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The Bequeathal: Godsent
The Bequeathal: GODSENT
In a post-crash, rebooted world, Eugene Reece is one of the billions of pre-indebted citizens whose lives are augmented by the virtualized intellects of the deceased. If anything, his stats tag him average, though a notch more disillusioned and a degree less spirited than the next, permanently connected individual but his surplus dose of ironic self-derision makes him slightly discrepant. The tedium of Eugene's drudge is forever broken during one of his habitual visits to Soho and a too-good-to-pass offer of beta-testing a personal entertainment clone. This results in expensive and fatal biological damage and, although accidental, his indecipherable crime earns him the attentions of the anti-terror agency, subjection to unimaginable torture, and untimely physical death.
And that's when his life really begins...
Prior to the filming of a blockbuster trilogy, Keany Reeves said he was required to read three books before he even saw the script. One of those was by Jean Baudrillard and another from the internationally acclaimed Introducing... series.
Now, in GODSENT, a contributor to several books from the same series, and co-author of Introducing Baudrillard, who has also had rare personal access to the great cultural theorist, has taken simulacra to reality. In this fast-paced SF novel, he combines fresh philosophical notions with original concepts of digitised afterlife and reconstructed psyche to bring us to a brand-new evolutionary stage.
In a post-crash, rebooted world, Eugene Reece is one of the billions of pre-indebted citizens whose lives are augmented by the virtualized intellects of the deceased. If anything, his stats tag him average, though a notch more disillusioned and a degree less spirited than the next, permanently connected individual but his surplus dose of ironic self-derision makes him slightly discrepant. The tedium of Eugene's drudge is forever broken during one of his habitual visits to Soho and a too-good-to-pass offer of beta-testing a personal entertainment clone. This results in expensive and fatal biological damage and, although accidental, his indecipherable crime earns him the attentions of the anti-terror agency, subjection to unimaginable torture, and untimely physical death.
And that's when his life really begins...
Prior to the filming of a blockbuster trilogy, Keany Reeves said he was required to read three books before he even saw the script. One of those was by Jean Baudrillard and another from the internationally acclaimed Introducing... series.
Now, in GODSENT, a contributor to several books from the same series, and co-author of Introducing Baudrillard, who has also had rare personal access to the great cultural theorist, has taken simulacra to reality. In this fast-paced SF novel, he combines fresh philosophical notions with original concepts of digitised afterlife and reconstructed psyche to bring us to a brand-new evolutionary stage.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
306 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2013
2 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 10, 2014
Well, this came out of nowhere. Was browsing the Amazon and saw this in bestselling high-tech SF but never heard of the author previously. It cost a cup of coffee, so I grabbed it.
So far I'm stunned (still reading it). Written in a classic SF style but mixing heavy duty slang and future technology, the ideas are expansive. Existential and social issues mixed with augmented, transcended and virtual interactions. There's a nasty 'capitarch', a posh 'cadavatar', a genius 'neurosynth' and the accidental hero who becomes a 'demiurgic enabler', but fun aside – read it if only for having the balls to dismiss the possibility of Kurzweil's singularity!
Very fresh, very unexpected and better than any coffee at keeping me awake!! Love it so far, will update when finished reading.
So far I'm stunned (still reading it). Written in a classic SF style but mixing heavy duty slang and future technology, the ideas are expansive. Existential and social issues mixed with augmented, transcended and virtual interactions. There's a nasty 'capitarch', a posh 'cadavatar', a genius 'neurosynth' and the accidental hero who becomes a 'demiurgic enabler', but fun aside – read it if only for having the balls to dismiss the possibility of Kurzweil's singularity!
Very fresh, very unexpected and better than any coffee at keeping me awake!! Love it so far, will update when finished reading.
