Hardcover, 464 pages
English language
Published Feb. 1, 2023 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
When pioneering marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen is offered the chance to travel to the remote Con Dao Archipelago to investigate a highly intelligent, dangerous octopus species, she doesn’t pause long enough to look at the fine print. DIANIMA – a transnational tech corporation best known for its groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence – has purchased the islands, evacuated their population and sealed the archipelago off from the world so that Nguyen can focus on her research.
But the stakes are high: the octopuses hold the key to unprecedented breakthroughs in extrahuman intelligence and there are vast fortunes to be made by whoever can take advantage of their advancements. And no one has yet asked the octopuses what they think. And what they might do about it.
Solid near-future sci-fi on intelligence and environment. Moves easily between gripping techno-action-violence, challenging witness of human and ecological oppression, and a shimmering wonder at science, consciousness, and marine biology.
This is a thoughtful work of sci-fi with the relationship between humans and their environment as a central theme. With a mystery at its center (or perhaps two or three mysteries, depending how you count), it was an exciting read, and also a moving and thought-provoking one, touching on themes what it means to be conscious, to communicate with other beings, to connect, to be a part / apart.
This was much "harder" on the science than most of what I've been reading recently, and certainly harder than the most of the recent Hugo and Nebula nominees and awards. I'm surprised I haven't seen more buzz about this book.
At times, the dialogues feel more like they are directed at the reader, not two people talking naturally with each other. I'm also reading “Staying with the Trouble” at the same time, and I found the philosophical-ideas-as-dialogues way better to digest than philosophical-ideas-in-philosophical-language.
I felt reminded of “Arrival”, and maybe a bit of “The Swarm”. Felt like a short read. Refreshing style of writing? Topics: AI, identity, communication, boundaries (as in: where does one being stop, and the world begin?)
Really quite enjoyed this one. The philosophical departures make it really interesting beyond the story that's told.
Engaging contemporary update on a 19th-century scientific romance, with more in common with something by Verne or Wells than much of contemporary genre fiction. Extremely didactic, but strong characters, and a well-told story. Curious about how well it'll date, being so tightly coupled to current-day concerns around AI, environmentalism, etc.
