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Blocks
After a century long absence the dysfunctional crew of a prototype spaceship return to a verdant Earth to find the cities deserted and mankind missing. Thirteen gargantuan monoliths, each one occupying an area larger than Tokyo and standing taller than Everest, are the only clues to the fate of humanity. The enigmatic ebony structures, the Blocks, squat silently on the surface of the world seemingly without purpose or meaning. A few half-savage children struggle for survival in the shadow of the silent brooding Blocks knowing they cannot escape their attention for much longer. Searching for answers the crew and the children each find their way inside one huge monolith to discover that its’ secrets are far more bizarre and horrific than they ever imagined.
- GenresScience Fiction
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 11, 2026
'Blocks' is an impressive science fiction novel that seamlessly integrates many different genres into one very interesting story, focusing on the future of humans in relation to freedom vs control.
Blocks creates a sense of mystery early in the book. The reader is introduced to the Block, which is the only thing known to mankind, where millions of children have disappeared without any reason in this bleak future. Mina's journey aboard Small Business appears to have nothing to do with the Block storyline, but as the book continues, it slowly develops into a connection to the Block's larger story. This duality of the book adds to the story's suspense, as readers must continue reading in order to unlock the mystery to both the Block's and Mina's stories.
The book's greatest strength is its world-building. The Block is more than just an object; it represents power, safety, oppression and survival. As the novel progresses, readers discover hidden societies, advanced technology, and resistance movements, creating a world that feels both vast and carefully crafted. The transition from a survival-themed book to a book examining on a larger scale what the future holds for humanity is done very well.
As the main character in this story about trying to find Tress, Battery Boy was a remarkable protagonist because of his determination to complete his journey. Mina is also a very captivating character, and through her experiences and discoveries, she broadens the scope of the book. Additional characters such as Stuff, Grain, Sara, and Jugger add layers to the storyline; however, with so many characters, it is sometimes difficult to feel deeply connected to all of them.
The authors have done an admirable job of exploring moral ambiguity throughout the story. Instead of creating a classic hero-villain dynamic, Blocks forces readers to question whether it is worth sacrificing freedom for safety, whether control can be justified for the purpose of necessity, and what obligations come with one's ability to make one's own choices. The Block itself serves as a representation of these moral ambiguities and provides for a thought-provoking experience well after the conclusion of the story.
Tara Basi's prose is written in an easy-to-read way and uses vivid imagery to illustrate the abandoned communities or the underground locations, as well as the deteriorating nature of the spacecraft. While the novel uses vivid imagery very well, it often puts forth "the idea or world-building" as more important than providing depth of emotion. Many of the reunifications, sacrifices and character moments that are important could have been given more attention to allow for more thoughtful reflection on them. Furthermore, the more exposition-heavy sections slowed down the pacing of the reading experience, especially in the middle portion between those major sections and character events.
These issues could be resolved to elevate the overall quality of the story even further. Additionally, another lingering issue is that there should have been a single major human antagonist to pursue the conflict of the story more personally.
If the above issues were resolved, the book would have been much more thought-provoking or imaginative, although it exhibits many unique qualities as an original piece of science fiction literature. A significant amount of thought and consideration must be given to blocks for the establishment of a lasting memory in readers' minds following the reading of the book.
Blocks creates a sense of mystery early in the book. The reader is introduced to the Block, which is the only thing known to mankind, where millions of children have disappeared without any reason in this bleak future. Mina's journey aboard Small Business appears to have nothing to do with the Block storyline, but as the book continues, it slowly develops into a connection to the Block's larger story. This duality of the book adds to the story's suspense, as readers must continue reading in order to unlock the mystery to both the Block's and Mina's stories.
The book's greatest strength is its world-building. The Block is more than just an object; it represents power, safety, oppression and survival. As the novel progresses, readers discover hidden societies, advanced technology, and resistance movements, creating a world that feels both vast and carefully crafted. The transition from a survival-themed book to a book examining on a larger scale what the future holds for humanity is done very well.
As the main character in this story about trying to find Tress, Battery Boy was a remarkable protagonist because of his determination to complete his journey. Mina is also a very captivating character, and through her experiences and discoveries, she broadens the scope of the book. Additional characters such as Stuff, Grain, Sara, and Jugger add layers to the storyline; however, with so many characters, it is sometimes difficult to feel deeply connected to all of them.
The authors have done an admirable job of exploring moral ambiguity throughout the story. Instead of creating a classic hero-villain dynamic, Blocks forces readers to question whether it is worth sacrificing freedom for safety, whether control can be justified for the purpose of necessity, and what obligations come with one's ability to make one's own choices. The Block itself serves as a representation of these moral ambiguities and provides for a thought-provoking experience well after the conclusion of the story.
Tara Basi's prose is written in an easy-to-read way and uses vivid imagery to illustrate the abandoned communities or the underground locations, as well as the deteriorating nature of the spacecraft. While the novel uses vivid imagery very well, it often puts forth "the idea or world-building" as more important than providing depth of emotion. Many of the reunifications, sacrifices and character moments that are important could have been given more attention to allow for more thoughtful reflection on them. Furthermore, the more exposition-heavy sections slowed down the pacing of the reading experience, especially in the middle portion between those major sections and character events.
These issues could be resolved to elevate the overall quality of the story even further. Additionally, another lingering issue is that there should have been a single major human antagonist to pursue the conflict of the story more personally.
If the above issues were resolved, the book would have been much more thought-provoking or imaginative, although it exhibits many unique qualities as an original piece of science fiction literature. A significant amount of thought and consideration must be given to blocks for the establishment of a lasting memory in readers' minds following the reading of the book.
February 29, 2016
Good story. Some elements of the Matrix and War of the Worlds mixed in.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews