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Savant
His mind could save the world... if she can save him from the human race.
The Shield is Earth’s only defence. Rendering the planet invisible from space, it keeps humanity safe – and hidden. The exceptional minds of the Actives maintain the Shield; without them it cannot function.
When an Active called Tobe finds himself caught up in a probability loop, the Shield is compromised. Soon, Tobe’s malady spreads among the Actives and Earth becomes vulnerable for the first time in a generation.
Tobe’s assistant, Metoo, is only interested in his wellbeing. Earth security’s paramount concern is the preservation of the Shield. As Metoo strives to prevent Tobe’s masters from undermining his fragile equilibrium, humanity is left dangerously exposed...
The Shield is Earth’s only defence. Rendering the planet invisible from space, it keeps humanity safe – and hidden. The exceptional minds of the Actives maintain the Shield; without them it cannot function.
When an Active called Tobe finds himself caught up in a probability loop, the Shield is compromised. Soon, Tobe’s malady spreads among the Actives and Earth becomes vulnerable for the first time in a generation.
Tobe’s assistant, Metoo, is only interested in his wellbeing. Earth security’s paramount concern is the preservation of the Shield. As Metoo strives to prevent Tobe’s masters from undermining his fragile equilibrium, humanity is left dangerously exposed...
354 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2016
2 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 9, 2017
A bizarre science-fictional novel with compelling characters and consistent but frustratingly unexplained world building.
The Earth of this century is tightly controlled and strictly regimented to support a strange system of Colleges which host Actives. Actives are a subset of Masters who all appear to be some level of autistic savants and have Companions, Assistants and Students. All of these are regimented by brain chips and an ever-present surveillance, monitoring and scheduling system called Service which is run by various categories of Operators. The point of Actives and why so much of the world's resources are dedicated to maintaining them is far from clear, even after it's explained to us. In fact, the explanation raises more questions than it answers.
Anyway, the plot deals with a Master called Tobe who suddenly starts acting strangely and his unusual Companion-Assistant Metoo. Masters acting strangely cause alerts in Service and the situation escalates quickly, apparently putting the whole planet at risk. Metoo becomes intimately involved in the situation, but she is absolutely dedicated to Tobe and supporting him through the crisis.
This is such a strange book. It kept me reading, partly out of fascination, like watching the internals of a complex machine function without any idea of what the machine is for. There's always the hope that the reader might get some background as to how this world came about, or why the world needs the Actives. It actually feels like there are huge swathes of the book missing, and I struggle to understand if that makes the book better (ie, weirder) or not.
Regarding the conclusion and the central issue of the book, which relates to Tobe's odd behavior and brain scans, I simply don't know enough about profoundly autistic people to judge. I do know that it feels wrong to me, as in a fantastical solution to an otherwise real-world intractable problem. A bit like a novel with a magical fairy waving her wand and curing someone of stage 4 cancer would be on the nose.
The Earth of this century is tightly controlled and strictly regimented to support a strange system of Colleges which host Actives. Actives are a subset of Masters who all appear to be some level of autistic savants and have Companions, Assistants and Students. All of these are regimented by brain chips and an ever-present surveillance, monitoring and scheduling system called Service which is run by various categories of Operators. The point of Actives and why so much of the world's resources are dedicated to maintaining them is far from clear, even after it's explained to us. In fact, the explanation raises more questions than it answers.
Anyway, the plot deals with a Master called Tobe who suddenly starts acting strangely and his unusual Companion-Assistant Metoo. Masters acting strangely cause alerts in Service and the situation escalates quickly, apparently putting the whole planet at risk. Metoo becomes intimately involved in the situation, but she is absolutely dedicated to Tobe and supporting him through the crisis.
This is such a strange book. It kept me reading, partly out of fascination, like watching the internals of a complex machine function without any idea of what the machine is for. There's always the hope that the reader might get some background as to how this world came about, or why the world needs the Actives. It actually feels like there are huge swathes of the book missing, and I struggle to understand if that makes the book better (ie, weirder) or not.
Regarding the conclusion and the central issue of the book, which relates to Tobe's odd behavior and brain scans, I simply don't know enough about profoundly autistic people to judge. I do know that it feels wrong to me, as in a fantastical solution to an otherwise real-world intractable problem. A bit like a novel with a magical fairy waving her wand and curing someone of stage 4 cancer would be on the nose.
November 4, 2016
This is a book that I had to think about for several days in order to think of the best way to review it. I'll admit, while I don't usually look at other reviews until I am finished with mine, on this book I did. It was interesting to see how many people did not finish reading the book, for the same reason I'm having trouble reviewing it. That reason is what makes this book so different. I believe once I explain my difficulty, the reader will have enough information to decide whether this is a book they would like to try and also I will be respecting the author's creative intent by not divulging material he author intended for the reader to discover gradually.
When I started reading Savant, the story begins describing a day belonging to a female named Metoo and a male named Tobe. Metoo is Tobe's Assistant and Companion and Tobe is one of the top 3 mathematicians on the Earth. I notice right away that everyone seems to be placed in the job that they have the aptitude for. It is a class system, but one that you test into, not one that you are born into or able to work for. Service Central monitors everyone's behavior. I watch this different Earth and Metoo and Tobe's lives take place. I am hooked. I enjoy this different world. Something does occur giving the reader their conflict and resolution. However, I don't want to spoil anything. The main question is can you be happy not fully understanding what's going on until the end of the book? Its like a puzzle and the author is handing you piece by piece until you are done. There is no back story or explanations of why something is happening. The writer does a good job of pacing and her writing is very well done.
