jaredt's review
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
'The world still contains miracles, despite everything that has been done to it.'
I eyed this book for months before buying it. The black and blue hardcover enticed me. Finally, I decided to flip to a few random pages, figured if I liked them enough on their own I would get it. Every page I happened on was quite reflective and introspective, which I dig, so I knew it would be a fun read for me.
And it was! Went in a few directions I wasn't expecting, but still enjoyed. Though I did lose some steam in the other stories outside of Ha's. I figured there would be enough overlap or connection between the stories to give a good enough payoff, and I would say it exceeded for me.
What hooked me the most was the philosophical approach to understanding another species so different from humans, in body and nerves and mind. And it took me to really see at the end that these are cyberpunk settings, and so the story followed that setting. I knew that as soon as the technologies were introduced at the start, but its also in the way it closes up the narrative.
I would say this is not a book for folks wanting a focus on only the octopus sentience, and not interested in the cyberpunk setting and themes that come with it. Also while there is some action, it's not a book for readers looking for quick chase scenes or drawn out fights.
This *IS* a book for fans of that subgenre, as well as wanting something dealing with scifi that is quite reflective, discussing both linguistic development and the nature of humanity and connection.
I eyed this book for months before buying it. The black and blue hardcover enticed me. Finally, I decided to flip to a few random pages, figured if I liked them enough on their own I would get it. Every page I happened on was quite reflective and introspective, which I dig, so I knew it would be a fun read for me.
And it was! Went in a few directions I wasn't expecting, but still enjoyed. Though I did lose some steam in the other stories outside of Ha's. I figured there would be enough overlap or connection between the stories to give a good enough payoff, and I would say it exceeded for me.
What hooked me the most was the philosophical approach to understanding another species so different from humans, in body and nerves and mind. And it took me to really see at the end that these are cyberpunk settings, and so the story followed that setting. I knew that as soon as the technologies were introduced at the start, but its also in the way it closes up the narrative.
I would say this is not a book for folks wanting a focus on only the octopus sentience, and not interested in the cyberpunk setting and themes that come with it. Also while there is some action, it's not a book for readers looking for quick chase scenes or drawn out fights.
This *IS* a book for fans of that subgenre, as well as wanting something dealing with scifi that is quite reflective, discussing both linguistic development and the nature of humanity and connection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Gore, and Death
Minor: Animal death
lbelow's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Violence, Gun violence, Torture, Confinement, Slavery, Murder, and Kidnapping
Minor: Suicide
emmalouisereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a fascinating look into the similarities and differences between the ways humans communicate with each other, and other species .. including technology.
There’s a heavy focus on octopuses which I particularly enjoyed. I’ve always been fascinated by how/why octopuses are so intelligent when they are not very social. This book explores what might happen if they were…
This book touches on so much, what it means to be alive, the concept of communication and the consequences of the technology we’ve built.
If you’re a fan of sci-fi, I think you’ll like this book.
There’s a heavy focus on octopuses which I particularly enjoyed. I’ve always been fascinated by how/why octopuses are so intelligent when they are not very social. This book explores what might happen if they were…
This book touches on so much, what it means to be alive, the concept of communication and the consequences of the technology we’ve built.
If you’re a fan of sci-fi, I think you’ll like this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Trafficking, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
amiegold's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am hovering between 3.75 and 4 stars, because while I liked the writing and the concepts, I had a hard time staying engaged in the story. I am not sure if it was a mood thing for me? I would still recommend this book to lovers of science and science fiction. We learn about both a new species of sentient robots and an evolved species of octopus that force us to ask the question: what is consciousness? Marine Biologist, Dr. Ha, is the one selected to find an answer to that question. She is so wrapped up in exploring the new octopuses, that she fails to ask herself what her research will be used for. An interesting, sometimes terrifying and at times intelligent novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Body horror
Moderate: Violence and Xenophobia
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