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In the Company of Mind
Corporate Mentality
In the sequel to Company of Mind, Lance Michaels is sent out to reprogram a rogue hive of microscopic nanobots before a disaster can occur, only to discover that the hive is under the control of a psychotic child with plans to send the nanobots out to seize power over the entire human-occupied galaxy.
- GenresFiction
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1999
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Steven Piziks
19 books24 followersSteven Harper Piziks was born in Saginaw, Michigan, but he moved around a lot and has lived in Wisconsin, Germany, and (briefly) Ukraine. Currently he lives with his three sons in southeastern Michigan.
His novels include In the Company of Mind and Corporate Mentality, both science fiction published by Baen Books. Writing as Steven Harper for Roc Books, he has produced The Silent Empire series. He’s also written books based on Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and The Ghost Whisperer, as well as the movie novelization Identity, which he managed under a deadline of only three weeks. His numerous short stories have appeared, among other places, in all but one of Esther Friesner’s Chicks in Chainmail anthologies and in all of her humorous suburban fantasy anthology. Currently he’s working on The Clockwork Empire steampunk trilogy for Ace Book.
His novels include In the Company of Mind and Corporate Mentality, both science fiction published by Baen Books. Writing as Steven Harper for Roc Books, he has produced The Silent Empire series. He’s also written books based on Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and The Ghost Whisperer, as well as the movie novelization Identity, which he managed under a deadline of only three weeks. His numerous short stories have appeared, among other places, in all but one of Esther Friesner’s Chicks in Chainmail anthologies and in all of her humorous suburban fantasy anthology. Currently he’s working on The Clockwork Empire steampunk trilogy for Ace Book.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 13, 2018
Oh, such mixed feelings about this book! I actually had no idea it was a sequel until just now, and I'm very curious about the first one.
So.
Pluses: This novel is compelling and well-paced. The future that the author imagines takes the idea of nanotechnology to its limits, with fascinating results. The protagonist is a believable personality, expertly balancing deeply relatable humanity with an intriguing sense of otherness based on their very unique circumstances.
Minuses: The overarching plot is less interesting than the smaller details of the storyline-- don't expect to be terribly surprised by the way it turns out. That's easily forgivable, however, given how enjoyable the book is to read. No, the real problem here is the author's choice of antagonist: the most offensively trope-heavy portrayal of the Embittered Disabled Person (female and minority, for extra Otherness), who is miserable because she was born disabled and therefore wants everyone else to suffer too. Because, you know, people born with severe disabilities can't Possibly have Normal, Happy Lives (yes, that's sarcasm). It's all the more frustrating because the protagonist represents such an open-minded future in many ways.
So. Very mixed feelings. TLDR: awesome storytelling/offensive villain.
So.
Pluses: This novel is compelling and well-paced. The future that the author imagines takes the idea of nanotechnology to its limits, with fascinating results. The protagonist is a believable personality, expertly balancing deeply relatable humanity with an intriguing sense of otherness based on their very unique circumstances.
Minuses: The overarching plot is less interesting than the smaller details of the storyline-- don't expect to be terribly surprised by the way it turns out. That's easily forgivable, however, given how enjoyable the book is to read. No, the real problem here is the author's choice of antagonist: the most offensively trope-heavy portrayal of the Embittered Disabled Person (female and minority, for extra Otherness), who is miserable because she was born disabled and therefore wants everyone else to suffer too. Because, you know, people born with severe disabilities can't Possibly have Normal, Happy Lives (yes, that's sarcasm). It's all the more frustrating because the protagonist represents such an open-minded future in many ways.
So. Very mixed feelings. TLDR: awesome storytelling/offensive villain.
March 19, 2019
NanoBot techno thriller
Full review coming soon, for both books since there aren't many. I've listened to the first book "In The Company of Mind" several times. It's so disturbing, but interesting that I'm just getting to this one years later.
This one can be read on it's own, but you won't get Lance's rather colorful background story.
Full review coming soon, for both books since there aren't many. I've listened to the first book "In The Company of Mind" several times. It's so disturbing, but interesting that I'm just getting to this one years later.
This one can be read on it's own, but you won't get Lance's rather colorful background story.
June 13, 2013
I loved In the Company of Mind and hated Corporate Mentality by the same ratio. It's as though the author had an idea so good that he had to use it again, but the second time proved to be a pale shadow of the first.
One of the central premises of this book is that the twins had a mother who abandoned them. This just doesn't make any sense on any level, does the author have kids or know people with kids? The mother is portrayed as a good person making her actions totally unbelievable. She abandoned her kids and didn't try to keep in touch with them even though it was easily done. Apparently she thought about them all the time, but couldn't be bothered to even write a letter!!!!!! This structural flaw killed the book for me.
Adding to my misery was that the author used the same format for this book as he did for Company of the Mind, it was an exercise of rinse and repeat. People who haven't read the first book at least are spared this hideous lack of originality.
Another issue for me was that I listened to this book and Arthur Gingold was the narrator. Please Arthur, get another job, you are unbelievably bad. Your english accent characters made me want to drive a stick into my ear to end the pain. I have listened to 100s of audio books, your narration is the first that drove to to distraction.
One of the central premises of this book is that the twins had a mother who abandoned them. This just doesn't make any sense on any level, does the author have kids or know people with kids? The mother is portrayed as a good person making her actions totally unbelievable. She abandoned her kids and didn't try to keep in touch with them even though it was easily done. Apparently she thought about them all the time, but couldn't be bothered to even write a letter!!!!!! This structural flaw killed the book for me.
Adding to my misery was that the author used the same format for this book as he did for Company of the Mind, it was an exercise of rinse and repeat. People who haven't read the first book at least are spared this hideous lack of originality.
Another issue for me was that I listened to this book and Arthur Gingold was the narrator. Please Arthur, get another job, you are unbelievably bad. Your english accent characters made me want to drive a stick into my ear to end the pain. I have listened to 100s of audio books, your narration is the first that drove to to distraction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2008
Not great literature, but an interesting premise. I liked learning about the twins and their backstory more than the actual "plot" of the book, but that was sufficient. Parts were very well done.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews