Blindsight by Peter Watts
After thousands of tiny satellites bombard Earth's atmosphere in a flash of light, a small team is sent to make first contact. But this team is unlike any I have read before--a linguist with multiple personality disorder, a pacifist soldier, a vampire captain, and a lobotomized Synthesist protagonist.
My review: A favorite pastime while working in the information desk at Barnes and Noble is to see if your favorite authors are coming out with anything new. I was delighted to find out that Peter Watts the author of one of my favorite spooky series (Starfish, Maelstrom, and Behemoth I & II) was coming out with a new book. AND it featured a vampire.
I very, very rarely re-read anything. Once you have experienced a story line once what's the point of revisiting it? I have read this book three times and quite frankly love it.
Watts deftly explores consciousness, sentience, and intelligence in this hard science fiction novel. Watts has a PhD in marine biology and his background serves him well. He also has an interesting take on vampires. Watts has a PhD in marine biology and his background serves him well.
PW's book is philosophical and dense, but you don't have to be to read it. Before or while reading Blindsight, it would behoove you to be familiar with consciousness studies, Thomas Nagel's article "What is it Like to be a Bat?" and the p-zombie.
Many of the negative reviews on amazon mention that the protagonist is inaccessible and that they can't relate to protagonist, but you aren't supposed to. that's the genius of the book. not all protagonists are likable. Did you like Rodion Raskolnikov? Huh? Did you? No! Of course not. And you weren't meant to enjoy him and yet C&P rocks.
I also enjoy following Peter Watt's blog as well. You can find it here .
After thousands of tiny satellites bombard Earth's atmosphere in a flash of light, a small team is sent to make first contact. But this team is unlike any I have read before--a linguist with multiple personality disorder, a pacifist soldier, a vampire captain, and a lobotomized Synthesist protagonist.
My review: A favorite pastime while working in the information desk at Barnes and Noble is to see if your favorite authors are coming out with anything new. I was delighted to find out that Peter Watts the author of one of my favorite spooky series (Starfish, Maelstrom, and Behemoth I & II) was coming out with a new book. AND it featured a vampire.
I very, very rarely re-read anything. Once you have experienced a story line once what's the point of revisiting it? I have read this book three times and quite frankly love it.
Watts deftly explores consciousness, sentience, and intelligence in this hard science fiction novel. Watts has a PhD in marine biology and his background serves him well. He also has an interesting take on vampires. Watts has a PhD in marine biology and his background serves him well.
PW's book is philosophical and dense, but you don't have to be to read it. Before or while reading Blindsight, it would behoove you to be familiar with consciousness studies, Thomas Nagel's article "What is it Like to be a Bat?" and the p-zombie.
Many of the negative reviews on amazon mention that the protagonist is inaccessible and that they can't relate to protagonist, but you aren't supposed to. that's the genius of the book. not all protagonists are likable. Did you like Rodion Raskolnikov? Huh? Did you? No! Of course not. And you weren't meant to enjoy him and yet C&P rocks.
I also enjoy following Peter Watt's blog as well. You can find it here .
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