Blindsight (science fiction novel)
| Blindsight | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Peter Watts |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
| Publication date | 3 October 2006 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 384 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0765312181 |
| OCLC Number | 64289149 |
| Dewey Decimal | 813/.6 22 |
| LC Classification | PR9199.3.W386 B58 2006 |
Blindsight is a hard science fiction novel by Peter Watts, published by Tor Books in 2006. The following year, it was nominated for the Hugo, [1] as well as the Campbell[2] and Locus Science Fiction[3] awards. Watts has also released the novel online under the by-nc-sa Creative Commons license.[4] The novel deals with a crew of astronauts investigating an extraterrestrial entity and explores the nature of identity and consciousness. The title refers to blindsight, a neurological condition with implications for philosophy of mind.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
Eighty years in the future, Earth becomes aware of an alien presence when thousands of micro-satellites surveil the Earth; through good luck, the incoming alien vessel is detected, and the ship Theseus, with its artificial intelligence captain and crew of five, are sent out to engage in first contact with the huge alien vessel called Rorschach.
As they explore the vessel and attempt to analyze it and its inhabitants, the narrator - Siri - considers his life and strives to understand himself and ponders the nature of intelligence and consciousness, their utility, and what an alien mind might be like. Eventually the crew realizes that they are greatly outmatched by the vessel and its unconscious but extremely capable inhabitants.
When the level of this threat becomes clear, Theseus runs a kamikaze mission using its antimatter as a payload, while Siri returns to Earth, which he eventually realizes has been overrun by vampires, and that non-sentient creatures are beginning to exterminate what may be the only spark of consciousness in the universe.
[edit] Themes
Blindsight focuses very heavily on the concepts of identity, cognition, and the problems of intelligence. The Chinese Room scenario features prominently in the book.
[edit] Reception
Carl Hayes in his review for Booklist said "Watts packs in enough tantalizing ideas for a score of novels while spinning new twists on every cutting-edge motif from virtual reality to extraterrestrial biology."[5] Kirkus Reviews said in their review that "Watts carries several complications too many, but presents nonetheless a searching, disconcerting, challenging, sometimes piercing inquisition."[6] Jackie Cassida in her review for Library Journal said that "Watts continues to challenge readers with his imaginative plots and superb storytelling."[7] Publishers Weekly said that "Watts puts a terrifying and original spin on the familiar alien contact story."[8]
[edit] See also
- Chernoff face
- Thomas Metzinger's Being No One[9]
- Oliver Sacks's The man who mistook his wife for a hat
[edit] References
- ^ "Hugo Nominees (press release)". Archived from the original on 2008-10-03. http://www.webcitation.org/5bIXNfgD8. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "Campbell Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_Campbell_index.asp. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
- ^ "Locus SF Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_Locus-SF_index.asp. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
- ^ http://www.rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm#CC
- ^ Hays, Carl (October 1, 2006). "Blindsight". Booklist 103 (3): 45. ISSN 00067385.
- ^ "BLINDSIGHT". Kirkus Reviews 74 (16): 816. August 15, 2006. ISSN 00426598.
- ^ Cassada, Jackie (October 15, 2006). "Blindsight". Library Journal 131 (17): 55. ISSN 03630277.
- ^ Blindsight (August 28, 2006). "Blindsight". Publishers Weekly 253 (34): 36. ISSN 00000019.
- ^ "Many of the syndromes and maladies dropped into Blindsight I first encountered in Metzinger's book. Any uncited claims or statements in this subsection probably hail from that source." http://www.rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm
