different ways from the human norm so I couldn't get a feel for the POV of the various crew members, so with the exception of the main charater, I couldn't care what happened to them. The addition of a vampire was necessary to the theme, but it felt wrong in a hard sci fi story.
The overall impression is that this was two to three good ideas for novels jammed into one. The concept that consciousness is a side effect of mental evolution, and not the pinnacle of it, was brilliant and original, but it is weird enough it might have fared better if it hadn't shared the stage with so many other ideas.
I can't advise you not to read this book, because it is chocked full of fascinating ideas, but I will warn you it is a slog toward the end.”
“Blindsight was o.k. But I've decided I'm not a fan of "First Contact" stories. So that might be why it really didn't float my boat.
slatrat wrote this review Monday, July 7 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Good writing - complex plotline that was a tad difficult to follow.”
“Dense, engaging book with interesting characters, interesting forms for the characters to take and background science for the story that just hurt my head and made me go to sleep when I wanted to keep reading (because of a gfci overload, not becuase I was bored).”
grouchylibrarian wrote this review Thursday, May 8 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I loved reading this book! It was a real page turner: an odd tale of misfits from Earth on a mission to save that same planet. Entertaining!”
Ellie wrote this review Monday, January 7 2008. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Hard Science fiction. Weird and cool.”
William S wrote this review Monday, December 17 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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