This is a story of the somewhat near future concerning nanotech and political philosophy. It is a fast paced novel and has a character that really is smarter than everyone else. Some issues addressed are the uses of nano and how smart they could be made, and to a degree how personal choice can be made or circumvented. Some ideas are terrifying, such as the introduction of internal nanobots to a person without their knowledge or choice. Benevolence and tyranny aren't separated by much. It's a great read, I'd say to at least borrow it from the library. I remember with nostalgia the days when a new Niven book was cause for celebration. I liked his early stuff pretty much without exception, but he hasn't published anything in the last 10 years that I didn't regret taking the time to read (though I haven't tried Building Harlequin's Moon which sounds slightly more promising).Sadly this is no exception - it reads like late-period Heinlein, which is no compliment. Insufferably smug characters, endless pointless references to science fiction, dialogue often made incomprehensible due to the characters coming to sudden realizations that aren't shared with the reader, constant sexual references that are a bizarre mix of creepy and coy, political propagandizing...As others have said the plot is decent, though didn't strike me as very original. But the flaws make it painful to read, and what interest I had in finding out what happened next couldn't keep me going and I threw in the towel about halfway in.
Do You like book The Goliath Stone (2013)?
Surprised in their mention of philosopher SF writers they didn't mention Brunner.
—andrea
AS far as I know the only light-hearted, scifi book worth reading.
—Taylor
This was a real mess. Horrible. Good thing it was a quick read.
—ksenia
