WWW: Wake

By: Robert J. Sawyer

Narrated by: Jessica Almasy, Jennifer Van Dyck, A. C. Fellner, Marc Vietor, Robert J. Sawyer

Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Caitlin Decter is young, pretty, feisty, a genius at math - and blind. Still, she can surf the net with the best of them, following its complex paths clearly in her mind.

But Caitlin's brain long ago co-opted her primary visual cortex to help her navigate online. So when she receives an implant to restore her sight, instead of seeing reality, the landscape of the World Wide Web explodes into her consciousness, spreading out all around her in a riot of colors and shapes.

While exploring this amazing realm, she discovers something - some other - lurking in the background. And it's getting more and more intelligent with each passing day.

BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction written and read by author Robert J. Sawyer.

©2009 Ace (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The thematic diversity - and profundity - makes this one of Sawyer's strongest works to date." (Publishers Weekly)

"Unforgettable. Impossible to put down." (Jack McDevitt)

"Thoughtful and engaging, and a great beginning to a fascinating trilogy." (Robert Charles Wilson)

Packed with information

It was,so much fun to follow the journey and look up the websites and people mentioned who really exist as well as a Our story

Eye opening creativity!

Extremely well performed, this book offers up intriguing possibilities. Though at the end, it took me a few minutes to realize that one of the main characters had been left with a dreadful future, and no direct tie-in to the main story. Then the chilling implications of his story came to me...

A pleasant surprise

When I bought this book, I expected a light “young adult” read that I might be able to recommend to my teenage daughter. I was pleasantly surprised when I became entrenched in a story that was quite thought provoking. The narration was beautifully done and enhanced the story even more. Overall a great read and I am looking forward to the next.

Not enough math for the main character

What did you love best about WWW?

The description of the way Caitlin see's the world while she is blind and then getting her vision back.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Caitlin more because no other character really took my fancy other than Webmind.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I have not but all the narrator's did a great job.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I don't listen to any book in one sitting as I lose concentration especially on one this long.

Any additional comments?

I really was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, I liked the description given about the story but did think it did not get portrayed in the book's story as well as it may have been. Some of the technical details although explained very well seemed to drag on a bit much at times and I found that I got distracted easily by this and I enjoy tech descriptions.

Amazing story that enlarges the listener.

The character development is real, the ideas are profound, and the ride grows exponentially more interesting.

Fascinating and fast moving

I enjoyed it more than I had imagined, finishing it in two days. Now I have to download the two subsequent books and finish the story. Very good techie sci-fi for all fans of the genre.

New perspective to AI

Would you listen to WWW again? Why?

Maybe. In the first part of the book I was slightly confused due to the timeline and character switches and wasn't too sure whose perspective was whose and how they all tied in together. If I listen to it again, I think I would be able to spot many details that eluded me in the first read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favourite character was definitely the consciousness, I didn't really understand it in the beginning

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

The consciousness was both my favorite and least favorite. At first I didn't like how it was performed but the progression that the narrator gave it was outstanding.

Second time reading www

The story is extremely captivating. Dispersed with computer theories, mathematical equations, and some interesting computing ideas this books backbone is the experiences of someone gaining sight in the modern world. This is a must read.

Why a Trilogy Format?

Thank you Robert Sawyer!

I’ve haven’t yet picked up a book that I didn’t love – it’s such a pleasure to get immersed into something interesting and his tales are engrossing every time. They make me think and I always learn something new.

My only complaint is that the story is split into 3 volumes; it annoys me because why not have them all in one book? Is this a ploy to make more money or sell more titles? It costs me more to buy 3 books!

Trilogies are theme for Sawyer, I read the Neanderthal Parallax Trilogy earlier this year, and it was terrific. The WWW Trilogy so far is very good too…. a sure sign the format will continue!

Onwards to book 2!

great

really good piece of science fiction work if you are into ai at all or emergence you will enjoy this book