sbenzell's review against another edition
2.0
Some good stuff -- particularly a strong introduction and conclusion -- but tooooo looooong for what it is.
tamzy6's review against another edition
3.0
A highly intricate hard sci-fi novel with incredibly written sex scenes (trust me, it's very weird when you know the context).
Although I tend to lose focus a little when reading a story stuffed with uncountable names, characters, and numerous inter-references. Or maybe it's just me.
Although I tend to lose focus a little when reading a story stuffed with uncountable names, characters, and numerous inter-references. Or maybe it's just me.
antonism's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 / 5
Altered Carbon, by Richard Morgan, is a SF novel that takes places in a future where storing the mind and personality of a person and re-importing it on a new body is possible. This idea alone creates many ethical and philosophical questions, some of which Morgan explores in this novel and some strangely he avoids. Punishment, imprisonment and torture are some that are greatly detailed, but I think that identity, love and attachment could be explored more.
The book starts as a who-done-it mystery, thick with atmosphere and wonder. The characters are initially presented very well and keep the reader glued to the book. There are many actions scenes that are greatly described and full with tension. So, in short, it's an easy book to get hooked in and be absorbed...
...until things start to wither. After the middle of the book, all this elements that made the start so amazing start to fail slowly. There's repetition aplenty, the plot wanders everywhere and looses momentum and focus, some of the characters start to become less enjoyable, the dialogue less believable. It felt as if Morgan run out of steam somewhere, got bored and continued writing purely out of stubbornness.
The more closer to the end I got, the less I enjoyed the book. The plot made even less sense and there were parts where I honestly struggled to understand the whats and whys. The protagonist, who started off as a serious badass mo-fo, being so cynical, effective and cool, ends up a blubbering idiot, often emotional, continuously making inexcusable mistakes and unjustifiable acts. And that "introspective" chapter (you'll know when you read it!) was so silly, unnecessary and bad that almost made me drop the book.
The plot resolution was rather disappointing! I was expecting something grand, something world-changing, something above the everyday whims of men. I mean look at how the book starts, who the protagonists and the secondary characters are and tell me that my expectations should be lower! But when the end came and it was what it was.... meeeh, really now?
But in the end, did I enjoy it? Yeah, for the most part I did, partly because Morgan knows how to write engagingly. It fell a bit flat at the end, but if I understand this correctly, this was his first real novel so I can excuse that. So ultimately, yeah I think I can recommend this to fans of Sci-Fi!
3.5 / 5
Altered Carbon, by Richard Morgan, is a SF novel that takes places in a future where storing the mind and personality of a person and re-importing it on a new body is possible. This idea alone creates many ethical and philosophical questions, some of which Morgan explores in this novel and some strangely he avoids. Punishment, imprisonment and torture are some that are greatly detailed, but I think that identity, love and attachment could be explored more.
The book starts as a who-done-it mystery, thick with atmosphere and wonder. The characters are initially presented very well and keep the reader glued to the book. There are many actions scenes that are greatly described and full with tension. So, in short, it's an easy book to get hooked in and be absorbed...
...until things start to wither. After the middle of the book, all this elements that made the start so amazing start to fail slowly. There's repetition aplenty, the plot wanders everywhere and looses momentum and focus, some of the characters start to become less enjoyable, the dialogue less believable. It felt as if Morgan run out of steam somewhere, got bored and continued writing purely out of stubbornness.
The more closer to the end I got, the less I enjoyed the book. The plot made even less sense and there were parts where I honestly struggled to understand the whats and whys. The protagonist, who started off as a serious badass mo-fo, being so cynical, effective and cool, ends up a blubbering idiot, often emotional, continuously making inexcusable mistakes and unjustifiable acts. And that "introspective" chapter (you'll know when you read it!) was so silly, unnecessary and bad that almost made me drop the book.
The plot resolution was rather disappointing! I was expecting something grand, something world-changing, something above the everyday whims of men. I mean look at how the book starts, who the protagonists and the secondary characters are and tell me that my expectations should be lower! But when the end came and it was what it was.... meeeh, really now?
