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awall14's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
swiftie1977's review against another edition
4.0
Okay so this book series is really weird. But I did like it. Although confusing in some parts. I think overall it is a great read. I mean it really makes you wonder with all this technology can this happen in the future? And if so will we want it to happen? Michael is not a human he's just a thought up program, but becomes more then anyone thought. He acts and thinks like a human. Can him and his friends shut down the plans of taking over the world? Can they find out who is truly behind the programs?
thatgirlinblack's review against another edition
4.0
The world-real and virtual-is a mess. Besides Kaine's body-stealing efforts, the VNs is not the trustworthy organization is was through. Rescued from prison by a group of Tangents in human bodies, including Michael's nanny Helga, the trio of tech-savvy teens are understandably full of questions.
The good Tangents from the VirtNet are here to stop Kaine's world-domination-by-computer-programs plan, but they've paid a high price to do so: inserting themselves into human bodies for their time in the real world. The reassuring discovery is made that the body-stealing Kaine is doing-what Helga and the friendly Tangents have copied-has a reverse button, that it's possible to remove the Tangent intelligence back into the VirtNet, and replace the mind originally in the body. But now it's not just Kaine that they're up against. Who's calling the shots? Agent Weber? The VNS? Someone else?
Whoever is calling the shots, they're making the world go crazy. First regular citizens in isolated incidents, and now influential leaders of business and government, are regularly acting strangely or even violently, driven by their replaced minds. Devastated by a loss they may never recover from, Michael and his friends press on to discover the truth, and stop whoever is behind this madness.
Swimming in and molding visual manifestations of the strings of letters and numbers that is the code that makes up everything in the virtual worlds. Fleeing and fighting, both in the Wake and in the Sleep, the agents of the real bad guys and the AI bad guys. A small group of friends working behind the scenes to save the world that isn't aware of a fraction of what's going on. Yeah, it's explosive.
And as usual, Dashner inserts philosophical conversions into the story. What does it mean to be human? How can you know if the world you're in is real? (For that last one, we might have to wait till virtual reality gets a bit more advanced ;-) )
But the question of humanity is a weighty one. Obviously, though we're not to the point described in this series, Artificial Intelligence is making great strides. Both Michael and Kaine are Tangents, "strings of code" that became self-aware and thus gained humanity. It's mentioned in the book that the human brain is just a complex computer, but that's only partially true. Only in the last few decades has science come up with computers, artificial intelligence, robots, and presenting human characteristics though inanimate objects. But how humanly smart some modern robots are--some modern cars are, even--is certainly unnerving. Can computers become human?
For all the achievements and technology in this series, one thing that stands out is that computers DON'T have all the answers. Michael, Bryson, Sarah, and their friends are constantly Lifting out of the VirtNet in order to hide or fight in the real world, both of which can be done more safely and/or efficiently with a real human body. When you're connected to the world-wide Web, it's too easy to be spotted, targeted, pursued, and even destroyed. Plus, Kaine, Helga, the VNS - they're all terrific at this mind sweeping or swapping thing, but they can't make a body. No one can--no human, no computer. That's something only God can do. And no matter how good he's got it in the virtual world, humanity is something Kaine craves. Even in defeat, he pleads to be allowed to keep the last version of his intelligence in a human body. To be a person. That's something unique, something that we don't really appreciate sometimes. God designed our bodies, made us in His image, and gave us minds better than the most sophisticated computer. He truly is the Master Designer.
The good Tangents from the VirtNet are here to stop Kaine's world-domination-by-computer-programs plan, but they've paid a high price to do so: inserting themselves into human bodies for their time in the real world. The reassuring discovery is made that the body-stealing Kaine is doing-what Helga and the friendly Tangents have copied-has a reverse button, that it's possible to remove the Tangent intelligence back into the VirtNet, and replace the mind originally in the body. But now it's not just Kaine that they're up against. Who's calling the shots? Agent Weber? The VNS? Someone else?
Whoever is calling the shots, they're making the world go crazy. First regular citizens in isolated incidents, and now influential leaders of business and government, are regularly acting strangely or even violently, driven by their replaced minds. Devastated by a loss they may never recover from, Michael and his friends press on to discover the truth, and stop whoever is behind this madness.
Swimming in and molding visual manifestations of the strings of letters and numbers that is the code that makes up everything in the virtual worlds. Fleeing and fighting, both in the Wake and in the Sleep, the agents of the real bad guys and the AI bad guys. A small group of friends working behind the scenes to save the world that isn't aware of a fraction of what's going on. Yeah, it's explosive.
And as usual, Dashner inserts philosophical conversions into the story. What does it mean to be human? How can you know if the world you're in is real? (For that last one, we might have to wait till virtual reality gets a bit more advanced ;-) )
But the question of humanity is a weighty one. Obviously, though we're not to the point described in this series, Artificial Intelligence is making great strides. Both Michael and Kaine are Tangents, "strings of code" that became self-aware and thus gained humanity. It's mentioned in the book that the human brain is just a complex computer, but that's only partially true. Only in the last few decades has science come up with computers, artificial intelligence, robots, and presenting human characteristics though inanimate objects. But how humanly smart some modern robots are--some modern cars are, even--is certainly unnerving. Can computers become human?
For all the achievements and technology in this series, one thing that stands out is that computers DON'T have all the answers. Michael, Bryson, Sarah, and their friends are constantly Lifting out of the VirtNet in order to hide or fight in the real world, both of which can be done more safely and/or efficiently with a real human body. When you're connected to the world-wide Web, it's too easy to be spotted, targeted, pursued, and even destroyed. Plus, Kaine, Helga, the VNS - they're all terrific at this mind sweeping or swapping thing, but they can't make a body. No one can--no human, no computer. That's something only God can do. And no matter how good he's got it in the virtual world, humanity is something Kaine craves. Even in defeat, he pleads to be allowed to keep the last version of his intelligence in a human body. To be a person. That's something unique, something that we don't really appreciate sometimes. God designed our bodies, made us in His image, and gave us minds better than the most sophisticated computer. He truly is the Master Designer.
aaiza7's review against another edition
3.0
Is it safe to say I like Kaine and feel really bad for him?
ameliaroses's review against another edition
3.0
It was not written badly, but I feel the plot had lots of holes and gaps. A large majority of it was all over the place, and I feel James Dashner added unnecessary twists to the story just so he could add more action, which he did not need. Not a bad author but could use more planning.
taygus's review against another edition
1.0
Don’t read Dashner,seriously, save yourself time and energy and read another author.
Dashner starts well but never knows how to finish a series. His plots never make any sense. He writes about subjects he knows nothing about. He has no world rules he sticks with. Characters can randomly do or don’t do something depending on where he wants the “plot” to go.
The good guy is the bad guy but is the good guy is the bad guy is the good guy is the bad guy is the pitiful loser…this is just bad writing Dashner, not tense mystery.
Dashner starts well but never knows how to finish a series. His plots never make any sense. He writes about subjects he knows nothing about. He has no world rules he sticks with. Characters can randomly do or don’t do something depending on where he wants the “plot” to go.
Spoiler
he killed Sarah just so magic coder Michael could have a tangent gf. What if she didn’t want to be a tangent? I also dislike that she disobeyed her parents and the other adults let her…she didn’t need to be there, but then Dashner couldn’t senselessly kill her just for Michael to have a gfThe good guy is the bad guy but is the good guy is the bad guy is the good guy is the bad guy is the pitiful loser…this is just bad writing Dashner, not tense mystery.
angeldevoursliterature's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
Minor: Cursing
daydaybookbay's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
I rated this book a 4.5 out of 10. I was a bit disappointed with the final book of the trilogy. I felt it was predictable and lacked suspense and surprise. I think The Eve ofMinds was great, but the sequels just don't hit the mark.
It felt as if this book was written as a necessity rather than to add actual content. Yes, there were new concept introductions, but all in all, the plot could have been predicted before opening the book.
After three books, I still don't see why Michael is so special. He's an incredible coder when it's convenient to fill plot holes. The fact that everyone "needs him" for their plans to work, but then doesn't act ually need him... You're annoying, go away.
I will say, I enjoyed the friendship the most. The first two books built this bond bet ween the trio that I care about. There is one chapter in particular that almost seemed out of place, but it ended up being my favorite part.
Ending:There is ZERO chance that someone who feels untouchable and a world leader entitled like Kaine would just slink away with his tail between his legs just because Michael bested him in the real world, What kind of load of crap is that?! Three books building up this guy who is unstoppable and godlike in the VirtNet, just to turn him into Pettigrew at the end. Nope. Stupid.
Character Death: Sarah. All about saving her parents and love and family in Rule of Thoughts. Now, she's anti parents, gives zero regard for safety, and disrespects a crazy man with a gun for.. what exactly? To die for no reason? Gabby didn't even play a part of the story after that anyway?! What was her purpose?
Sarah's built to be the smartest one of the group, but then nothing If you would've said a tangent took her body over when they were in the sleep and that's why she was different, I would have accepted it. I was expecting it. But no. You killed her for shock value.
Ending: It's done. We did it. Really? How? Just got bored or tired writing, so you decided to have Michael not be a part of the ending where we actually fix things? That was So annoying. You create this big scene with Michael coding and battling and fighting for his life, but then "Way-to-go, Helga! You did it." Really? Stupid:
It felt as if this book was written as a necessity rather than to add actual content. Yes, there were new concept introductions, but all in all, the plot could have been predicted before opening the book.
After three books, I still don't see why Michael is so special. He's an incredible coder when it's convenient to fill plot holes. The fact that everyone "needs him" for their plans to work, but then doesn't act ually need him... You're annoying, go away.
I will say, I enjoyed the friendship the most. The first two books built this bond bet ween the trio that I care about. There is one chapter in particular that almost seemed out of place, but it ended up being my favorite part.
Ending:
Character Death:
Sarah's built to be the smartest one of the group, but then nothing If you would've said a tangent took her body over when they were in the sleep and that's why she was different, I would have accepted it. I was expecting it. But no. You killed her for shock value.
Ending:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
smateer73's review against another edition
5.0
It's dark, explosive, intriguing and so much more. Excellent conclusion.