Dull story. Annoying reader.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Different reader. This one reads every character as a nasal geek. Better characters. Stah-High is a burnt out hesher, like Jeff Spiccoli. Maybe that was funny when this was written in 1987, but the character is just useless and annoying. Cobb is a burnt out former scientist who comes off as only slightly less useless and ineffective. None of the characters in this book are sympathetic. They're just annoying and weak.

Has Software turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. Plenty of other good sci fi. But this author? Never again.

How could the performance have been better?

Don't read every character with the same inflection, pace, and tone. Don't read it like a driver's ed teacher reading stereo instructions. He sounds bored, so I'm bored. I don't know if Sorensen is trying to sound like a tired nerd stereotype with adenoids, but that's the vibe I get.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment. The premise was compelling, but everything after that was a total letdown.

Any additional comments?

Rudy Rucker was born in 1946, making him about 21 in the Summer of Love. This explains the way he populated his story with old hippies and a useless young burnout with no drive or ambition.

Cobb and the "feezers" just lie around in a bath of technology, drinking and drugging. Stay-High is a spoiled party boy, only out for his next high. Why should I care whether any of them live or die? I guess we know how Rudy Rucker spent his youth. I don't care what happens to any of the characters in this book, except maybe some of the robots.

I'll be returning this one.

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45 min in and 4 different perspectives not for me.

I am not a fan of books with so many different points of view. The book also had an outdated feel to it that i can't really explain other then to say it's there.

1 person found this helpful