But in the end, did I enjoy it? Yeah, for the most part I did, partly because Morgan knows how to write engagingly. It fell a bit flat at the end, but if I understand this correctly, this was his first real novel so I can excuse that. So ultimately, yeah I think I can recommend this to fans of Sci-Fi!
3.5 / 5
elusivity's review against another edition
4.0
A novel that marries a noir mystery with a fast action thriller in a future where the human soul--all one's memories, experience, and personality--are boiled down to a data stack installed at the spine. People can switch bodies as easily as changing clothes--hence these items being called sleeves, and can be naturally grown (as in, belonging to someone who was naturally born but somehow lost their right to their own body), cloned, or synthetic--depending on the constraint of money and influence, of course. Bodies themselves could also carry residual memories and different abilities via neurochemistry...
Fascinating and extremely well thought-out society and technology, yet with a strong vein of humanity running through out. Takeshi Kovacs is an ultra-cold-blooded mercenary who has killed and tortured, but still has it in him to be fiercely loyal to his friends and to sympathize with the weak and victimized that came into his path. Action is fast, plot is intricate, the characters are reasonably well-rounded given the noir archetypes they emerge from.
A couple of things that pulled me out from the emersion: paper still seemed routinely used (police printouts, etc), and books lined a rich man's shelves without them being mentioned as extremely rare and eccentric antiques. Really? in the 2600s? As I was reading on my ebook reader, it struck me how rapid technology is speeding even now. I wonder if we would even recognize the social order that would come to being in 400+ years. Would people really still marry and have children if bodies are so easily created and switched? Would identity be still as fixed as they are now? The author seemed to have concentrated much on the technology, but not so much on the related ramifications. But these are background matters that do not directly impact the story, or its ability to entertain.
All in all, an excellent read. Highly recommended!
Fascinating and extremely well thought-out society and technology, yet with a strong vein of humanity running through out. Takeshi Kovacs is an ultra-cold-blooded mercenary who has killed and tortured, but still has it in him to be fiercely loyal to his friends and to sympathize with the weak and victimized that came into his path. Action is fast, plot is intricate, the characters are reasonably well-rounded given the noir archetypes they emerge from.
A couple of things that pulled me out from the emersion: paper still seemed routinely used (police printouts, etc), and books lined a rich man's shelves without them being mentioned as extremely rare and eccentric antiques. Really? in the 2600s? As I was reading on my ebook reader, it struck me how rapid technology is speeding even now. I wonder if we would even recognize the social order that would come to being in 400+ years. Would people really still marry and have children if bodies are so easily created and switched? Would identity be still as fixed as they are now? The author seemed to have concentrated much on the technology, but not so much on the related ramifications. But these are background matters that do not directly impact the story, or its ability to entertain.
All in all, an excellent read. Highly recommended!
arabellasbookshelves's review against another edition
4.0
Despite my hesitations about reading a sci-fi book, I actually had quite a fun time reading this one and I felt super immersed the whole time just never wanting to stop reading since the writing style and plot lines were so addicting.
Admittedly I have watched the show prior to reading this and I think that did alter my rating a little as I was envisioning elements from the show whilst reading which was incredible enjoyable and really helped me to envision the scenes I was reading.
One thing I will say is that the casting choices were very different, I feel, to what was described in the book but I much prefer the actors chosen and I think the show did a great job, in the first season, at bringing the essence of this book and these characters to screen whilst adding in slight alterations to make an equally gripping show.
Admittedly I have watched the show prior to reading this and I think that did alter my rating a little as I was envisioning elements from the show whilst reading which was incredible enjoyable and really helped me to envision the scenes I was reading.
One thing I will say is that the casting choices were very different, I feel, to what was described in the book but I much prefer the actors chosen and I think the show did a great job, in the first season, at bringing the essence of this book and these characters to screen whilst adding in slight alterations to make an equally gripping show.
deb_entwistle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0