Blindsight

Fine, psihologic, very well documented. And it's not easy to justify a vampire in a sci-fi first contact. I also liked the way the author lists at the end all sources used and gives more background to it's characters.

Very interesting take on the near future. I especially liked the dynamics between crew members and the questions that it raised. An interesting read for people looking to explore open philosophical quesions about humanity and morality (especially in the midst of alien "intelligence").

Opens questions into the effect of consciousness on efficiency for Darwinism and exploration. Very cool interactions to wrap one's mind around. Not for the weak-kneed!

Peter Watts has succeeded in writing what few have done recently, an honest to god hard science fiction novel that asks some new and very hard questions. This is not a hard space opera, such as passes for hard sci-fi nowadays, this is hard science fiction the old school way, with everything one step beyond the cutting edge of today. The bibliography has 133 references, mostly being scholarly journals and textbooks. It shows throughout the book, as very little of it doesn't have a sound basis in science. This can be a difficult book to get through, most of the characters aren't particularly likable, and many of the ideas are hard to get your head around. If you are a fan of hard science fiction though, you can't pass this one by.

Kind of a bland writing style, kind of bland characters once you get past each one's gimmick, kind of a bland plot, setting, and ending. I dunno, a lot of people seem to love the heck out of this book but I was not impressed. I will give it credit for being "hard sci-fi" in the sense that all of its rules seemed physically plausible and for the most part like a reasonable depiction of a society that had adapted to its technology, and it did feature some fresh and interesting technological spectacles. Wasn't impressed by the BIG PHILOSOPHICAL REVEAL... it was kind of bleak, but mostly bland -- not as fresh or radical as it seemed to think it was. Maybe at an earlier time in my life I'd have been more taken with it. I guess, as sci fi, it was nutritious but not very appealing, and I am usually in the mood for tastier fare.

I bought this book sight unseen, if not exactly "blind", based on reviews both editorial and customer. I read it on vacation, with all the attendant distractions. Now I want to read it again. The ideas are profound, the writing is very good (despite what other reviews say) and I was interested in the characters (even the vampire turns out not to be exactly what he appears). Gotta read it again and probably again. Very enjoyable and for me, a psychologist who hasn't kept up with the literature in this field, very interesting and stimulating.

A profoundly grim view of human evolution and sentience, rivaled in its bleakness only by the setting in which Watts locates his consideration. It's brilliantly executed but bleak as all get at. Don't say nobody warned you.

Listen to the positive reviews: Blindsight is one of the most stunning and incredible novels I've read, ever, and that's among *all* novels, not just SF. To describe this novel is not to do it justice: Like *Ulysses*, the plot can be summarized but the texture of it cannot really be conveyed save through the reading itself. *Ulysses* might be summarized as, "Neurotic man wanders through Dublin, gets stuck in his own head." In that sense, *Blindsight* might be summarized as "The link between humans and post-humans encounters aliens, and nothing will ever be the same.

*Blindsight* is on my mind because I just finished Leviathan Wakes. It's a competent and fun novel. It's even good at times. But it covers territory similar to *Blindsight's*, only less mind-blowing. One can have literary blind sight and enjoyable read *Leviathan Wakes*. One needs total vision and a third eye to get *Blindsight*. To be sure, most people never reach enlightenment. But without reading it, you'll never know if you can get there, or if you'll be left at the foothills like most of us are.

Dark, vivid, cold as ice, frighteningly brilliant - this is the book that's been lying in wait under my bed to ooze up and touch me in the middle of the night. Relentlessly intelligent, thoughtful, well-written SF such as this is truly a rarety - and Watts' scientific meticulousness makes the the story that much more chilling and real.

This is the first Watts book I've read, I haven't yet gotten hold of his Rifters trilogy - but I'm ordering that now.

With a central premise that is truly amazing, fiercely drawn characters, and aliens that are truly, utterly, alien (but completely plausible), this novel has been on my mind daily since completing it two months ago.

It contains a lot of interesting ideas but the story is really difficult to follow. Too much is left unsaid in several scenes and the reader is left missing important parts of the story. I was left disappointed because I really wanted to like this book!

I picked this up based on the recommendation of a friend, and I since she told me it was a sci fi novel written by a scientist, I went in knowing what to expect. There were quite a few times where I had to stop and re-read a page to try to catch all the concepts that were being referenced, which was frustrating, but the author does explain everything necessary to follow the story.

The plot is your standard "first contact in space" scenario, with some interesting non-neurotypical human characters -- a vampire; a woman with induced dissociative identity disorder; the main character, who had a hemisphere of his brain lobotomized. But like a good first-contact story, it's as much (or more) about human nature than about the aliens.

The pace is slow, with the story moving back and forth between the mission and to the protagonist's past, mainly dealing with his relationships with his parents and a long-time girlfriend. It's not "literary," but it is hard SF, which means it's about the ideas more than plot progression. In cases like that it's the characters that make or break the story; in this case, the characters were interesting enough -- both alien and sympathetic enough -- to keep me reading.

Personally, I think the annotations at the end, where he explains all the science and theory behind his book, are a bit much, as if the author can't decide whether or not he's writing a novel, a paper, or some kind of weird long-form essay. In any case, it doesn't matter much, because it's all at the end and you can skip it you want, as I did.

A complex and thought provoking read. Plenty of science in the fiction, as well as a good dose of existential philosophy. Well written without being patronized by trivial detail. I will look out for more of Mr Watts' novels from now on.

