Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Michael Joseph (2016), 320 pages
Description
"17 years ago: A girl in South Dakota falls through the earth, then wakes up dozens of feet below ground on the palm of what seems to be a giant metal hand. Today: She is a top-level physicist leading a team of people to understand exactly what that hand is, where it came from, and what it portends for humanity. A swift and spellbinding tale told almost exclusively through transcriptions of interviews conducted by a mysterious and unnamed character, this is a unique debut that describes a hunt for truth, power, and giant body parts"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member antrat1965
This novel is done in the style of World War Z. Interviews with characters tell the story.
I found the book to be quite silly. I love science fiction and I especially loved World War Z, but I actually was laughing in certain parts. Parts where I'm sure the author did not intend to get a
Disappointing.
I found the book to be quite silly. I love science fiction and I especially loved World War Z, but I actually was laughing in certain parts. Parts where I'm sure the author did not intend to get a
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laugh.Disappointing.
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LibraryThing member Bookmarque
This book is the first in a series that got a lot of attention on its release. Having been burned by Annihilation, I reserved judgement and didn’t purchase a copy even though it is a gorgeous book. Instead I checked it out of the library and I’m glad I did.
At first the nameless questioner was
The story itself is interesting though and I wish it had been told another way. If Michael Crichton were still alive, he’d be the man to tell it. It’s a tantalizing weave of advanced technology, unknown civilizations, alien visitation and government suppression/manipulation. Sigh.
At first the nameless questioner was
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unsettling and a little scary, but over the course of the book it became ridiculous and really showed the limitations of writing a story in this format. As early as page 44 there are paragraphs of stuff that no one would ever say; and remember that this is how the whole story is told - by question and answer. On pages 86-87 we have a totally unnecessary As-you-know-Bob section and a scant 10 pages later we have a bit of Bro-advice that I can’t imagine anyone asking of this nameless questioner. There’s a really pointless interview on page 108. It was eye-rolling. The whole leg thing? Please. The story itself is interesting though and I wish it had been told another way. If Michael Crichton were still alive, he’d be the man to tell it. It’s a tantalizing weave of advanced technology, unknown civilizations, alien visitation and government suppression/manipulation. Sigh.
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LibraryThing member Codonnelly
Interview format seems to be the current trend in science fiction novels. Sylvain Neuvel’s Sleeping Giants begins as a traditional narrative, but by the second chapter it devolves into a series of interviews, diary entries, and reports. Nontraditional methods of story-telling can be done well,
The five main characters can easily be fit into predictable molds. Dr. Rose Franklin represents the friendly, motherly type, while Kara acts as her alter-ego in her rebelliousness, sarcasm, and ‘devil may care’ attitude. Ryan, Kara’s co-pilot, is suave, handsome, and boring as all get-out, while Victor possesses an exceedingly high level of arrogance (he’s French, surprise!). The “handler,” who is never named, is the only wild card in the equation, but while he is supposed to be mysterious, his extreme opinions cast him in an overtly evil light. Such blatant use of stereotypes delivers cookie-cutter plots that quickly lose a reader’s interest.
Interviews are naturally very clinical, so when a reader never encounters a character outside of that format, he or she often struggles to invest in that character’s arc. Character growth is also extremely difficult to discern when a reader cannot delve into internal thought processes. Jumping from one interview to another with little regard for differentiation between who was speaking to whom complicates matters even further.
When a novel lacks strong characters, you hope that the story is at least entertaining. A mysterious plot thread runs through the narrative, but its nature and purpose, while studied ad nauseam, is never fully fleshed out. Each revelation comes too quickly and if explained at all, is presented on an incredibly basic level. To add insult to injury, the novel ends on a cliff-hanger of epic proportions.
For a highly praised newly released science fiction novel, Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel left me surprisingly underwhelmed. Despite its abrupt ending and a promise of more books to come, I never felt the desire to continue the series. Honestly, I think this novel would have been far better presented as a film, and I would not be surprised if it has already been picked up by a studio.
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but they usually require unique plot-lines and strong characters. Unfortunately, the novel is burdened by stereotypes, a plot and chosen structure too mismatched to make sense, and above all, a far too clinical atmosphere.The five main characters can easily be fit into predictable molds. Dr. Rose Franklin represents the friendly, motherly type, while Kara acts as her alter-ego in her rebelliousness, sarcasm, and ‘devil may care’ attitude. Ryan, Kara’s co-pilot, is suave, handsome, and boring as all get-out, while Victor possesses an exceedingly high level of arrogance (he’s French, surprise!). The “handler,” who is never named, is the only wild card in the equation, but while he is supposed to be mysterious, his extreme opinions cast him in an overtly evil light. Such blatant use of stereotypes delivers cookie-cutter plots that quickly lose a reader’s interest.
Interviews are naturally very clinical, so when a reader never encounters a character outside of that format, he or she often struggles to invest in that character’s arc. Character growth is also extremely difficult to discern when a reader cannot delve into internal thought processes. Jumping from one interview to another with little regard for differentiation between who was speaking to whom complicates matters even further.
When a novel lacks strong characters, you hope that the story is at least entertaining. A mysterious plot thread runs through the narrative, but its nature and purpose, while studied ad nauseam, is never fully fleshed out. Each revelation comes too quickly and if explained at all, is presented on an incredibly basic level. To add insult to injury, the novel ends on a cliff-hanger of epic proportions.
For a highly praised newly released science fiction novel, Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel left me surprisingly underwhelmed. Despite its abrupt ending and a promise of more books to come, I never felt the desire to continue the series. Honestly, I think this novel would have been far better presented as a film, and I would not be surprised if it has already been picked up by a studio.
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LibraryThing member Narilka
Rose Franklin is a young girl riding her bike when the ground opens beneath her and she finds herself at the bottom of a sinkhole. When rescuers are able to reach the girl it is discovered she was resting on a giant, metal hand at the bottom of the pit. Almost 20 years later Rose is a highly
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel is the first in the Themis Files series. It is told in an epistolary format, primarily as interview files with the occasional news article or personal diary entry thrown in. The format took a little while to get used to. Somehow the format managed to give the interviewer as much personality as the other characters, making him also a main character. That has to be quite a trick to accomplish.
The interviewer for the entire book is a mystery man. We never learn his name, nor do we know exactly how it is he became involved. All we know is that he's able to pull many strings and orchestrate the whole operation on a global scale with a fair amount of finesse. He starts off highly abrasive and unlikable. Over the course of the story he really grew on me and became my favorite character. I liked how by the end his character had started to grow fond of the staff he picked for the project, it helped humanize an otherwise cold and calculating individual. I was also fun listening to him manipulate every situation he's in to his advantage and ultimate goal, even if it is a tad unrealistic at times. Other characters include Dr. Rose Franklin, the project lead and physicist, an all around nice person; Kara Resnik, an ex-military pilot and very strong woman - I loved how she handled the staff on the submarine; Vincent Couture, an incredibly intelligent linguist and something of a mathematician who is an egotistical ass and still fits well with the story; there is also an evil geneticist as counter point to Dr. Franklin who won't let a silly thing like morals get in the way of her experiments.
The story behind the robot and how it got here is interesting as is some of the science used. There are enough tantalizing tidbits that keeps the story moving along though not all questions are answered. There is also a poorly done romance plot thread that felt thrown in to solve a plot point more than feeling authentic. In the epilogue we are thrown for a whole new loop, which I'm sure is the hook for book two.
I listened to the audio book which was performed by a full cast. The voice actors really pulled it off, I was impressed! Each character has a distinct personality and feel. My reaction and rating of the book has a lot to do with the actors as they were just that good. I would definitely recommend this book in audio format. I honestly don't know if I'd like it as much if I had read it the traditional way.
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trained physicist and has been hired by a mysterious group that is studying the hand, trying to unlock its mysteries. Rose and her team find out that the hand is one of several pieces of a giant robot that have been scattered around the globe. It's made of a material not commonly found in large quantities on Earth and carbon dating defies belief. But who built it? Why? And, more importantly, why was it disassembled?Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel is the first in the Themis Files series. It is told in an epistolary format, primarily as interview files with the occasional news article or personal diary entry thrown in. The format took a little while to get used to. Somehow the format managed to give the interviewer as much personality as the other characters, making him also a main character. That has to be quite a trick to accomplish.
The interviewer for the entire book is a mystery man. We never learn his name, nor do we know exactly how it is he became involved. All we know is that he's able to pull many strings and orchestrate the whole operation on a global scale with a fair amount of finesse. He starts off highly abrasive and unlikable. Over the course of the story he really grew on me and became my favorite character. I liked how by the end his character had started to grow fond of the staff he picked for the project, it helped humanize an otherwise cold and calculating individual. I was also fun listening to him manipulate every situation he's in to his advantage and ultimate goal, even if it is a tad unrealistic at times. Other characters include Dr. Rose Franklin, the project lead and physicist, an all around nice person; Kara Resnik, an ex-military pilot and very strong woman - I loved how she handled the staff on the submarine; Vincent Couture, an incredibly intelligent linguist and something of a mathematician who is an egotistical ass and still fits well with the story; there is also an evil geneticist as counter point to Dr. Franklin who won't let a silly thing like morals get in the way of her experiments.
The story behind the robot and how it got here is interesting as is some of the science used. There are enough tantalizing tidbits that keeps the story moving along though not all questions are answered. There is also a poorly done romance plot thread that felt thrown in to solve a plot point more than feeling authentic. In the epilogue we are thrown for a whole new loop, which I'm sure is the hook for book two.
I listened to the audio book which was performed by a full cast. The voice actors really pulled it off, I was impressed! Each character has a distinct personality and feel. My reaction and rating of the book has a lot to do with the actors as they were just that good. I would definitely recommend this book in audio format. I honestly don't know if I'd like it as much if I had read it the traditional way.
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LibraryThing member lanewillson
The book started out as a Harley ride down California Highway 1 but ended like riding your baby sister's Schwinn, with the streamers coming out of the handlebars and the irritating tinkle of the little bell ringing as you cruse down the driveway.
LibraryThing member Stewartry
I read this book (via Netgalley) last year, and seized on the audiobook as soon as possible. And listening to it after November 8 was a very different experience from reading it in early 2016. Ah, I thought, that's why a certain person wants to block all refugees from Syria – he must have read
But this isn't going to be a politically-oriented review. The rest of it, I mean.
I loved everything about Sleeping Giants every bit as much this go-round as I did the first time – maybe even a little more, if that's possible, because the cast was excellent. The funny moments were given that extra little nuance – "Don't go! I'll tell you more stories about little Tommy sitting on the stairs!" is probably one of my top-ten favorite lines from the past couple of years – and the unfunny moments were even more wrenching than before. Which is pretty remarkable, considering I knew what was coming. It was still a horrible shock – I still dug in my heels against it and waited for the miraculous reversal of fortune, the "Oh! There! That's what actually happened, it's all fine" moment. There wasn't one, of course. And it hurt. Again.
"Speaking of the president, how is she?"
DAMMIT
Sorry. I slipped.
The characters are beautifully well-rounded, through what they say themselves and as seen through others' eyes. Rose, calm and more together than all of them; Vincent so obnoxious and yet the one who breaks my heart more than anyone (until someone else does); Ryan, who … well, about whom the less said the better. Kara, one of those people who makes for a great fictional character but would be a horrible companion – a nice person to visit but … The Interviewer is enigmatic, with a patina of tragedy that is never explained (here). And the even-more-mysterious-than-the-Interviewer Mr. Burns, who in this audiobook sounds a lot like Peter Falk.
I love the format of the book, told through interviews and journal entries, news items and transcriptions. Neuvel does a wonderful job of building both character and plot in a style which could in other hands be patchwork. The emotional roller-coaster was a total surprise when I read it first, and was every bit as wrenching this time. I can see myself reading this annually.
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this book and the suspicion that Syria is working on a nuclear program. (Well, the rumor is he can't read, so he must have listened to the audiobook.) But this isn't going to be a politically-oriented review. The rest of it, I mean.
I loved everything about Sleeping Giants every bit as much this go-round as I did the first time – maybe even a little more, if that's possible, because the cast was excellent. The funny moments were given that extra little nuance – "Don't go! I'll tell you more stories about little Tommy sitting on the stairs!" is probably one of my top-ten favorite lines from the past couple of years – and the unfunny moments were even more wrenching than before. Which is pretty remarkable, considering I knew what was coming. It was still a horrible shock – I still dug in my heels against it and waited for the miraculous reversal of fortune, the "Oh! There! That's what actually happened, it's all fine" moment. There wasn't one, of course. And it hurt. Again.
"Speaking of the president, how is she?"
DAMMIT
Sorry. I slipped.
The characters are beautifully well-rounded, through what they say themselves and as seen through others' eyes. Rose, calm and more together than all of them; Vincent so obnoxious and yet the one who breaks my heart more than anyone (until someone else does); Ryan, who … well, about whom the less said the better. Kara, one of those people who makes for a great fictional character but would be a horrible companion – a nice person to visit but … The Interviewer is enigmatic, with a patina of tragedy that is never explained (here). And the even-more-mysterious-than-the-Interviewer Mr. Burns, who in this audiobook sounds a lot like Peter Falk.
I love the format of the book, told through interviews and journal entries, news items and transcriptions. Neuvel does a wonderful job of building both character and plot in a style which could in other hands be patchwork. The emotional roller-coaster was a total surprise when I read it first, and was every bit as wrenching this time. I can see myself reading this annually.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
Superb. Unusual but works very well. Told through an unknown narrator - "'I'm not in the military you don't have to call me sir' 'What would you like me to call you, sir?' 'On second thoughts, sir will do fine'." - as a series of file reports from interviews with the main protagonists and a few
Rose Franklin is a child who fell into a hole that contained a giant hand, and subsequently became a scientist and believes it to be coincidence that she's now lead project manager to understand what and how this artifact is - brought in as last resort once the military had decided it was essentially useless. She's kind and decent, and care about her small team. Kara Resnik is a helicopter pilot in the US army, drafted into this strange operation as an opportunity to fly again after being grounded with a minor medical condition, she's sharp and doesn't take fools lightly. She has a new 2nd officer, Ryan Mitchell, pretty laidback and happy to get along with everything, and no particular qualms about being 2nd seat. Finally they recruit a linguist a cocky Canadian student Vincent Couture, who's task is to bring a fresh insight into the symbols found on the artifact.
You can guess some of the rest quite easily, a breakthrough, interpersonal tensions, etc. But some of it is truly novel and I won't spoil the surprises by detailing them. It is always nice to have hero who is actually intelligent and thinks ahead properly.
The only real downside I find is a somewhat UScentric outlook, everything revolves around the assumption of US power in the world. The interviews are just occasionally confusing where the paragraphing between characters becomes unclear however for the most part there is a very clear question and answer pattern and easy to follow. Given the nature of the writing style chosen the timeline jumps forward from incident to incident as detailed in the files. But it remains very comprehensible, and the brief descriptions powerfully convey sufficient action to keep it interesting throughout - much more than might be expected from an interview report.
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assorted others, some of which are also not named, which is only slightly confusing.Rose Franklin is a child who fell into a hole that contained a giant hand, and subsequently became a scientist and believes it to be coincidence that she's now lead project manager to understand what and how this artifact is - brought in as last resort once the military had decided it was essentially useless. She's kind and decent, and care about her small team. Kara Resnik is a helicopter pilot in the US army, drafted into this strange operation as an opportunity to fly again after being grounded with a minor medical condition, she's sharp and doesn't take fools lightly. She has a new 2nd officer, Ryan Mitchell, pretty laidback and happy to get along with everything, and no particular qualms about being 2nd seat. Finally they recruit a linguist a cocky Canadian student Vincent Couture, who's task is to bring a fresh insight into the symbols found on the artifact.
You can guess some of the rest quite easily, a breakthrough, interpersonal tensions, etc. But some of it is truly novel and I won't spoil the surprises by detailing them. It is always nice to have hero who is actually intelligent and thinks ahead properly.
The only real downside I find is a somewhat UScentric outlook, everything revolves around the assumption of US power in the world. The interviews are just occasionally confusing where the paragraphing between characters becomes unclear however for the most part there is a very clear question and answer pattern and easy to follow. Given the nature of the writing style chosen the timeline jumps forward from incident to incident as detailed in the files. But it remains very comprehensible, and the brief descriptions powerfully convey sufficient action to keep it interesting throughout - much more than might be expected from an interview report.
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
It is entirely not the fault of this book that I was less than enchanted with it. The poor thing had no way of knowing that one of the writing devices I despise is to tell a story though letters, transcripts, texts, etc. And the book was pretty much transcripts of interviews-- distracted me at
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times from the story itself, which, when I was able to get beyond the vehicle used to deliver the tale, was fascinating. Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
I have had this book to review since last year. I like to review books the month before they release so I finally read it this month. I ended up being fairly disappointed. The idea behind the story is interesting but there are too many inconsistencies throughout. Unfortunately this is going to be a
The whole concept of this book is that parts of a giant robot are being found throughout the world. A secret entity is taking it upon itself to collect these parts and assemble to robot as a whole.
The whole book is done in an interview/journal format. In the majority of the entries feature the main characters being interviewed by an unknown third party. It was an interesting format for a novel and made it so that the reader had to piece different perspectives together to get the whole story. However, as a result of this format it’s tough to engage with the characters and really understand their motivations.
I also really enjoyed all the science in the book. There is a lot of linguistic theory, math theory, physics, and some genetics as well. None of it is all that tough to follow, there’s just enough to allow the reader to learn some new things. At times all this info does come off as a bit of a data dump, but that didn’t bother me all that much.
Okay, so let’s move on to what did bother me...and there is quite a bit. There are a number of inconsistencies throughout the story. I am talking blatant inconsistencies that were major plot drivers which had me incredibly frustrated (I’ll go into detail in the spoiler section).
Additionally I really found the author’s attitude to the whole scenario to be very pessimistic and disturbing. Basically this whole book focuses on the negative of every aspect. The humans involved with finding the pieces of the giant are selfish and conniving. The governments involved; rather than getting their technical communities to band together (as they do in The Martian) decide to threaten with World War IV. Everything is so incredibly negative.
------------------------SPOILERS START
The biggest inconsistency that drove me bonkers was the way the robot helmets could heal people. They healed the main pilot of her eye wounds and a head wound. The helmet basically made her healthy enough to run her portion of the robot. However when Vincent has his legs driven into and broken, a huge amount of the plot is spent dealing with this set back (since he runs the robot legs). He goes through surgery and rehabilitation etc etc. I kept thinking...uh why don’t you just put the helmet on him and have it heal him? I didn’t understand why the helmet healed one thing but not another; it was random and inconsistent. Additionally a huge amount of the story was based around the fact that Vincent needed all this surgery to heal.
Okay next annoyance. Why did the initial leg pilot decide to run Vincent over with a truck? What did I miss here? Yes he was jealous of Vincent I get that. But it was totally out of character for him and never explained well.
Oh and then all these super smart characters are like, OMG this robot can be used as a weapon?! Holy cow imagine that...we are stunned with surprise!
Lastly why was the crazy geneticist allowed so much power over this program? I don’t get it. The unnamed third party had complete control over everything including many first world governments...so why couldn’t this third party control a rogue crazy geneticist? It was weird and inconsistent and just soooo stupid.
