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gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
While the writing was just fine, the premise and the science beind it were difficult to believe. I have trouble believing that sleep causes depression. Likewise, it seemed really strage that in a society that already has gene alteration, it is having people who don't sleep that causes a whole bunch of problems. It seems kind of "Mary Sue" situation, in that the author is trying to convince us that these people are perfect and so great, but no one likes them. There were good, interesting elements, but ultimately it looked like it would be depressing and wasn't worth it for me to continue reading.
tregina's review against another edition
4.0
Reading this book has been a long time coming. I always meant to, and I've owned it for a long time, but it always just seemed to get put off for something else. I'm not sure why, because I knew it had a great reputation, and it turned out it was just the sort of thing that I enjoy. I like these sprawling stories that cover decades of change, and I love to see the socialogical impact of new technologies not just immediately but in the long term, and I like characters with distinct and developing points of view that are comprehensible while sometimes being at complete odds with my own beliefs and with other characters. This book had all of those things. I didn't quite love it, but I sure liked it a whole lot.
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
1.0
Perhaps I should’ve stuck with the award-winning novella. This was Kress’s attempt to expand that novella into 450 pages of material and it showed. It got incredibly boring and monotonous. A never ending battle between sleepers and the sleepless. Way too much economic intrigue, courtroom drama, and political posturing. I imagine the novella could have been good, but I found this expanded format not to my liking.
badseedgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I just finished this book, but there are so many high concepts taken on by this book I don't think I could give it a fitting review. Nancy Kress tackles what it means to be a human, genetic manipulation and at what point does the manipulation creates another species.
Parts of this novel are a libertarian's wet dream, but there are some horrific results because of these beliefs.
A very deep, and thought provoking book, but that was none the less entertaining.
Parts of this novel are a libertarian's wet dream, but there are some horrific results because of these beliefs.
A very deep, and thought provoking book, but that was none the less entertaining.
dajoyofit's review
4.0
This was really good. I enjoyed the concepts and the world. The relationships between the sisters was interesting and I loved the cliff hanger at the end. Makes me want to read the novel.
joshhall13's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating and detailed what-if for an emerging subspecies of human, brought to us by genetic mods. Mrs Kress has so much depth and detail to some areas like legal and economic aspects, she must have researched this book very well
tricapra's review against another edition
4.0
Such an interesting concept, and I loved the endless jabs at Objectivism. Other reviewer's are gonna have more useful things to say about this, but I'm too deep now into my Kress kick to sit down and review this in depth. Gotta start the second book, after all.
karinlib's review against another edition
3.0
From what I understand this book started out as a novella, which won Nebula and Hugo awards in 1991. It was later expanded into a novel in 4 books.
It starts off with scientists being able to manipulate genes in vitro so that a human will no longer need to sleep. The first book focuses on Leisha a sleepless, and experiences as a child. She is raised alongside her "twin", who did not have her genes manipulated, Alice. There are enough Sleepless in society now that there are two classes: Sleepers and Sleepless.
As the characters find out, they are able to accomplish so much more without sleep, but how do the sleepers feel about the sleepless who have it so "easy".
I liked the book. The writing was such that I was fully engaged.
It starts off with scientists being able to manipulate genes in vitro so that a human will no longer need to sleep. The first book focuses on Leisha a sleepless, and experiences as a child. She is raised alongside her "twin", who did not have her genes manipulated, Alice. There are enough Sleepless in society now that there are two classes: Sleepers and Sleepless.
As the characters find out, they are able to accomplish so much more without sleep, but how do the sleepers feel about the sleepless who have it so "easy".
I liked the book. The writing was such that I was fully engaged.