Zendegi

By: Greg Egan

Narrated by: Parisa Johnston

Set in a near future Iran (where the theocracy has been overthrown, but where Muslim religion still dominates the culture), an Arab/Muslim focused MMORG gaming companies cutting edge AI software might hold the key achieving "uploaded consciousness." Martin is an Australian journalist who covered uprising and overthrow of the Iranian theocracy, and has since "gone native" with a Iranian wife and child.

As tragedy strikes his multicultural family, Martin struggles to maintain his place in his adapted culture, and to provide for his child. Zendigi explores what it means to be human, and the lengths one will go to in order to provide for ones children. This emotional roller coaster explores a non-Western-European near future that both challenges ideas of global monoculture and emphasizes the humanity we all share.

©2013 Greg Egan (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

prophetic

the deep thought and breadth of this story makes it an instant and powerful force in one's thinking about the (near) future.

realistic, human, but uneventful

the story had what I think is an accurate portrayal of how to upload a brain and the limitations of doing so. the characters feel real and the story is grounded. It is well written but not like Egan's earlier works. not nearly as grandiose

important topics, sad story

The book touches several of important topics, but the story is not interesting. Some VR re-enactment of stories from Shahnameh are just not compelling.