Genre: Science Fiction
Release Date: October 4th, 2022
Pages: 464
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
My Rating: ⭐(DNF)
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“Humankind discovers intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture, and sets off a high-stakes global competition to dominate the future.
Rumors begin to spread of a species of hyperintelligent, dangerous octopus that may have developed its own language and culture. Marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen, who has spent her life researching cephalopod intelligence, will do anything for the chance to study them.
The transnational tech corporation DIANIMA has sealed the remote Con Dao Archipelago, where the octopuses were discovered, off from the world. Dr. Nguyen joins DIANIMA’s team on the islands: a battle-scarred security agent and the world’s first android.
The octopuses hold the key to unprecedented breakthroughs in extrahuman intelligence. The stakes are high: there are vast fortunes to be made by whoever can take advantage of the octopuses’ advancements, and as Dr. Nguyen struggles to communicate with the newly discovered species, forces larger than DIANIMA close in to seize the octopuses for themselves.
But no one has yet asked the octopuses what they think. And what they might do about it.
A near-future thriller about the nature of consciousness, Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea is a dazzling literary debut and a mind-blowing dive into the treasure and wreckage of humankind’s legacy.”
My Review:
I feel like I’m completely in the minority here, but I didn’t get this book. I really wanted to get into it.
I thought the concept sounded so unique and interesting. I expected to nerd out over this book.
And I saw such raving reviews about it – maybe it’s just not for me. But I really tried, y’all. I couldn’t finish it.
Actually, I couldn’t get past the first several chapters – which, for me, should be enough that I am at least somewhat grounded in the story.
Except I was totally lost.
I didn’t understand the story world at all. It’s set in the future? That’s about the only detail I gathered.
I didn’t even really know who the characters were at all by this point. And the plot – was there a plot?
I had no idea what was happening, or where, or why, or when, or to whom. Maybe I’m just dumb, I don’t know, but at least I’m being honest.
Twenty percent of the way in and I was still confused. Couldn’t justify continuing.
No hate towards the book or author. Like I said, it has plenty of great reviews, so my only conclusion must be that I am not the target audience for this one.
I don’t like having to leave a seemingly negative review. And I wouldn’t have requested this book if I didn’t truly believe that I’d like it.
Alas, it’s sadly a miss for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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