I found out about Watts recently because Neal Asher named a hotel after him in a submarine environment he created in Scorpion and if Asher gives him a call-out, it means something. I put it on top of my list and read it right away. This novel was complex and took a lot of concentration to read but it moved well, had a fascinating take on first contact and maintained the narrative drive until the final sentence. I have become a fan and have just bought Echopraxia which will be shipped in late August 2014. I also bought a collection of his short stories and am looking forward to reading his entire catalog. The concept of blindsight was fascinating as built into the narrative in the novel and the related discussions of free will were so well done that I had my heart in my mouth. I encourage you to do yourself a favor and have some fun with this novel.

This is a disturbing and compelling read. A rather Lovecraftian first contact scifi adventure that will stick in my mind for some time to come. Hard SciFi, yes, but not overwhelminling so. Can't image this not getting nominated for Hugo, if not winning.

After reading this, I gave away my Anne Rice books to the library. The story is pretty unique as far as first contacts go. Vampires, aliens, cyborgs, zombies and split personalities aren't new. However, the characters in this novel are taken into different directions than usual. I'm glad I bought it.

This is a disturbing and compelling read. A rather Lovecraftian first contact scifi adventure that will stick in my mind for some time to come. Hard SciFi, yes, but not overwhelminling so. Can't image this not getting nominated for Hugo, if not winning.

After reading this, I gave away my Anne Rice books to the library. The story is pretty unique as far as first contacts go. Vampires, aliens, cyborgs, zombies and split personalities aren't new. However, the characters in this novel are taken into different directions than usual. I'm glad I bought it.

If you get off on taking the speculative cutting edge in neurology, philosophy, physics, and biology and playing it out over the next century, there is a higher than average probability you will experience above mean enjoyment of this book.

I originally read this story for free on the author's site. I loved it so much I had to buy it. I've read a lot of sci-fi, but this was one of the first to present these ideas in this fashion. Some of the concepts were completely new to me, and I enjoyed the creative environment he put his ideas into.

Good, interesting concepts. I didn't care for the writing style. Not only was it a book where all the background and information is conveyed through context. Even then, it's done in an awkward manner. I don't need everything spelled out for me but I think it could have been a cleaner read.

Blindsight is one of thoses rare books where you simultaneously want to read faster to find out what happens and read slower to savor each new idea. In addition to a fantastic universe and unique aliens, the characters are also memorable and interesting in their own right. The main character, Siri, is very well written and the reader really gets into his head.

I'll definitey be reading more Peter Watts in the future.

Mind bending.

This book throws ideas at you faster than you can absorb them. You will find yourself rereading bits several times and still squeezing meaning out of them. You won't mind this... All according to plan.

Like trying to read Jabberwocky - you have to sense what the author means by the style and content of the few words that make sense. OK, that was my first reaction. Thank you Peter Watts for introducing me to several interesting topics such as the Chinese Room and "blindsight". I have read, reread and re-reread the ending, and discussed it with other members of a book group that read the book. We're not sure what happened. Don't want to spoil the ending for others with my questions, but HUH???

This is a truly original and insightful book, the author has been able to create a plausible future in which the entire story line fits. His character development is consistent and tightly woven throughout the story. He ties in just enough physics, tech and philosophy to provide not only his understanding but to allow you to follow without being boring.

His aliens are by far the most unique I personally read about, not the typical humanoid or insect sub species.

There are twist and tid-bits that well leave you wandering how and then the author provides explanations and closure becoming of a professional writer.

by chapter three i had already purchased the follow up book, this is a great read worth the time

Great read, filled with interesting twists and turns about the nature of humanity and the universe. The characters and the setting haven't been seen in other science fiction, which is saying something.

Like Pink Floyd, this writer crafts works of disturbing beauty, and leaves the reader drained, as if by a visitation from one of his reincarnated vampires. I just finished the novel, and now I need a cup of tea and a lie down.

It's a space opera with spinach - makes you think, about what it is to be sentient in this world or any other. The characters are inventive and colorful, the aliens are really alien, and the tech is intriguing.

It was an enjoyable read, right up to the somewhat abrupt ending. I hope Watts brings us another look at this world someday.

A bit of technobabble but really intelligently written. Raises a number of interesting psychological and ethical points. Has its really scary, claustrophobic moments that punctuate the somewhat heady "theory" moments.

I don't want to ruminate where others have described the work. It's a new and radical approach to the sci-fi first contact scenario. Weird, inventive, exciting and it keeps you turning the pages. Good work Peter!

This a very interesting book - not written extremely well - but it explores a lot of very interesting ideas: the nature of consciousness, social dynamics, and non-Star Trekian first contact scenarios.

This book was different than I expected. A little difficult to read but a new twist on alien encounters and deep space travel! And way interesting technology terms! Wish I had bought the paper copy. Give it a try!

If pressed to summarize this book in a word: "relentless".

This book is dense as lead: an unending stream of high-ideas on every page, each an "oh wow" moment. The writing sharp as a scalpel.

I loved everything about it.

A cerebral sci fi masterpiece. First contact procedural which provokes deep thought about the nature of consciousness, the definition of life, human's ability to relate to one another without selfishness and vampires.

After a second read, I finally understood what most of the book was about. It offers some incredible questions and every lover of hard sci-fi would appreciate the brain tease this book offers. Unfortunately the writing style can turn away many readers. In Blindsight, the story is secondary; facts and out-of-the-box thinking is the key here.