December 11, 2013
When I finished reading Godsent, The Bequeathal, I couldn't start another book for days because I had to digest everything that I had just experienced. This is so educational and as for action, you sometimes do not know where reality is, then just as you work it out, another twist comes over. The main character is under constan't 'shit-storm' and doesn't get a break until the very last page! Stonking ideas on future lives, tech-afterlife, human condition and the nature of being, yet very accessible and brilliantly describing the undescribable.
I too predict these ideas will be lifted by other writers very quickly. I love goodreads although I'm not actively involved, but this time I felt I had to make an exception. THis book is so far ahead, it made me feel privileged to have discovered it early. On the other hand, in reading it, my expectations skyrocketed so high that I fear it'll take me a long time to find another of the same level. Even if Sci-fi is at the far end of your vocabulary, you simply must not miss Godsent.
I too predict these ideas will be lifted by other writers very quickly. I love goodreads although I'm not actively involved, but this time I felt I had to make an exception. THis book is so far ahead, it made me feel privileged to have discovered it early. On the other hand, in reading it, my expectations skyrocketed so high that I fear it'll take me a long time to find another of the same level. Even if Sci-fi is at the far end of your vocabulary, you simply must not miss Godsent.
February 2, 2014
Amazing debut and unlike any SF story I have encountered. Definitely hardcore.
December 12, 2013
I wanted to like this as I'm interested in the theme but couldn't finish it. I think there is a good book in there but this is not it. The prose is flabby and bloated, the character's (especially the protagonist) incredibly annoying (his reference's to sex, read like the musings of a hormonal 14yr old) and there is lots and lots of exposition to wade through.
Although it seems to have a publisher (Neverworld Books), to me it felt very much like a self published novel. It desperately needs a good editor to cut through the clunk and streamline the often verbose writing style of the author. Unfortunately I gave up around the 40% mark, as I stopped caring.
Although it seems to have a publisher (Neverworld Books), to me it felt very much like a self published novel. It desperately needs a good editor to cut through the clunk and streamline the often verbose writing style of the author. Unfortunately I gave up around the 40% mark, as I stopped caring.
February 13, 2014
Extraordinary depictions of afterlife and collective consciousness. For me, this novel was a journey of discovery on so many subjects -- AI, mind capture, simulacrums, transumanism and existentialism -- yet it was all easy to understand. The best thing is that it manages to be uplifting, despite being told through dark, satirical fiction. The ideas in this book could easily spawn a new evolutionary theory or even a religion!
December 26, 2013
Superb for a debut. Was given this for a present from a Sci-Fi fanatic friend, and what a revelation it was. Like nothing I've read before. All new, mind-shattering ideas. Highly recommended.
December 27, 2013
Like nothing I've read before as far as SF is concerned. Touches on everything and gives a brand new perspective of humanity's purpose. Should be made into a movie as a matter of urgency.
March 1, 2017
Pure awesome, different, huge. I read it twice in 2 years - how's this not on every sf list?
October 14, 2014
Took me a while to finish this book due to severe family tribulations, but I am so glad I did, as it came at the right time. Simply put, this is one of the most inspiring stories I ever read. It literally spells out the point of it all, while delving deep into science, evolution, technology and spirituality. It is a Sci-Fi story, of course – so it’s fast, violent, cynical and even shocking at times, but it is also something much more. Thoroughly unexpectedly, out of darkest, filthiest dregs of our ineptitude, this book manages to reveal a stunning purpose of our existence. And it plots its road map! I am not qualified to label it philosophical, but I’ll say the thinking is damn incredible for a novel. On a negative note, this is probably far too clever for wider, zombie/magic/robot-fed audiences and will never reach mainstream. Feels good to be privileged, though.
March 8, 2014
Different in a good way and an eye-opener -- this one revived my faith in contemporary scifi. Probably one of the best new works if you like hard sf, existentialist or intellectual thought but not an easy read if you're only just discovering the genre...
September 24, 2014
More than one friend insisted I read it. Slow starter but what ideas. It opened up horizons I didn't know existed.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews