Seveneves [Free sampler]

by Neal Stephenson

The astounding new novel from the master of science fiction.

What would happen if the world were ending?

When a catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb, it triggers a feverish race against the inevitable. An ambitious plan is devised to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere. But unforeseen dangers threaten the intrepid pioneers, until only a handful of survivors remain…

Five thousand years later, their progeny – seven distinct races now three billion strong – embark on yet another audacious journey into the unknown, to an alien world utterly transformed by cataclysm and time: Earth.

A writer of dazzling genius and imaginative vision, Neal Stephenson combines science, philosophy, technology, psychology, and literature in a magnificent work of speculative fiction that offers a portrait of a future that is at once extraordinary and eerily recognizable. He explores some of our biggest ideas and perplexing challenges in a breathtaking saga that is daring, engrossing, and altogether brilliant.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Classics, Science Fiction

Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2015

About the author

Neal Stephenson is the author of Reamde, Anathem, and the three-volume historical epic the Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World), as well as Cryptonomicon, The Diamond Age, Snow Crash, and Zodiac. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Reviews

[Joseph Jaquinta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've decided I don't like "the world is about to end!" books, where the world actually ends. Although you can't have drama without dynamic tension, I've also decided I like books about the triumph of the human spirit, rather than the triumph of human pettiness and self promotion. I do realize this is self indulgent, and, as literature, the former makes for a better treatise on the human condition.
The first 2/3 of the book is quite different from the last 1/3. Switching to an entirely new setting 2/3 the way through necessitated lots of plot exposition that kind of sucked down the narrative at that point. Also there wasn't really one plot goal that connected both parts and reached a crescendo at the end. The whole might have been better as two separate books, with the last 1/3 given more things to cover, and a conclusion that felt less like a gap before a sequel.

[Leorah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am amazed how well Stephenson sucked me into a believable world of incredible science and altered humanity.

[Humphrey Bueno · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tras terminar la lectura de Siete Evas estoy cuestionando seriamente mi costumbre de no abandonar las obras antes de su final, con esta me arrepiento de no haberlo hecho.
Stephenson, autor consagrado de la SF, nos ofrece un aburridísimo lote de páginas y páginas explicando métodos y mecanismos, probable transcripción de los aspectos técnicos que le hayan transmitido sus múltiples colaboradores-asesores, absolutamente irrelevantes para las tramas.
Nos relata con todo tipo de detalle y profusión de páginas como construir a toda prisa una plataforma espacial que acoja a miles de personas, como trasportar un cometa de hielo desde su trayectoria original hasta dicha plataforma o como crear una sociedad a partir de siete mujeres fértiles sin la existencia de hombres. A título de ejemplo emplea varias páginas en relatar como una de las protagonistas se coloca paso a paso un artefacto de planeo y luego otras tantas en ilustrarnos en como se coje una térmica.
Sin embargo quedan sin explicación plausible asuntos tan trascendentales en la novela como:
¿Qué es lo que destruye la luna?
¿Cómo una lluvia de escombros lunares arrasan la faz de la tierra pero ni tocan a la plataforma espacial?
¿De qué se alimentaban tres mil millones de personas en el espacio?
¿Como se crean seres de la nada para repoblar con ellos la tierra?
¿Cómo esa sociedad que vive y prospera en el espacio no tiene tecnología suficiente para guardar archivos de su historia y carece de recursos para construir una fábrica de armas?
¿Por qué con la caída de escombros lunares la atmósfera se quedó sin oxígeno que fue sustituido por gases tóxicos que arrasaron la vida en la tierra?
¿Y si es así como sobrevivieron personas en el subsuelo y en el mar?
En esta obra el autor se ha dedicado a divagar sobre un eventual situación futura explayándose en largas y tediosas explicaciones sobre algunos aspectos obviando otros.
¡Bien!, pero ¿Y la novela?. Literariamente lamentable.
Por cierto, soy aficionado a la SF pero con esta obra se me hizo bola, tardé más de un mes en concluirla.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOOOVVED this book.
In quintessential Stephenson style, it takes a concept, goes incredibly deep into it with a very readable story driving it. (Personally prefer his sci-fi not alt-history stuff).
The earth is going to be fried and we're all going to die. What will humanity do to ensure its survival and how will the people react in selfless sacrifice and terribly negatively in response.
This is really 2 books in 1, with the second showing what happens next.
Yes, you need to suspend belief and the characters are sometimes stereotypical. But beyond that, this is a great sci-fi book.
Stephenson - write more of these please!!!

[Aligato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read many of his books now, and this was my favorite. Never been the biggest fan of his character writing, but he spent a lot of good pages in the hard sci fi realm and the plot was really compelling. I particularly enjoyed the section where humans were trying to find a stable and safe place to stay, before they reached the Cleft. I wish he'd been able to spend more time on the genetic manipulation section, but this book was already so thick and juicy I'll wait for another one from him on that topic. Overall, a great read on near-Earth space and the technicalities of surviving a world-ending disaster caused by rocks in our planet's orbit.

[Glenn Burnside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Might have to pick up the full book over Christmas break.

[Ali Yabba · Rating 1 out of 5]

bad.

[X · Rating 1 out of 5]

After I realized later parts where thousands of years in the future, I stopped caring about the present.

[Sam Bledsoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another blockbuster by Neal Stephenson-- and the best ever, I think. Enormously imaginative and thought-provoking, a wholly plausible scenario evolves as expected but contingencies intercede in creative patterns. And the entire epic changes character half way through, emphasizing human drama as intertwined with novel techno-innovation. Alive with ideas and speculative technology.
Downers? Maybe just a little pedantic/verbose in places, things slow down (but watch for the bomb!), mind wanders. These are few and not all that long. Mostly things zip right along.

I found it a long, satisfying fun read.

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed it & looking forward to the full book as soon as I get through my backlog