Reviews

We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker

Only show reviews with written explanations

carmapolice's review against another edition

4.0

Hard to put down

Quick read with lots of twists and turns. Surprisingly enjoyed the multiple points of view and felt each character was well thought out. It was an emotional book and hit home to me as a mother and how difficult the transition is as kids age up. I hope we never get Pilots.

aliza503602's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

elliebeemellie's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

okevamae's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

We Are Satellites is set in a near-future United States where “Pilots” – computer brain implants that allow people to concentrate on more than one task at once – have become mainstream. High school teacher Val watches as Pilots turn from a fad among rich students aiming for better grades to a requirement for success, in school or out. Her son David gets one to help him in school - even her wife Julie gets one to compete with co-workers and focus on her career and home life at the same time. The only holdouts seem to be Val, who doesn’t trust the devices, and their daughter Sophie, who is ineligible due to a seizure disorder.

The setting and tone slowly shift from light modern sci-fi to something more dystopian as Pilots move from common to ubiquitous. At the same time, we learn from David’s experience with his Pilot that maybe these devices are not all they’re cracked up to be, while Sophie’s anti-Pilot activism grows more radical. Overall I really liked this book, although I don’t fully understand the ending, or if the way I read it is correct, maybe it’s more that I don’t fully buy it.

Spoiler

Did the company behind the Pilots go out of business due to the truth being revealed? This super-powerful corporation with a mega-popular product and support from prominent politicians? After the last couple of years, I guess I’m not convinced that the company would be fully taken down by bad press, as there would probably still be a pretty big demand for Pilots, even if people knew there were significant risks involved. That seems like the kind of thing that could be dismissed by many as “fake news.”

But it’s possible that I’m a little too cynical, haha.

Representation: Lesbian couple as main characters, disabled and neurodivergent main characters, trans character, minor non-binary character

CW: Body modification, drug abuse

kdahlo's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Overall I liked this book, but it didn't wow me like Sarah Pinker's short fiction. This book reminded me a bit of Bellwether by Connie Willis. Sort of a contemplative story about technology and the way it's changing our lives, with relatively low stakes and a highly realistic near future setting. Everything was pretty solid, and I was pretty engaged.