Having written all that, I wasn't as happy when I did get to the end. I felt like something that had been original and interesting ended up boring and slightly immature. However because of how everything unfolded so mysteriously, I think this is a book that would benefit from a re-read.
I like books that don't spoon feed everything to me. I had trouble connecting with the characters at first but that is because these characters are raised to believe they are a job and that is how they act. Like I said earlier, the writing is very good. A lot could be discussed about the world but I want the reader to see it for themselves, as if they have been let off a spaceship to visit for a few days.
This book was provided by the Publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I started reading Savant, the story begins describing a day belonging to a female named Metoo and a male named Tobe. Metoo is Tobe's Assistant and Companion and Tobe is one of the top 3 mathematicians on the Earth. I notice right away that everyone seems to be placed in the job that they have the aptitude for. It is a class system, but one that you test into, not one that you are born into or able to work for. Service Central monitors everyone's behavior. I watch this different Earth and Metoo and Tobe's lives take place. I am hooked. I enjoy this different world. Something does occur giving the reader their conflict and resolution. However, I don't want to spoil anything. The main question is can you be happy not fully understanding what's going on until the end of the book? Its like a puzzle and the author is handing you piece by piece until you are done. There is no back story or explanations of why something is happening. The writer does a good job of pacing and her writing is very well done.
Having written all that, I wasn't as happy when I did get to the end. I felt like something that had been original and interesting ended up boring and slightly immature. However because of how everything unfolded so mysteriously, I think this is a book that would benefit from a re-read.
I like books that don't spoon feed everything to me. I had trouble connecting with the characters at first but that is because these characters are raised to believe they are a job and that is how they act. Like I said earlier, the writing is very good. A lot could be discussed about the world but I want the reader to see it for themselves, as if they have been let off a spaceship to visit for a few days.
This book was provided by the Publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2016
This is a tricky, interesting book. I'm glad I read it.
You are dumped into a world quite different to ours, with little explanation. I ended up reading the book description a few times to understand the starting position a bit better. Basically, the Earth has some sort of super-important shield around it to prevent it being seen by others (we do not find out who). It's powered by extraordinarily clever people, whose abstract thinking on mathematics (and maybe other subjects too, I wasn't sure), makes them into 'Actives'. They are monitored by a security support group called Service. They live in colleges around the world, and each Active has students and assistants.
I'd call Metoo the main character. She is an assistant who looks after Tobe, an Active who has some behaviours that might fall on the autistic spectrum. She has cared for him for years and knows exactly how to respond to his needs. One day something changes, and he starts acting oddly (outside his normal behaviour, at any rate), which makes Service think the shield around the planet is going to fail imminently. Everyone panics. Lots of people get monitored and interviewed. The end.
At first I didn't know what was going on, but kept reading with blind faith that I would eventually figure it all out. The worldbuilding is vague. I suspect it is incredibly solid in the author's mind, but the book is so focused in on the characters that it doesn't go out of its way to explain the world. So you never find out too much about linopro or eggpro and are instead left to guess why 'pro' items are used instead of the real thing. This may or may not matter to you.
Tobe appears to be wrestling with a probability math problem, and this is what seems to send his brain patterns into a tailspin that threatens the world. However, the real cause of his issues, which you discover for sure in the final pages of the book, are quite easily guessed early on and it was slightly frustrating that none of the characters seemed to figure this out. Sure, they are all chosen for their jobs because they have particular types of personalities and maybe not enough of them are inquisitive, but it was frustrating nevertheless.
At the end, the operatives looking into Tobe's mind figure some stuff out about Metoo in particular that seemed to come rather out of nowhere. I wasn't sure whether I'd missed some plot, or if it had just been too subtle to me, or was never there in the first place.
I enjoyed the character studies and seeing the puzzle of the story come together. I'm glad I persevered and got to the end, but I do wonder if I'll be in the minority.
I would read the author again.
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You are dumped into a world quite different to ours, with little explanation. I ended up reading the book description a few times to understand the starting position a bit better. Basically, the Earth has some sort of super-important shield around it to prevent it being seen by others (we do not find out who). It's powered by extraordinarily clever people, whose abstract thinking on mathematics (and maybe other subjects too, I wasn't sure), makes them into 'Actives'. They are monitored by a security support group called Service. They live in colleges around the world, and each Active has students and assistants.
I'd call Metoo the main character. She is an assistant who looks after Tobe, an Active who has some behaviours that might fall on the autistic spectrum. She has cared for him for years and knows exactly how to respond to his needs. One day something changes, and he starts acting oddly (outside his normal behaviour, at any rate), which makes Service think the shield around the planet is going to fail imminently. Everyone panics. Lots of people get monitored and interviewed. The end.
At first I didn't know what was going on, but kept reading with blind faith that I would eventually figure it all out. The worldbuilding is vague. I suspect it is incredibly solid in the author's mind, but the book is so focused in on the characters that it doesn't go out of its way to explain the world. So you never find out too much about linopro or eggpro and are instead left to guess why 'pro' items are used instead of the real thing. This may or may not matter to you.
Tobe appears to be wrestling with a probability math problem, and this is what seems to send his brain patterns into a tailspin that threatens the world. However, the real cause of his issues, which you discover for sure in the final pages of the book, are quite easily guessed early on and it was slightly frustrating that none of the characters seemed to figure this out. Sure, they are all chosen for their jobs because they have particular types of personalities and maybe not enough of them are inquisitive, but it was frustrating nevertheless.
At the end, the operatives looking into Tobe's mind figure some stuff out about Metoo in particular that seemed to come rather out of nowhere. I wasn't sure whether I'd missed some plot, or if it had just been too subtle to me, or was never there in the first place.
I enjoyed the character studies and seeing the puzzle of the story come together. I'm glad I persevered and got to the end, but I do wonder if I'll be in the minority.
I would read the author again.
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2016
The first thing to say is that I bloody loved it. There is a rhythm to the writing which wonderfully echoes the idea of 'service' in the book that every character lives their daily lives by.
Secondly, I didn't really understand quite a lot! This is a fully formed world and isn't rammed full of clunky exposition to explain everything. This is one of the reasons I liked it so much. I detest lengthy background information and tend to regress to speed-reading. I don't NEED to understand everything and I don't think I SHOULD understand everything, especially in a story depicting our future. This creates a sense of 'otherness' which I loved; recognisable as our world, but very different.
As Science Fiction goes, it's less Asimov, Clarke or Bear and more Stanislaw Lem or Philip K Dick.
To sum up, reading Savant sometimes made me feel far less intelligent than I'd like to think I am but, at the same time, because it IS intelligent and strange and clever and beautiful, I felt intelligent and strange and clever and beautiful too. I loved it. Buy it.
Secondly, I didn't really understand quite a lot! This is a fully formed world and isn't rammed full of clunky exposition to explain everything. This is one of the reasons I liked it so much. I detest lengthy background information and tend to regress to speed-reading. I don't NEED to understand everything and I don't think I SHOULD understand everything, especially in a story depicting our future. This creates a sense of 'otherness' which I loved; recognisable as our world, but very different.
As Science Fiction goes, it's less Asimov, Clarke or Bear and more Stanislaw Lem or Philip K Dick.
To sum up, reading Savant sometimes made me feel far less intelligent than I'd like to think I am but, at the same time, because it IS intelligent and strange and clever and beautiful, I felt intelligent and strange and clever and beautiful too. I loved it. Buy it.
October 14, 2016
Science Fiction is the genre of taking chances. Rolling the dice, Savant by Nik Abnett explores what it means to be human from an entirely new perspective. The story revolves around a single deviation in an otherwise ordered existence... a single change that threatens to upend the planet's safety.
The Earth's Shield must be maintained at all costs. But when one of its protectors is distracted, does the center hold?
Tobe is a creature of habit. A highly respected Master at one of Earth's Colleges, Tobe is admired by many for his contributions to pure reason and mathematics. Not only is he obsessed with problem solving, he's also on the spectrum. Unable to deal with life's subtleties or remember one moment from the next, Tobe's limited world view is shattered one fateful morning during breakfast.
Tobe's Assistant-Companion, the dutiful Metoo, watches Tobe's decline into obsession with growing concern. Tobe, one of the rare Actives, unconsciously uses his synaptic energies to fuel the all-encompassing Shield protecting the world from alien attack. Given Tobe's mental fragility, the slightest change in his mindset can (and does) have devastating effects on the planet's security.
Where other Assistants have burned out, Metoo takes her job seriously and is extremely dedicated to Tobe's peace of mind. This speaks strongly to Savant's greatest strength: the characters are extremely down-to-earth and likeable. Because the story revolves around a savant, Abnett is able to reflect and emphasize the traits of others through Tobe. Metoo's kindness is genuine because her reaction to Tobe is genuinely moral. The reader can experience the difficulties of caring for someone like Tobe while reading a good science fiction story.
The world building is also very interesting. Relying on the novel's fast pace and well placed reveals, the Earth of Savant starts off as a mystery to the reader but slowly gains definition as the story progresses. While some dedication to the text is required to see this come to fruition, I found the novel difficult to put down (finishing it in under 2 days). Savant is never bogged down with meaningless complexities. Excellent writing makes this book a page turner.
The alternate Earth in Savant places great value in strict routines, regimens, and systems. From the clothes people wear to the foods they consume, virtually everything has a synthetic alternative. Irrespective of the Draft system in place, society is broken into two distinct groups: those that attend Colleges and the Civilians on the outside. Those with a keen sense of mathematics and analytical reasoning live in squads and study as Students. Elevated positions such as Assistants and Companions exist to serve the Masters, often living with them.
Service is an entire organization dedicated to preserving the fragile minds of the Masters. Tasked with monitoring the wellbeing of those on a College's campus, their Operators watch from behind the scenes in a unique way. Since the world in Savant is practically governed by mental prowess, Operators watch multicolor, aura-like wafers on display monitors. These colors form brainwave patterns of their targets. This alternative take on surveillance fits the society in the novel flawlessly.
Other scientific advances include: genetic blood tests to determine likelihood of being of a savant (presumably detecting mental disease), chip implants with mood adjustments, and a rule-based futuristic world bent on planetary safety and secrecy. It's a world where being born a savant is actually desirable! Not all of these elements are germane to the events in the story, but they do provide the reader with lots of enjoyment.
- About Master Mohammed (side character)
Savant's pacing can make its conclusion feel rushed. There were a few things that were left unexplored (like why most people can't live without brain chips). But it's hard to fault the novel too much since the writing is so good. That fast pacing that glosses over some things does work in the novel's favor, allowing the author to focus on the elements that matter.
Without giving too much of the story away, the character growth is like the progression of a caterpillar into a fine golden swallowtail. The novel functions as the chrysalis in which great development occurs. The concepts and characters were splendid.
If you're looking for a fresh take on science fiction, give Savant a read. I can only hope that other authors see that they can use something other than heroes and antiheroes to tell their tales. Sometimes the best story is about a heartfelt journey, and Savant does this human journey very well. 4/5.
(This book was received from the publisher for a fair and honest review.)
The Earth's Shield must be maintained at all costs. But when one of its protectors is distracted, does the center hold?
Tobe is a creature of habit. A highly respected Master at one of Earth's Colleges, Tobe is admired by many for his contributions to pure reason and mathematics. Not only is he obsessed with problem solving, he's also on the spectrum. Unable to deal with life's subtleties or remember one moment from the next, Tobe's limited world view is shattered one fateful morning during breakfast.
Tobe's Assistant-Companion, the dutiful Metoo, watches Tobe's decline into obsession with growing concern. Tobe, one of the rare Actives, unconsciously uses his synaptic energies to fuel the all-encompassing Shield protecting the world from alien attack. Given Tobe's mental fragility, the slightest change in his mindset can (and does) have devastating effects on the planet's security.
Where other Assistants have burned out, Metoo takes her job seriously and is extremely dedicated to Tobe's peace of mind. This speaks strongly to Savant's greatest strength: the characters are extremely down-to-earth and likeable. Because the story revolves around a savant, Abnett is able to reflect and emphasize the traits of others through Tobe. Metoo's kindness is genuine because her reaction to Tobe is genuinely moral. The reader can experience the difficulties of caring for someone like Tobe while reading a good science fiction story.
The world building is also very interesting. Relying on the novel's fast pace and well placed reveals, the Earth of Savant starts off as a mystery to the reader but slowly gains definition as the story progresses. While some dedication to the text is required to see this come to fruition, I found the novel difficult to put down (finishing it in under 2 days). Savant is never bogged down with meaningless complexities. Excellent writing makes this book a page turner.
The alternate Earth in Savant places great value in strict routines, regimens, and systems. From the clothes people wear to the foods they consume, virtually everything has a synthetic alternative. Irrespective of the Draft system in place, society is broken into two distinct groups: those that attend Colleges and the Civilians on the outside. Those with a keen sense of mathematics and analytical reasoning live in squads and study as Students. Elevated positions such as Assistants and Companions exist to serve the Masters, often living with them.
Service is an entire organization dedicated to preserving the fragile minds of the Masters. Tasked with monitoring the wellbeing of those on a College's campus, their Operators watch from behind the scenes in a unique way. Since the world in Savant is practically governed by mental prowess, Operators watch multicolor, aura-like wafers on display monitors. These colors form brainwave patterns of their targets. This alternative take on surveillance fits the society in the novel flawlessly.
Other scientific advances include: genetic blood tests to determine likelihood of being of a savant (presumably detecting mental disease), chip implants with mood adjustments, and a rule-based futuristic world bent on planetary safety and secrecy. It's a world where being born a savant is actually desirable! Not all of these elements are germane to the events in the story, but they do provide the reader with lots of enjoyment.
He had a hundred, a thousand, hundred thousand ways to decipher numbers and decrypt mathematical symbols. Maths was his music and his linguistics, and the babbling of his brook.
- About Master Mohammed (side character)
Savant's pacing can make its conclusion feel rushed. There were a few things that were left unexplored (like why most people can't live without brain chips). But it's hard to fault the novel too much since the writing is so good. That fast pacing that glosses over some things does work in the novel's favor, allowing the author to focus on the elements that matter.
Without giving too much of the story away, the character growth is like the progression of a caterpillar into a fine golden swallowtail. The novel functions as the chrysalis in which great development occurs. The concepts and characters were splendid.
If you're looking for a fresh take on science fiction, give Savant a read. I can only hope that other authors see that they can use something other than heroes and antiheroes to tell their tales. Sometimes the best story is about a heartfelt journey, and Savant does this human journey very well. 4/5.
(This book was received from the publisher for a fair and honest review.)
August 12, 2016
I’m back with another review of a NetGalley find, this time a science fiction novel due to hit shelves in early October.
Savant is a book centered around an ‘Active’, an outlying individual who helps power the Shield that protects the Earth from unwanted prying eyes. When Active Tobe is caught in a probability loop it affects the well-being of the Shield, and thus, the entire world.
While I’m happy to report that I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t quite what I expected.
From the book synopsis I received, I really was not expecting the character studies that played out within its pages.
Readers are introduced to Master Tobe, an Active, and his Assistant-Companion, Metoo. Metoo is basically a live-in caretaker for Tobe, who I rather quickly figured out is on the autistic spectrum. While there are other characters and perspectives throughout the novel, these two are the main players and the ones that influence the action most.
It was interesting to read about the interplay between characters, because while Metoo and Tobe understood each other, other people often misinterpreted or found Tobe’s actions alarming. The cast of minor characters were compelling and well-fleshed out. Though their actions were frustrating more often than not, they always made sense within the world presented to the reader.
It’s rather quickly established through context that they live in a world quite unlike our own. There is a system of Colleges set up worldwide to enable Service (a global surveillance system) in monitoring the inhabitants within. Civilians are mentioned, but the reader knows nothing of the world outside the Colleges or if indeed there is one.
This is where I felt the novel lacked the most. I would have loved to have seen more in-depth world building. While it’s acknowledged that foods, textiles, and technology are different, the reader doesn’t know why that is the case besides a vague sense of things being set in the future. Beyond the cover of the book mentioning that the Shield is in place to protect Earth from aliens, nothing else is ever said about the nature of the threat from space, or how the Shield came to be in the first place.
I thought this was far less of a science fiction novel than it was an exploration of feelings and an in-depth character study.
The main plot of the book seemed rather shaky to me as I was quickly able to guess the source of Tobe’s distress, and was rather surprised when none of the other characters (especially Metoo) didn’t realize it until the very end. It seemed very unlikely that a society that revolved so much around monitoring people’s state of mind would cause such a panic over such a small thing.
I also thought the book tread on dangerous ground when it came to Master Tobe’s changes and the reason behind them. Autistic individuals have emotions, they just have trouble identifying them. Anxiety and depression can further muddle feelings and make them more difficult to identify. Tobe’s changes and the catalyst for them seemed a little offensive to me – and a little strange as well.
If you’re seeking a sci-fi novel, I would look elsewhere. However, if you’re looking for an exploration of emotion, of human overreaction, and of world building on a minute scale, this is the book for you.
Savant is a book centered around an ‘Active’, an outlying individual who helps power the Shield that protects the Earth from unwanted prying eyes. When Active Tobe is caught in a probability loop it affects the well-being of the Shield, and thus, the entire world.
While I’m happy to report that I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t quite what I expected.
From the book synopsis I received, I really was not expecting the character studies that played out within its pages.
Readers are introduced to Master Tobe, an Active, and his Assistant-Companion, Metoo. Metoo is basically a live-in caretaker for Tobe, who I rather quickly figured out is on the autistic spectrum. While there are other characters and perspectives throughout the novel, these two are the main players and the ones that influence the action most.
It was interesting to read about the interplay between characters, because while Metoo and Tobe understood each other, other people often misinterpreted or found Tobe’s actions alarming. The cast of minor characters were compelling and well-fleshed out. Though their actions were frustrating more often than not, they always made sense within the world presented to the reader.
It’s rather quickly established through context that they live in a world quite unlike our own. There is a system of Colleges set up worldwide to enable Service (a global surveillance system) in monitoring the inhabitants within. Civilians are mentioned, but the reader knows nothing of the world outside the Colleges or if indeed there is one.
This is where I felt the novel lacked the most. I would have loved to have seen more in-depth world building. While it’s acknowledged that foods, textiles, and technology are different, the reader doesn’t know why that is the case besides a vague sense of things being set in the future. Beyond the cover of the book mentioning that the Shield is in place to protect Earth from aliens, nothing else is ever said about the nature of the threat from space, or how the Shield came to be in the first place.
I thought this was far less of a science fiction novel than it was an exploration of feelings and an in-depth character study.
The main plot of the book seemed rather shaky to me as I was quickly able to guess the source of Tobe’s distress, and was rather surprised when none of the other characters (especially Metoo) didn’t realize it until the very end. It seemed very unlikely that a society that revolved so much around monitoring people’s state of mind would cause such a panic over such a small thing.
I also thought the book tread on dangerous ground when it came to Master Tobe’s changes and the reason behind them. Autistic individuals have emotions, they just have trouble identifying them. Anxiety and depression can further muddle feelings and make them more difficult to identify. Tobe’s changes and the catalyst for them seemed a little offensive to me – and a little strange as well.
If you’re seeking a sci-fi novel, I would look elsewhere. However, if you’re looking for an exploration of emotion, of human overreaction, and of world building on a minute scale, this is the book for you.
July 26, 2017
I really wanted to like this book. But it was just... bad. It was confusing and the plot didn't make sense. There was no description of where they were or why the things that happened did. It was a good base idea, poorly executed and not thought-out.
September 29, 2016
There were some definite issues with this book which meant I enjoyed it but found it to be a problem too.
Despite being sci fi and set in a futurist Earth it is sexist as hell, using a lot of 20thCentury gender stereotypes. Some of these come out in how female characters are used some of them are out right stated. On the other hand there are a number of female characters who are excellent and quite varied.
Secondly, and quite crucially was the depiction of neurodivergent people. As you may expect from the title a large part of the plot and setting revolves around certain characteristics which are associated with autism and found in people with autism and other neurodivergent people. At times this is relying on a lot of stereotypes and creates a very flat view of neurodivergence. It also has some very troubling ideas abut how neurodivergence is treated and what characteristics are valued, as well as what it takes to create something "whole" and "functional". I'm not qualified to go in to it in depth but I would to read a review from somebody with autism and working in that field. Some of this is also tied up in the gender issue and gendered views of autistic characteristics.
From a literary perspective I also found the ending to be - not what I had hoped. The writing was building up beautifully but the story just tailed off and was dissatisfying and at odds with the level of detail and care found i the rest of the story. It didn't feel complete.
That being said, I gave the book 4 stars. Because the writing itself, the plot and large parts of the setting were wonderful. I found the pacing to be superb and captivating, the careful and precise descriptions matched the pace and the mood of the story perfectly. And though the language was restrained and the description clinical it wasn't without emotion or care which meant that we got a real sense of who the characters were as they developed with the story.
The setting unfolded along side the plot, each detail giving you more insight in to what was going on and leaving you wanting to know more. It was thoroughly enjoyable to read.
Which is why that ending through me off a little.
Despite being sci fi and set in a futurist Earth it is sexist as hell, using a lot of 20thCentury gender stereotypes. Some of these come out in how female characters are used some of them are out right stated. On the other hand there are a number of female characters who are excellent and quite varied.
Secondly, and quite crucially was the depiction of neurodivergent people. As you may expect from the title a large part of the plot and setting revolves around certain characteristics which are associated with autism and found in people with autism and other neurodivergent people. At times this is relying on a lot of stereotypes and creates a very flat view of neurodivergence. It also has some very troubling ideas abut how neurodivergence is treated and what characteristics are valued, as well as what it takes to create something "whole" and "functional". I'm not qualified to go in to it in depth but I would to read a review from somebody with autism and working in that field. Some of this is also tied up in the gender issue and gendered views of autistic characteristics.
From a literary perspective I also found the ending to be - not what I had hoped. The writing was building up beautifully but the story just tailed off and was dissatisfying and at odds with the level of detail and care found i the rest of the story. It didn't feel complete.
That being said, I gave the book 4 stars. Because the writing itself, the plot and large parts of the setting were wonderful. I found the pacing to be superb and captivating, the careful and precise descriptions matched the pace and the mood of the story perfectly. And though the language was restrained and the description clinical it wasn't without emotion or care which meant that we got a real sense of who the characters were as they developed with the story.
The setting unfolded along side the plot, each detail giving you more insight in to what was going on and leaving you wanting to know more. It was thoroughly enjoyable to read.
Which is why that ending through me off a little.
March 19, 2018
A really odd book...
I wanted to read something a little different so went with this as it seemed that most people who left reviews for it really loved it or really hated it.
I can totally see why!
The book really does throw you in the deep end. There are so many parts that are left for you to figure out or just not explained at all. At one point I thought I'd maybe picked up the second book in a series by mistake and there was a ton of back story I'd just missed. That wasn't the case!
It did make the story oddly compelling as i was always expecting to have everything explained in the next chapter. That largely didn't happen though
That makes for a rather interesting story experience where you have to fill in the gaps yourself. But that really isn't for everyone though and I can understand why a lot of people would just give up on this.
Overall I enjoyed it, even though when it had finished I was just as confused by the ending as I had been the whole way through
I wanted to read something a little different so went with this as it seemed that most people who left reviews for it really loved it or really hated it.
I can totally see why!
The book really does throw you in the deep end. There are so many parts that are left for you to figure out or just not explained at all. At one point I thought I'd maybe picked up the second book in a series by mistake and there was a ton of back story I'd just missed. That wasn't the case!
It did make the story oddly compelling as i was always expecting to have everything explained in the next chapter. That largely didn't happen though
That makes for a rather interesting story experience where you have to fill in the gaps yourself. But that really isn't for everyone though and I can understand why a lot of people would just give up on this.
Overall I enjoyed it, even though when it had finished I was just as confused by the ending as I had been the whole way through
Read
August 23, 2016https://celebrityreaders.wordpress.co...
DNF at 10%
I know, I know, that’s hardly a start before quitting but I just couldn’t get into it. I tried to make myself and that took the fun out of reading right there. Add to the fact that I couldn’t really understand what was happening and it’s a recipe for disaster. There was no context or backstory. How am I supposed to know what the heck a Service is? I think the author expected the reader to understand as we read it. You know, sometimes that happens when world building when things are understood through context. That didn’t happen here.
It was all very dry with lots of linear descriptions. There is no emotion, and nothing happened that was of interest, its like a daily journal of what happened, just facts. It was like reading stereo instructions, just blah.
It’s a shame really since I got this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review but, can’t please us all.
DNF at 10%
I know, I know, that’s hardly a start before quitting but I just couldn’t get into it. I tried to make myself and that took the fun out of reading right there. Add to the fact that I couldn’t really understand what was happening and it’s a recipe for disaster. There was no context or backstory. How am I supposed to know what the heck a Service is? I think the author expected the reader to understand as we read it. You know, sometimes that happens when world building when things are understood through context. That didn’t happen here.
It was all very dry with lots of linear descriptions. There is no emotion, and nothing happened that was of interest, its like a daily journal of what happened, just facts. It was like reading stereo instructions, just blah.
It’s a shame really since I got this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review but, can’t please us all.
October 11, 2016
To begin with this is a confusing book which doesn't explain much about the world you are dropped in. The majority of the book leaves you in the dark. However, in the last few chapters it all becomes clear and everything is brought together.
I really enjoyed this book, especially the last few chapters which really made the book interesting and exciting.
I would recommend though give the caution that it is hard to understand to start with, so as long as you can put up with that it is defiantly worth it.
I really enjoyed this book, especially the last few chapters which really made the book interesting and exciting.
I would recommend though give the caution that it is hard to understand to start with, so as long as you can put up with that it is defiantly worth it.
October 6, 2017
#DNF - DID NOT FINISH.
This book has been pending for a few weeks but I've decided to close it.
It's not for me, that's it.
It's so confusing and I am not really able to set in my mind space, characters and all. I really can't understand it. Sorry.
Maybe it's because I never read in a silent place -- there is no a kind of place in my life.
Scifi and confusion are not really my thing.
I'm really so sorry to label this as "do not finish" since I've got it from netgalley for an honest review, but I really can't go on.
This book has been pending for a few weeks but I've decided to close it.
It's not for me, that's it.
It's so confusing and I am not really able to set in my mind space, characters and all. I really can't understand it. Sorry.
Maybe it's because I never read in a silent place -- there is no a kind of place in my life.
Scifi and confusion are not really my thing.
I'm really so sorry to label this as "do not finish" since I've got it from netgalley for an honest review, but I really can't go on.
February 19, 2018
I like the concept. A collection of "Actives" (autistic trained mathematicians) maintain a shield around the planet to protect it. They are monitored (as is potentially the whole population of Earth) to ensure the system works. Except Tobe's brain shows an anomaly and that escalates monitoring and the panic level. It was cool to see what the monitors watch for. Metoo works as Tobe's assistant guiding him through life and protecting him.
In the book, we are kept in ignorance of the fact that there is a shield for most of the book. We are also not told that Tobe is stuck in a probability loop (although this is strongly hinted out.) However both of these are stated point blank on the back cover. So if we are supposed to be kept in suspense, it doesn't work. And if we aren't, I'd like to be told more about these key points.
There's also the sci fi. We find out a decent amount about the monitoring/call buttons/schedule. At the beginning, there are "eggpro", "cottonpro", "rubberpro", etc which are synthetics. This is fine. It sets the stage for being in a different world. But then on page 227, we see the new "paperpro" which is jarring. It's the first new synthetic in over 150 pages. And also, paper? Really?
The ending felt a bit abrupt. It was obvious Metoo was key but then at the end it becomes stated so quickly and then the book wraps up.
In the book, we are kept in ignorance of the fact that there is a shield for most of the book. We are also not told that Tobe is stuck in a probability loop (although this is strongly hinted out.) However both of these are stated point blank on the back cover. So if we are supposed to be kept in suspense, it doesn't work. And if we aren't, I'd like to be told more about these key points.
There's also the sci fi. We find out a decent amount about the monitoring/call buttons/schedule. At the beginning, there are "eggpro", "cottonpro", "rubberpro", etc which are synthetics. This is fine. It sets the stage for being in a different world. But then on page 227, we see the new "paperpro" which is jarring. It's the first new synthetic in over 150 pages. And also, paper? Really?
The ending felt a bit abrupt. It was obvious Metoo was key but then at the end it becomes stated so quickly and then the book wraps up.
January 12, 2020
Review originally published in SFX magazine, issue 280 (December 2016). 3.5 stars.
--
Procedures and protocols exist for perfectly sound reasons; any big organisation would grind to a halt if it had to reinvent the wheel for each new case. But knowing that doesn’t stop the sound of a customer-service script being recited down the phone from feeling vaguely Kafkaesque.
In an SF setting, these frustrations can become art. When a chance (perhaps) observation and a student’s confusion trigger enhanced surveillance from the faceless overseers of Service, the bureaucratic nightmare in which maths professor Tobe and his assistant Metoo become embroiled has shades of Douglas Adams or of Terry Gilliam’s Brazil. While this novel never reaches the absurdist heights of either of those, there’s plenty of amusement and a certain sort of ghoulish fascination on offer in its picture of a system created and run by humans that nonetheless utterly fails to understand or account for human behaviour. The prose style is infodumpy to an off-putting degree – deliberately apeing, perhaps, the nuance-free system it’s evoking – but watching this train come off the rails under the pressure of its own logical-illogic is bizarrely compelling, page-turning stuff, even if Abnett doesn’t quite stick the landing.
--
Procedures and protocols exist for perfectly sound reasons; any big organisation would grind to a halt if it had to reinvent the wheel for each new case. But knowing that doesn’t stop the sound of a customer-service script being recited down the phone from feeling vaguely Kafkaesque.
In an SF setting, these frustrations can become art. When a chance (perhaps) observation and a student’s confusion trigger enhanced surveillance from the faceless overseers of Service, the bureaucratic nightmare in which maths professor Tobe and his assistant Metoo become embroiled has shades of Douglas Adams or of Terry Gilliam’s Brazil. While this novel never reaches the absurdist heights of either of those, there’s plenty of amusement and a certain sort of ghoulish fascination on offer in its picture of a system created and run by humans that nonetheless utterly fails to understand or account for human behaviour. The prose style is infodumpy to an off-putting degree – deliberately apeing, perhaps, the nuance-free system it’s evoking – but watching this train come off the rails under the pressure of its own logical-illogic is bizarrely compelling, page-turning stuff, even if Abnett doesn’t quite stick the landing.
July 6, 2019
Well, this book is clearly polarizing - as you'll see if you read the other reviews here.
I waffled for a week before I concluded this is 2 stars, not 4. (See https://startupdj.com/book-rating-rules ).
