WWW: Wake

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It's a hit!

What would happen if the World Wide Web became self aware is the simple premise of the first book in this brand new trilogy by Robert Sawyer. The s... (show more)

What would happen if the World Wide Web became self aware is the simple premise of the first book in this brand new trilogy by Robert Sawyer. The story itself starts out relatively simple as Caitlin receives an experimental implant to help reverse her blindness. What happens next is an incredible tale of a software re-write & the tale of how the Internet slowly becomes a living breathing learning entity as it learns along thew way. Interspersed throughout the novel are 2 additional plot lines involving communication between 2 different primate species & an Internet firewall used to block news of of China regarding an epidemic of bird flu. While these sub-plots are never really connected back into the main one, there are still 2 more stories coming in this series in 2010 & 2011 which will likely bring all of this together. The star though of the book itself though is the Web itself & Caitlin's ability to recognize that it is learning how to become self aware & trying to aid her mystery phantom in any way possible. A definite must read & I can't wait for the sequel in 2010. (show less)

 

 

by Paul E. Lunger

No, it's a flop!

I liked the premise of this story. I also liked the character of Caitlin. She was very interesting and I could relate to her.

However, I was frust... (show more)

I liked the premise of this story. I also liked the character of Caitlin. She was very interesting and I could relate to her.

However, I was frustrated when several promising plot threads were introduced and then dropped mid story. In fact, at one point I was more interested in the subplot about dissidents in China and spent at least half an hour trying to skim the book to see how it resolved. My search was fruitless.

The story was promoted as an adult sci-fi novel, but I felt it worked better as a young adult book. Its protagonist was a teenager, and it appeared to be an unconventional coming-of-age adventure. My enjoyment wasn't less because of this, but I wasn't expecting it. (show less)

 

 

by Tami Richardson

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  Annoyingly written in parts, couldn't help but smile at the local references. Main plot threads come together satisfyingly while the rest are left to the the rest of the series.

  PW: "The wildly thought-provoking first installment of Sawyer's WWW trilogy, serialized in Analog in 2008 and 2009, explores the origins and emergence of consciousness. Blind teen Caitlin Decter gets an experimental signal-processing implant that inexplicably opens up her vision to the wondrous infrastructure o... (show more)

  Annoyingly written in parts, couldn't help but smile at the local references. Main plot threads come together satisfyingly while the rest are left to the the rest of the series.

  PW: "The wildly thought-provoking first installment of Sawyer's WWW trilogy, serialized in Analog in 2008 and 2009, explores the origins and emergence of consciousness. Blind teen Caitlin Decter gets an experimental signal-processing implant that inexplicably opens up her vision to the wondrous infrastructure of the World Wide Web. Inside the Web is a newborn “webmind,” a globe-spanning self-contained consciousness that is just becoming aware of the outside world. Secondary plot threads about a highly intelligent hybrid primate and Chinese bloggers battling a repressive government extend the motif of expanding awareness. The thematic diversity—and profundity—makes this one of Sawyer's strongest works to date. Numerous dangling plot threads are an unnecessary pointer to the forthcoming books; readers will keep coming back for the ideas." (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Jan 02, 2010 at 04:12PM

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  I have read all of Robert J. Sawyer's books and found them all at least interesting. His latest deals (as Sawyer always does) with interesting ideas; this time involving the world wide web gaining consciousness, a monkey who can paint, and a disease outbreak in China. In this book, the three story lines have not come together yet, but I assume in the next two books of the trilogy they eventually will. The book features a clear prose and sympathetic characters, but overall I believe it dragged... (show more)

  I have read all of Robert J. Sawyer's books and found them all at least interesting. His latest deals (as Sawyer always does) with interesting ideas; this time involving the world wide web gaining consciousness, a monkey who can paint, and a disease outbreak in China. In this book, the three story lines have not come together yet, but I assume in the next two books of the trilogy they eventually will. The book features a clear prose and sympathetic characters, but overall I believe it dragged a bit too much. I fell his earlier books have definitely been better paced. Overall, an interesting story, well written. (show less)

   

   

  by Christoph Schiessl on Aug 01, 2009 at 12:47PM

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