Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1326439 in Books
• Published on: 2000-03-14
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Customer Reviews

Cyber Sex , Art Criticism and the Persistance of Memory
This book was certainly more then I bargained for. It weaves together an enormous amount of ideas and concepts in a rather allegorical narrative. Although compelling, original & definitely worth a read- I'm not sure whether Westerfield actually succeeds in what he is attempting to do here.

Darling is an 'artificial'. This means he is a sentient cybernetic. He exists in a world where artificial's rights of personhood are the norm. He is also an art expert dealing only in 'originals'. He teams up with a mysterious assassin to track down the mysterious sculptor. Along the poetic way they have the most bizarre sex I have ever come across (and that's pretty bizarre) and help eachother define their own understanding of what it means to be a person.

Written in a quirky and somewhat disjointed manner, the author also manages to debate the nature of the unity of identity and conscienceless.

I liked the characterisations of Darling and Mira (the assassin) and I particularly like the characterisation of the ships. However- I thought that too often the author gave a tantalising picture of something only to leave the concept not explored fully. This is probably because there is more then one story in this rather complicated book and it is a mark of Westerfield's talent that he draws you in so far.

I have a feeling that this is not his best yet and that he (westerfield) has bigger and better things in store for us. However if you want a mind bending space oddessy with some rather fantastic kinky sex and kinkier philosophy- then take a stroll through this book. Entertaining.

Nearly a 5
Westerfield's writing style is awkward, at first, but once you get used to it you'll find it's a brilliant, if very warped book. Nearly a five star rating except for some parts if the book are actually a little disturbing..!

Nature of an original
There are only a few voices in sci-fi who continuously stun everyone. At least me. Scott Westerfeld is one of those very few who keeps amazing, now with his third novel. Again he draws out a unique universe, pictures simple, yet great characters and unfolds a compelleng, yet mystifyingly simple narrative.

Imagine a world in which evolution is measured by the progress of being 'sentient', no longer by being 'human'. Imagine a world in which artificial intelligence is no longer artificial at all and constructed intelligences can learn, and grow, and evolve and become recognised for the great minds that they are. Imagine one such mind, lost for love, living off an economy inflating the prize of originals, running into a lovely asassin who does not have all that much human in her any more.

If that appeals to you, dive into this world and let Scott's voice point out to you the power of the nature of an original.