------------------------SPOILERS END
The book ends on a cliffhanger, which I thought was predictable and lame. By the end of the book I was incredibly frustrated by the stupidity of these characters with supposed genius level intelligence. The whole writing style seemed poorly paced and didn’t flow well. I think this whole book is best described as a bad giant robot anime; it just wasn’t that well done.
Overall this was a readable, but definitely flawed giant robot sci-fi story. It’s being dubbed as World War Z meets the Martian and this is not an accurate portrayal of the story at all. It’s more like a mash of Days of our Lives meets Mobile Suit Gundam (sorry Gundam). I wouldn’t recommend and am not sure what all the hype was about.
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tough one to review without spoilers, but I will try. I will also call out later in the review the section that contains spoilers.The whole concept of this book is that parts of a giant robot are being found throughout the world. A secret entity is taking it upon itself to collect these parts and assemble to robot as a whole.
The whole book is done in an interview/journal format. In the majority of the entries feature the main characters being interviewed by an unknown third party. It was an interesting format for a novel and made it so that the reader had to piece different perspectives together to get the whole story. However, as a result of this format it’s tough to engage with the characters and really understand their motivations.
I also really enjoyed all the science in the book. There is a lot of linguistic theory, math theory, physics, and some genetics as well. None of it is all that tough to follow, there’s just enough to allow the reader to learn some new things. At times all this info does come off as a bit of a data dump, but that didn’t bother me all that much.
Okay, so let’s move on to what did bother me...and there is quite a bit. There are a number of inconsistencies throughout the story. I am talking blatant inconsistencies that were major plot drivers which had me incredibly frustrated (I’ll go into detail in the spoiler section).
Additionally I really found the author’s attitude to the whole scenario to be very pessimistic and disturbing. Basically this whole book focuses on the negative of every aspect. The humans involved with finding the pieces of the giant are selfish and conniving. The governments involved; rather than getting their technical communities to band together (as they do in The Martian) decide to threaten with World War IV. Everything is so incredibly negative.
------------------------SPOILERS START
The biggest inconsistency that drove me bonkers was the way the robot helmets could heal people. They healed the main pilot of her eye wounds and a head wound. The helmet basically made her healthy enough to run her portion of the robot. However when Vincent has his legs driven into and broken, a huge amount of the plot is spent dealing with this set back (since he runs the robot legs). He goes through surgery and rehabilitation etc etc. I kept thinking...uh why don’t you just put the helmet on him and have it heal him? I didn’t understand why the helmet healed one thing but not another; it was random and inconsistent. Additionally a huge amount of the story was based around the fact that Vincent needed all this surgery to heal.
Okay next annoyance. Why did the initial leg pilot decide to run Vincent over with a truck? What did I miss here? Yes he was jealous of Vincent I get that. But it was totally out of character for him and never explained well.
Oh and then all these super smart characters are like, OMG this robot can be used as a weapon?! Holy cow imagine that...we are stunned with surprise!
Lastly why was the crazy geneticist allowed so much power over this program? I don’t get it. The unnamed third party had complete control over everything including many first world governments...so why couldn’t this third party control a rogue crazy geneticist? It was weird and inconsistent and just soooo stupid.
------------------------SPOILERS END
The book ends on a cliffhanger, which I thought was predictable and lame. By the end of the book I was incredibly frustrated by the stupidity of these characters with supposed genius level intelligence. The whole writing style seemed poorly paced and didn’t flow well. I think this whole book is best described as a bad giant robot anime; it just wasn’t that well done.
Overall this was a readable, but definitely flawed giant robot sci-fi story. It’s being dubbed as World War Z meets the Martian and this is not an accurate portrayal of the story at all. It’s more like a mash of Days of our Lives meets Mobile Suit Gundam (sorry Gundam). I wouldn’t recommend and am not sure what all the hype was about.
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LibraryThing member tottman
Sleeping Giants is science fiction at its best. Original, exciting and thought-provoking. The story is told through journal entries and interviews. Rather than distancing you from the story, it draws you in and makes it more personal.
The premise is fantastic. Part of an alien artifact literally
Sylvain Neuvel has written a gem and an incredibly accomplished first novel. An outstanding science fiction thriller with characters you really come to care about. This is a book that poses a lot of questions and not all the answers are comforting ones. Get your hands on a copy of this book. People are going to talk about this book and you are definitely going to want to be part of the conversation. Highly recommended.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
The premise is fantastic. Part of an alien artifact literally
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beneath our feet. Who put it there? Giw does it work? Are they coming back? Were we meant to find it? Why now? The involvement of the military, shadowy operatives inside and outside of government, scientists, all pulling in different directions. One hundred different motives and one singular purpose. To find and control the alien artifact. Was this device left here to protect us or doom us. And if to protect us, from what? Each other, or is there another threat we’re not aware of. Sylvain Neuvel has written a gem and an incredibly accomplished first novel. An outstanding science fiction thriller with characters you really come to care about. This is a book that poses a lot of questions and not all the answers are comforting ones. Get your hands on a copy of this book. People are going to talk about this book and you are definitely going to want to be part of the conversation. Highly recommended.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
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LibraryThing member Welsh_eileen2
An intriguing story about a little girl who stumbles upon a mysterious artifact, a metal hand as large as her.
When she is an adult and now a Doctor of Science she revisits the find and searches for the rest of the statue, with some puzzling, out of this world realisations.
Great read!
I was given a
When she is an adult and now a Doctor of Science she revisits the find and searches for the rest of the statue, with some puzzling, out of this world realisations.
Great read!
I was given a
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digital copy of this book by the publisher Penguin/Michael Joseph via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Giant robot parts and conspiracy theories abound in Sleeping Giants, which sounds weird. However, it turns out that the two make for an intense and addictive story. This is further helped by the method in which Mr. Neuvel unfolds the plot. While you may be groaning and bemoaning the fact that it is
While the story opens with and revolves around Rose and her quest for answers, it is also a novel about the folly of mankind, its arrogance, innate curiosity, and need for domination. We have all seen enough superhero movies to know just what happens when giant robots enter a scene, so the hunt for answers regarding these mysterious robot parts is fraught with power struggles and hidden agendas. As mentioned earlier, the way in which Mr. Neuvel tells the story allows readers to catch fleeting glimpses of these opposing agendas so that you know they are there, but the story is so engaging that these glimpses prove to be nothing more than something passing on the periphery. You notice they are there but pay them no mind while the story holds your interest, which it does over and over again. This results in what could be termed split reading experiences. You are reading the story at face value, enjoying the characters’ many quirks and personalities. At the same time, your subconscious mind cannot help but absorb and mull over the various clues buried within the story. Eventually, the two experiences merge together as the different agendas come to the fore and things will click into place once they do. Before then though, you are just reading a very creative, fast-paced, and entertaining story without giving a second thought to the underlying mysteries outside of the metal hand.
Be warned that Sleeping Giants is the first book in a series, but I do not think that people reading the book will mind. The story ends with plenty of answers to satisfy those readers who may not want to continue to the next book in the series. That said, I suspect many readers will want to continue the series, not because of the lack of answers but because of the potential questions that still remain. Of course not every question posed within the novel has an answer and one expects resolution in future novels, but that is not what is going to drive people to the sequel. What is going to do that will be the questions readers ask themselves while waiting. This is because Sleeping Giants is one of those novels never really leaves a reader’s subconscious mind. Just as your subconscious is finding certain clues and puzzling over them while you are reading the book, your mind will continue to worry over the story long after you finish it, dreaming up what-if scenarios and recognizing potential plot points. It makes for a surprisingly interactive story that capitalizes on the fun factor.
Make no mistake, Sleeping Giants might be about giant metal body parts and associated power struggles for said parts, it is above all a fun novel. It is a story that unfolds quickly and engages your imagination right from the start, thereby becoming one of those novels you never want to stop reading. Moreover, even though you only get to know the characters through transcripts, their personalities shine larger than life and the dialogue snaps with emotion. It is the type of story that does not take itself too seriously, subtly acknowledging the use of common science fiction plot points and character stereotypes all the while mocking itself for using them. I can see it being a very popular novel this summer specifically because of that mocking vein running throughout the story. Besides, most people love a good conspiracy theory. The fact that it comes with mysterious giant robot parts only enhances the attraction.
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yet another story told through transcribed interviews, surveillance documentation, and other epistolary means, rest assured that it is a storytelling method that works well for this creepy, science-laden novel. You get a layman’s understanding of any science-based descriptions without the need for long, explanatory passages. Also, it leaves no doubts about the fact that there are other forces at play for the giant robotic parts. This, in turn, increases the tension in a way that would be difficult to accomplish had the story been told via third-person or omniscient narrators.While the story opens with and revolves around Rose and her quest for answers, it is also a novel about the folly of mankind, its arrogance, innate curiosity, and need for domination. We have all seen enough superhero movies to know just what happens when giant robots enter a scene, so the hunt for answers regarding these mysterious robot parts is fraught with power struggles and hidden agendas. As mentioned earlier, the way in which Mr. Neuvel tells the story allows readers to catch fleeting glimpses of these opposing agendas so that you know they are there, but the story is so engaging that these glimpses prove to be nothing more than something passing on the periphery. You notice they are there but pay them no mind while the story holds your interest, which it does over and over again. This results in what could be termed split reading experiences. You are reading the story at face value, enjoying the characters’ many quirks and personalities. At the same time, your subconscious mind cannot help but absorb and mull over the various clues buried within the story. Eventually, the two experiences merge together as the different agendas come to the fore and things will click into place once they do. Before then though, you are just reading a very creative, fast-paced, and entertaining story without giving a second thought to the underlying mysteries outside of the metal hand.
Be warned that Sleeping Giants is the first book in a series, but I do not think that people reading the book will mind. The story ends with plenty of answers to satisfy those readers who may not want to continue to the next book in the series. That said, I suspect many readers will want to continue the series, not because of the lack of answers but because of the potential questions that still remain. Of course not every question posed within the novel has an answer and one expects resolution in future novels, but that is not what is going to drive people to the sequel. What is going to do that will be the questions readers ask themselves while waiting. This is because Sleeping Giants is one of those novels never really leaves a reader’s subconscious mind. Just as your subconscious is finding certain clues and puzzling over them while you are reading the book, your mind will continue to worry over the story long after you finish it, dreaming up what-if scenarios and recognizing potential plot points. It makes for a surprisingly interactive story that capitalizes on the fun factor.
Make no mistake, Sleeping Giants might be about giant metal body parts and associated power struggles for said parts, it is above all a fun novel. It is a story that unfolds quickly and engages your imagination right from the start, thereby becoming one of those novels you never want to stop reading. Moreover, even though you only get to know the characters through transcripts, their personalities shine larger than life and the dialogue snaps with emotion. It is the type of story that does not take itself too seriously, subtly acknowledging the use of common science fiction plot points and character stereotypes all the while mocking itself for using them. I can see it being a very popular novel this summer specifically because of that mocking vein running throughout the story. Besides, most people love a good conspiracy theory. The fact that it comes with mysterious giant robot parts only enhances the attraction.
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LibraryThing member lostinalibrary
In the Black Hills of South Dakota, a young girl, Rose Franklin, falls into a huge hole and lands in the palm of a giant metal hand. The government digs it up but, failing to see any use for it, military or otherwise, the hand is placed in storage. Years later, the University of Chicago takes over
Sleeping Giants is the debut novel by author Sylvain Neuvel and what a debut it is. The story is told through a series of interviews, journals, and mission statements and because of this, we learn the events as they unfold and through the writings, opinions, private thoughts, and public reports of those involved often as they are made to an anonymous interviewer. Like the robot, the story is put together with various interlocking pieces and, like the robot, it is not always clear the ultimate purpose of these pieces. And, like the protagonists of the story, we don’t always get all the facts and we often have to surmise what is happening or has happened based on what little info we are receiving. I know this may sound like a whole lot of work but, trust me, it makes for a very compelling read. It draws the reader in giving them a real feeling of connectedness to the tale. Combining scifi with a political thriller, Sleeping Giants is one heck of a page-turner.
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research on it and Rose, now an acclaimed physicist, is picked to head the project. When it is learned that other body parts of what is certainly a huge robot are found, the task force sets out to find them all and then reassemble them in an underground facility in Denver. An unfortunate accident caused in the reclaiming of one part alerts the rest of the world to the project and soon fear, greed, and political one-upmanship will have severe consequences for the project. Sleeping Giants is the debut novel by author Sylvain Neuvel and what a debut it is. The story is told through a series of interviews, journals, and mission statements and because of this, we learn the events as they unfold and through the writings, opinions, private thoughts, and public reports of those involved often as they are made to an anonymous interviewer. Like the robot, the story is put together with various interlocking pieces and, like the robot, it is not always clear the ultimate purpose of these pieces. And, like the protagonists of the story, we don’t always get all the facts and we often have to surmise what is happening or has happened based on what little info we are receiving. I know this may sound like a whole lot of work but, trust me, it makes for a very compelling read. It draws the reader in giving them a real feeling of connectedness to the tale. Combining scifi with a political thriller, Sleeping Giants is one heck of a page-turner.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Eleven-year-old Rose Franklin is riding her birthday-gift new bike when she falls into a fifty-foot hole . . . and finds herself lying in a giant metal hand.
Twenty years later, Rose is in charge of a research team working to decipher the symbols on the wall panels she’d seen around the giant
As Rose and her team seek to understand the meaning of the artifacts, Rose wonders why the hand suddenly appeared . . . and if there’s a hand, are there other parts?
Slowly, the puzzle begins to fall into place as other pieces of the artifact surface, leaving Rose and her team to unravel the growing mystery.
The narrative unfolds in a series of interviews between the team members and a mysterious handler. The suspense builds as the plot twists and turns, offering readers sufficient science to satisfy the technology-seekers, enough imaginative mystery to keep the pages turning and the tension building. Readers will find this well-written science fiction tale hard to set aside until they’ve turned the final page.
Highly recommended.
Twenty years later, Rose is in charge of a research team working to decipher the symbols on the wall panels she’d seen around the giant
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hand. Although carbon dating reveals the age of the hand between four and six thousand years, the elusive symbols have refused to reveal their meaning to any of the linguists who studied them. As Rose and her team seek to understand the meaning of the artifacts, Rose wonders why the hand suddenly appeared . . . and if there’s a hand, are there other parts?
Slowly, the puzzle begins to fall into place as other pieces of the artifact surface, leaving Rose and her team to unravel the growing mystery.
The narrative unfolds in a series of interviews between the team members and a mysterious handler. The suspense builds as the plot twists and turns, offering readers sufficient science to satisfy the technology-seekers, enough imaginative mystery to keep the pages turning and the tension building. Readers will find this well-written science fiction tale hard to set aside until they’ve turned the final page.
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member lisally
On her eleventh birthday, Rose Franklin is riding her new bike when the ground suddenly gives way beneath her. She is found in the middle of a mysterious square chamber, lying in the palm of a giant hand. Seventeen years later, Rose, now a physicist, finds herself inexplicably in charge of the
It’s not much of a spoiler to say that these are, in fact, the pieces of an ancient, anime-esque, giant robot. While this premise is inherently a bit ridiculous, Neuvel presents in a manner that actually seems plausible.
Most of the story is told as a series of interviews conducted by an unknown, mysterious government figure. While this also made for a quick read, it also works largely because the interviewer is a main character in his own right, with his own mysterious backstory.
Sleeping Giants is fun and entertaining in a blockbuster movie sort of way. It may not be particularly deep, but it’s certainly enjoyable and keeps you reading. This is part of a trilogy, so the story is of course unfinished. I’ll most likely be picking up the next installment.
A review copy was provided through the goodreads.com first reads program.
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artifact she inadvertently discovered as a child. Then, another body part is discovered by an Army helicopter mission. What are these giant body parts, who buried them, and why?It’s not much of a spoiler to say that these are, in fact, the pieces of an ancient, anime-esque, giant robot. While this premise is inherently a bit ridiculous, Neuvel presents in a manner that actually seems plausible.
Most of the story is told as a series of interviews conducted by an unknown, mysterious government figure. While this also made for a quick read, it also works largely because the interviewer is a main character in his own right, with his own mysterious backstory.
Sleeping Giants is fun and entertaining in a blockbuster movie sort of way. It may not be particularly deep, but it’s certainly enjoyable and keeps you reading. This is part of a trilogy, so the story is of course unfinished. I’ll most likely be picking up the next installment.
A review copy was provided through the goodreads.com first reads program.
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LibraryThing member CarmenMilligan
LOVED this book! I was immediately intrigued with the premise of the story, and the writing pulled me into the non-stop action.
Written in a series of personal journal entries, meeting notes, and transcripts, the action and character development feel so personal and present. I was completely
The flow of the action, the concert of the voices, and the sheer tension of finding all of the parts, putting them together, and seeing what they can do was enough to make this a one-sit read for me.
My favorite? The narrator. Who is he? For whom does he work? How long has he known about these parts, buried around the planet? Is his mystery lunch companion one of the aliens? A bit reminiscent of the television series "Person of Interest" character Harold Finch in his intelligence, foresight, and ability to distance himself emotionally from events. I sincerely hope there is a sequel well in the works!
Highly recommended, upon it's availability April 26, 2016. Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this beaut in exchange for my honest opinion.
Written in a series of personal journal entries, meeting notes, and transcripts, the action and character development feel so personal and present. I was completely
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sympathetic to Rose, Kara, and Vincent. Mitchell's character was a complete surprise as the story progressed. Alyssa was a great antagonist ... or, is she?! The flow of the action, the concert of the voices, and the sheer tension of finding all of the parts, putting them together, and seeing what they can do was enough to make this a one-sit read for me.
My favorite? The narrator. Who is he? For whom does he work? How long has he known about these parts, buried around the planet? Is his mystery lunch companion one of the aliens? A bit reminiscent of the television series "Person of Interest" character Harold Finch in his intelligence, foresight, and ability to distance himself emotionally from events. I sincerely hope there is a sequel well in the works!
Highly recommended, upon it's availability April 26, 2016. Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this beaut in exchange for my honest opinion.
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LibraryThing member Erika.D
The moment I heard about this book I had to read it. Robots and aliens mixed with secrets and puzzles and humor! Excellent story! I loved all of it and the writing style. Felt like a twilight zone episode. Loved it!!
LibraryThing member bonnieclyde
First, I didn't expect to enjoy reading this book. It is written in a format I don't particularly enjoy or find entertaining. The whole book is in a question/ answer interview style that I thought would disrupt the flow of the story. However, I was wrong. I sat down and read it in one afternoon and
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thought it was excellent. It would make a great movie. I sincerely hope Book 2 is finished and has a publishing date soon and 3 is already underway. You already know what the book is about from the summary, but let me add that there are turns that keep you guessing and engaged. It is a marvelous combination of thriller and sci-fi and would easily adapt to the big screen. I am looking forward to more eagerly. Show Less
LibraryThing member wolfeyluvr
More accurately a 2.5 star. Beginning and right before end excited me a little but overall I felt disappointed by this book. It also needs to stop being lumped with the Martian as it has nothing to do with it. It is told exclusively from the perspective of " reports" between the head honcho and
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whoever else in a dry manor. That's not a problem at all if anything it moved things along quite nicely. It just failed to... give anything you haven't already heard. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
This is a book about a small group of people who are tasked with finding the parts of a giant mecha robot thing, putting it back together and than figuring out how to make it work. Its also about the balance of power.
This book is written in transcription format, with a few news articles and diary
The other major characters, Kara Resnick, the ace helicopter pilot, Dr. Rose Frankin, the scientist in charge of the investigation, and Vincent Couture, the Linguist, are all very well written, although Vincent is a bit more stereotypical, being a standoffish scientist, working alone. But the characters work, they make sense, and they are interesting. Because of how this book is written, the characters motives are difficult to figure out, with the nameless interviewer being the most unreliable. The robot is only more or less background, where characters references it in conversation, and it is the reason all these people come together, but the characters themselves are what drive the story. I think that some people will find this to be a very frustrating book.
Other places where the book shines, a reader will always question motives. Even how the characters were picked for the job (just lucky fate, or bigger things in play) add in a mystery character who seems to know things (like the nameless intervewer's secret phone number), and you have a book that is really quite well written.
This book pays homage to the original giant robot genre, Mecha, originally found in Japanese Anime and Manga. This book follows the standard plot which is: kid finds giant robot (or in this case, piece), eventually grows up to be part of the robot project, (sometimes the scientist, sometimes the pilot who is only the one who can fly it) than the secret of the giant robot gets out, and the world flips out. But, the book expands each step and turn it into something more real feeling - no cartoon robots, no funny catchphrases, and no two dimensional characters.
I mentioned that this book might be found frustrating to read. At times, I found myself wishing the author would get to the point. At other times, I wanted to read the unpublished transcripts -by the file number that headed up each chapter there is 360 files, but only about 50 chapters to this book.
The book does end with mostly unanswered questions and it is the first part of a trilogy, so while its doesn't end with a cliff hanger, exactly, it feels very unfinished.
This book is written in transcription format, with a few news articles and diary
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entries thrown in to shake things up a bit. Its always the same interviewer. He or She is nameless, and at first, an anonymous Government official. We start off with ignoring him or her, only focusing on main characters. But, as the book moves, we find out that the nameless interviewer is powerful. Probably very powerful, influencing major Governments, and has an agenda that follows something more personal. Who this person is is never answered, leaving the reader with a lot of theories, and not much answers.The other major characters, Kara Resnick, the ace helicopter pilot, Dr. Rose Frankin, the scientist in charge of the investigation, and Vincent Couture, the Linguist, are all very well written, although Vincent is a bit more stereotypical, being a standoffish scientist, working alone. But the characters work, they make sense, and they are interesting. Because of how this book is written, the characters motives are difficult to figure out, with the nameless interviewer being the most unreliable. The robot is only more or less background, where characters references it in conversation, and it is the reason all these people come together, but the characters themselves are what drive the story. I think that some people will find this to be a very frustrating book.
Other places where the book shines, a reader will always question motives. Even how the characters were picked for the job (just lucky fate, or bigger things in play) add in a mystery character who seems to know things (like the nameless intervewer's secret phone number), and you have a book that is really quite well written.
This book pays homage to the original giant robot genre, Mecha, originally found in Japanese Anime and Manga. This book follows the standard plot which is: kid finds giant robot (or in this case, piece), eventually grows up to be part of the robot project, (sometimes the scientist, sometimes the pilot who is only the one who can fly it) than the secret of the giant robot gets out, and the world flips out. But, the book expands each step and turn it into something more real feeling - no cartoon robots, no funny catchphrases, and no two dimensional characters.
I mentioned that this book might be found frustrating to read. At times, I found myself wishing the author would get to the point. At other times, I wanted to read the unpublished transcripts -by the file number that headed up each chapter there is 360 files, but only about 50 chapters to this book.
The book does end with mostly unanswered questions and it is the first part of a trilogy, so while its doesn't end with a cliff hanger, exactly, it feels very unfinished.
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LibraryThing member Dreesie
It's always fun to find a science fiction book I enjoy, because I am soooo picky. This is the first in a new series, so I have quite a few questions that I imagine (or hope) will be answered in the upcoming volumes.
Neuvel writes this novel as a series of interviews, recorded diary entries, and
And this story is clever--rather than ending with "oh it was aliens!", as way too many sci fi books do, this book starts with a strange discovery. After studying the found objects, the characters know aliens have been on Earth. As they work out what these giant metal (?) body parts are, and how to find them, put them together, and use them, they learn more. Or some characters do--others already know. Who were these aliens? Are they us? Are they coming back? Why are Kara and Vincent able to work the helmets? Will this bring about world peace or world destruction--or intergalactic warfare?
Looking forward to book #2.
Neuvel writes this novel as a series of interviews, recorded diary entries, and
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reports. A mysterious interviewer seems to know all--but then he is interviewed by anther mystery man. Who knows what, who needs to know, who thinks they know, and who knows less than they think is all a part of this story.And this story is clever--rather than ending with "oh it was aliens!", as way too many sci fi books do, this book starts with a strange discovery. After studying the found objects, the characters know aliens have been on Earth. As they work out what these giant metal (?) body parts are, and how to find them, put them together, and use them, they learn more. Or some characters do--others already know. Who were these aliens? Are they us? Are they coming back? Why are Kara and Vincent able to work the helmets? Will this bring about world peace or world destruction--or intergalactic warfare?
Looking forward to book #2.
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LibraryThing member AliceaP
Well, I'm going to have to expand my favorite authors list once again because Sylvain Neuvel has come into my life with the supremely compelling and well-written book entitled Sleeping Giants: Book One of the Themis Files. Guys, this book is so awesome that just by reading it on the train platform
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I invited bookish conversation with a stranger. The back blurb of this book is what initially caught my attention as it states the book is a mix of World War Z and The Martian (both books that I enjoyed). Also, the fact that it had whiffs (can a book blurb have whiffs?) of The Iron Giant. For someone who is terrified of robots and artificial intelligence, I sure do find a way to read a lot of books on the subject... Well, this story focuses on a group of people who are looking for pieces of a giant robot in the hopes that they can learn more about the makers of said robot and improve the lives of humanity all in one fell swoop. The writing style is very unique as the majority is done as a kind of interrogation by a nameless individual (I think from the CIA) with the various members of the team. Interspersed are also small journal entries which the reader is made aware are being reviewed by this nameless figure. It's all very cloak and dagger stuff which I really liked. It also meant that the story moved on at a fairly quick pace (it also helped that I really got into it). This is science fiction at it's very best, ya'll. Not to mention, there's a political mystery occurring right alongside which would appeal to pretty much any audience. If you're looking for a fast paced sci-fi mystery you can't go wrong with Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel. 10/10 Show Less
LibraryThing member SheTreadsSoftly
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel is a highly recommended SF novel about finding parts for a giant robot left by aliens.
The novel is mainly told through transcripts of recorded interviews between an anonymous interrogator/examiner who is questioning the actions and thoughts of the other characters.
Oh - there is eventually a giant robot, only the parts/body pieces of the robot are buried in various places around the world. The very first part, a giant hand, was discovered when the earth opened up into a 50 foot deep square shaped hole in Deadwood, S.D., and 11 year-old Rose fell into it. She was found in the palm of a giant hand laying at the bottom of the glowing turquoise hole which was lined with 16 panels that have glowing symbols etched into them. The hand and panels are whisked away and hidden by the government.
That little girl grows up to be Dr. Rose Franklin, who is now the lead scientist on a team who is studying the hand and searching for other body parts after the forearm to the hand is unexpectedly found in Turkey. She figures out a way to search for the other body parts. Brought onto the recovery team are Warrant Officers Kara Resnik and Ryan Mitchell. Later Vincent Couture, a linguist, is added and Alyssa Papantoniou, a geneticist.
The mysterious interviewer brings out the best and the worse in these people as he quizzes them about their work and their thoughts. He is also, always, several steps ahead of them and often it becomes clear that he has his own secret agenda and plans that they know nothing about. He can be very formal, a little sarcastic, sometimes threatening, and is not easily shaken. We have no idea who he works for and why he has so much power and access to important people in very high places.
As the various pieces of the giant robot are found and assembled, no one has specifically addressed the purpose of said alien device and the meaning of it for humanity. Who left it? When exactly were the pieces buried? Why was it left? What is its purpose?
The characters are basically well developed, considering the format used to tell the narrative. The interview technique doesn't allow for minutia or many of the little details that make a character more real to the reader and allow a personal connection. They are an interesting collection of people, though, and that helps. The interview/journal entry technique certainly made the pacing of the novel move along swiftly and ultimately, although not perfect, it did work on many levels.
The ending makes abundantly clear that apparently this is the first in a series of novels and there will be at least a second novel, if not more. A firm 4.5 stars, but I just can't make myself round up here. Perhaps the sequel will change that.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Random House for review purposes.
The novel is mainly told through transcripts of recorded interviews between an anonymous interrogator/examiner who is questioning the actions and thoughts of the other characters.
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He is clearly powerful and able to muster unlimited funds and resources to accommodate the participants in the search for the giant robot.Oh - there is eventually a giant robot, only the parts/body pieces of the robot are buried in various places around the world. The very first part, a giant hand, was discovered when the earth opened up into a 50 foot deep square shaped hole in Deadwood, S.D., and 11 year-old Rose fell into it. She was found in the palm of a giant hand laying at the bottom of the glowing turquoise hole which was lined with 16 panels that have glowing symbols etched into them. The hand and panels are whisked away and hidden by the government.
That little girl grows up to be Dr. Rose Franklin, who is now the lead scientist on a team who is studying the hand and searching for other body parts after the forearm to the hand is unexpectedly found in Turkey. She figures out a way to search for the other body parts. Brought onto the recovery team are Warrant Officers Kara Resnik and Ryan Mitchell. Later Vincent Couture, a linguist, is added and Alyssa Papantoniou, a geneticist.
The mysterious interviewer brings out the best and the worse in these people as he quizzes them about their work and their thoughts. He is also, always, several steps ahead of them and often it becomes clear that he has his own secret agenda and plans that they know nothing about. He can be very formal, a little sarcastic, sometimes threatening, and is not easily shaken. We have no idea who he works for and why he has so much power and access to important people in very high places.
As the various pieces of the giant robot are found and assembled, no one has specifically addressed the purpose of said alien device and the meaning of it for humanity. Who left it? When exactly were the pieces buried? Why was it left? What is its purpose?
The characters are basically well developed, considering the format used to tell the narrative. The interview technique doesn't allow for minutia or many of the little details that make a character more real to the reader and allow a personal connection. They are an interesting collection of people, though, and that helps. The interview/journal entry technique certainly made the pacing of the novel move along swiftly and ultimately, although not perfect, it did work on many levels.
The ending makes abundantly clear that apparently this is the first in a series of novels and there will be at least a second novel, if not more. A firm 4.5 stars, but I just can't make myself round up here. Perhaps the sequel will change that.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Random House for review purposes.
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LibraryThing member JanaRose1
When bizarre artifacts begin showing up around the world, a team is assembled to study the pieces. The scientists discover that the pieces are “body parts” made of an extremely rare metal. When brought together, the pieces merge, creating a vehicle requiring someone to control its legs and
This was a pretty interesting story. I do think the book description needs to be revamped, as it is more about the “pilots” than Rose, the scientist. I didn’t particularly like the format, but the story caught my attention. Overall, worth reading. I look forward to reading more from this author.
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upper torso. However, only two people are able to connect with the technology.This was a pretty interesting story. I do think the book description needs to be revamped, as it is more about the “pilots” than Rose, the scientist. I didn’t particularly like the format, but the story caught my attention. Overall, worth reading. I look forward to reading more from this author.
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LibraryThing member sleahey
Piece by piece, body part by body part, an enormous robot with unknown and unexpected powers is assembled by a small group of scientists. Kept secret from the public, the ramifications of such a creation presumably put on earth millennia previously, are mostly implied. This novel is in the form of
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interviews between an unknown mastermind and various members of the scientific and governmental communities. The portraits of the main characters bring the science to life, even for readers not interested in physics, and they become real enough so that their problems or demise are disappointing. The ending was completely unexpected to me. Show Less
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Science Fiction — 2017)
Sunburst Award (Shortlist — Adult — 2017)
Seiun Award (Nominee — 2018)
Compton Crook Award (Nominee — 2017)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2019)
Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize (Longlist — Fiction — 2016)
Quebec Writers' Federation Award (Shortlist — First Book — 2016)
Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List (Selection — 2017)
RUSA CODES Listen List (Selection — 2017)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016-04-07
Physical description
320 p.; 6.02 inches
ISBN
0718181689 / 9780718181680
Local notes
Rose Franklin is riding her bike in South Dakota when she falls through the earth. The firemen who come to save her peer down upon a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand. Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved – and Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top-secret team to crack the hand’s code.
One of 750 signed copies with sprayed edges. Goldsboro book of the month club (April 16).
One of 750 signed copies with sprayed edges. Goldsboro book of the month club (April 16).