The Freeze-Frame Revolution
by Peter Watts
science fiction
copyright 2018
read in November 2018
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
Let me be clear: I am not a huge fan of "hard" science fiction. If *you* love hard SF -- rate this book higher. It is hard. For much of the book my mind simply glazed over.... In between, however, is an interesting book.
The author writes that he considers it to be a novella, just a thousand words longer than publishers' expectations for a novella. I have another idea: this book is two short stories.
There are two major concepts being explored. Each concept is the "what if" basis for its own story. Each story makes a point -- but is less complete than a full novel. Two short stories in a single, merged, narrative.
One story is telegraphed on the back cover: How do you stage a mutiny when you are only awake one day in a million ? It's a good question and well explored. Yet the conclusion is incomplete, unsatisfactory. Acceptable in a short story, not in a novel. (Unless you read only for the hard science...)
The second "short story" is similarly inconclusive. At first I thought it was just tacked on as an afterthought. Then I realised that there had been hints, throughout the book. So it is a well developed "what if" -- with an unsatisfying conclusion.
The book is interesting, good science fiction, not exactly gripping. The story (each of the stories) is well written, it simply never grabbed my attention. I enjoyed the "what if" aspects but the science which occupies a lot of the book is... boring. Unless you are reading for the excitement of scientific extrapolation.
This book is well written hard science fiction. With a very low level of escapist enjoyment. If hard science fiction is your cup of tea, this is a good book to read.
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved
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"Relax. Only dread one day at a time." … Ginger Meggs
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