In what can often be a good story-telling technique, the author develops an entire system of how the Earth, and it's occupants, live without providing a formal description. You are to build your context for the word from the ongoing actions of the progenitors.
While I will often appreciate this, and the effort made me wonder if this was a 4- or 5-star book, the author did not fill in *enough* of the world to make you satisfied that you've assembled in your brain enough of a picture to "buy in" to the world. Thus, it becomes a 2-star book.
Sadly, this author didn't provide enough. And - most importantly - the resolution of the conflict at the end end of the story felt like a resignation by the author, saying something to himself like:
To its credit, the book definitely carries tension & plot well. But, it is a bit too bad; I might have enjoyed it more had it completed the job the author set out to do.
I waffled for a week before I concluded this is 2 stars, not 4. (See https://startupdj.com/book-rating-rules ).
In what can often be a good story-telling technique, the author develops an entire system of how the Earth, and it's occupants, live without providing a formal description. You are to build your context for the word from the ongoing actions of the progenitors.
While I will often appreciate this, and the effort made me wonder if this was a 4- or 5-star book, the author did not fill in *enough* of the world to make you satisfied that you've assembled in your brain enough of a picture to "buy in" to the world. Thus, it becomes a 2-star book.
Sadly, this author didn't provide enough. And - most importantly - the resolution of the conflict at the end end of the story felt like a resignation by the author, saying something to himself like:
I'm a bit out of gas, and can't figure out how to resolve this smoothly. I've spent so much time on the tension, and the editor is pushing for a complete book, and I was to spend as much time telling about *why* this tension exists, the book would be 500 pages, and I'm not up for that. So, I'm going to wrap it up, and hope for the best.
To its credit, the book definitely carries tension & plot well. But, it is a bit too bad; I might have enjoyed it more had it completed the job the author set out to do.
August 10, 2023
What a strange book. I don't mean that as a bad thing, we read Sci Fi to find something different, but the world described in this book was so obscure, and unexplained it might not be to everyones taste. The back of the book helpfully states "The Shield is Earth’s only defence. Rendering the planet invisible from space, it keeps humanity safe – and hidden.". This doesn't merit a mention in the actual book until page two hundred and something, and it's not a long book. So I don't know if that's a spoiler, but if so it's not mine. I struggled to link anything the back of the books said to the story and it could so easily have been describing a different book. This one could just be a statistical analysis of scrambled eggs.
However this book presented a different world and an interesting scenario of paranoid reaction to the unexplained. I like different.
However this book presented a different world and an interesting scenario of paranoid reaction to the unexplained. I like different.
October 13, 2021
The Shield is Earth's only defence. Rendering the planet invisible from space, it keeps humanity safe from alien invasion. The Actives maintain the shield - no one is sure how - but without them, the Shield cannot function. When an Active called Tobe finds himself caught in a probability loop, the Shield is compromised. Soon, Tobe's malady spreads among the Active. Earth becomes vulnerable. Tobe's assistant, Metoo, is only interested in his wellbeing. Earth security's paramount concern is the preservation of the Shield. As Metoo strives to prevent Tobe's masters from undermining his fragile equilibrium, humanity is left dangerously exposed...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... is a much better review than i could write - and i agree with it.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... is a much better review than i could write - and i agree with it.
August 23, 2017
This novel did not sit well with me. I liked the science concepts but the author seemed unable to make me care about the characters. I did not like that all the information was withheld until the very end when the whole system and its purpose was finally explained. I spent most of the book being confused about why any of this was necessary. Needed a lot more world building. It just wasn't believable.
September 26, 2017
I read. A lot. Both for pleasure and as part of my job. it has been a while since I have been so taken by a book. I couldn't put it down and found myself almost racing to find out what was gonna happen next, but then I had to slow down because so much was happening that I was missing things and having to go back and re read parts. This weirdly enough added to my enjoyment of the book as it gave me a better understanding of what was happening. A fantastic story.
August 22, 2017
I thought it was an interesting story and while I enjoyed the characters and the way Abnett slowly revealed more about the greater context of the society and why this particular portion of it exists there are still too many unanswered questions about the purpose of everything within the society that leave me wondering what was the point of it all?
October 16, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a really interesting experiment; the story pushes the meaning of the term "in media res" to the limit by starting without much explanation for its complicated sci-fi world (either alternate Earth or Earth in future, it's unclear). My sense is that those who stuck with this book felt rewarded by the time they got to the end, but I just couldn't hack it - there are so many absorbing sci-fi reads out there, and since there were a few issues with gender and so that made it a little boring and predictable in the midst of all the mystery, I didn't feel like I could put in the effort to finish it. But I don't think that means necessarily that it's a bad book, just that it wasn't for me.
This is a really interesting experiment; the story pushes the meaning of the term "in media res" to the limit by starting without much explanation for its complicated sci-fi world (either alternate Earth or Earth in future, it's unclear). My sense is that those who stuck with this book felt rewarded by the time they got to the end, but I just couldn't hack it - there are so many absorbing sci-fi reads out there, and since there were a few issues with gender and so that made it a little boring and predictable in the midst of all the mystery, I didn't feel like I could put in the effort to finish it. But I don't think that means necessarily that it's a bad book, just that it wasn't for me.
April 26, 2018
Interesting concept, but the stakes never feel that high despite what the book tries to tell you.
January 20, 2020
Easy to read but dreadfully thin. