Blindsight

By: Peter Watts

Narrated by: T. Ryder Smith

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Set in 2082, Peter Watts' Blindsight is fast-moving, hard SF that pulls readers into a futuristic world where a mind-bending alien encounter is about to unfold.

After the Firefall, all eyes are locked heavenward as a team of specialists aboard the self-piloted spaceship Theseus hurtles outbound to intercept an unknown intelligence.

©2006 Peter Watts (P)2008 Recorded Books LLC

superb all around

this book shines so well as an audiobook. great narrator, good emotive reading that helps watts's dense concepts land clearly.

Complex and fascinating.

One of the most engrossing science fiction novels I’ve read in a long time. Many deep philosophical insights and wildly divergent elements put together in surprising ways. Rather dark, though: I’d put this in the category of existential horror. Nonetheless I had heard a lot of people mention this one, and I’m glad I decided to read it. Enjoyed the voice performance as well.

A little heavy but still very good.

The story lags behind a little when the writer goes into too much irrelevant detail, but the story plus the voice actor doing different characters in different voices is top-notch. I would definitely recommend this audiobook.

hard to follow

Hard to follow in audio format. the story is good (I think) but I struggled with following along

Fantastic exploration of human consciousness

Would you listen to Blindsight again? Why?

I definitely would. It is a quick listen, and it is full of fantastic, quotable insights into the perspective of modern science on consciousness.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the manner in which it addressed the question of what it means to be human. From the illusion of free will, to the nature of consciousness, to the nuts and bolts of biology, neurology, and psychology, Peter Watts was thorough and artful.

What does T. Ryder Smith bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Smith seemed at first to be a bland narrator, until I met other characters and realized that bland is precisely what Siri sounds like. His rendition of Sarasti was downright chilling.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My strongest reaction was intellectual, deeply enjoying the dense, hard science fiction as well as the cognitive science themes. However, I also had an emotional reaction during a particular death scene that surprised me (as much as it surprised Siri, I'm guessing).

Jaegwon Kim and Dan Dennett enter a bar...

If you could sum up Blindsight in three words, what would they be?

Philosophical musings, space.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blindsight?

None of them stand out, actually.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Differentiate the characters better, inflect more emotion.

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

No.

Any additional comments?

I can handle weighty matters of philosophy. I can handle long stretches of dense dialogue. It just all grates a little thin when the plot between them is only exciting in may two or three scenes. Good writing, flawed execution.

A fascinating story with mediocre narration

This was a fascinating story with mediocre narration. That narration made character transitions difficult to discern. I’d say read it for the story but listen extra-carefully. Thankfully the following standalone in this universe, Echopraxia has a better narrator.

Different but entertaining

This takes you on a journey that leads you down unknown paths and leaves you wondering what all of it means, yet entertains and stimulates your mind to think in different ways.

Coolest / creepiest / best ever “first arrival” story I’ve read.

This author is so good at writing SF that he actually makes vampires cool: not using cliches to explain them but using “hard SF” instead. Bravo!!!

Perhaps my favorite Science Fiction novel ever?

Watts reluctance to hand-hold the reader may put some people off. However, diving into this work again yields incredible dividends. A deepening story with world building that is second to none. A truly brilliant and gripping first contact story with fully realized (and acted!) characters. Watts is truly a master of the craft. People rating this low are used to being led through a story on a leash. Restraint can be incredibly powerful when used correctly. Strongly encourage everyone to give this book a chance (or second chance!).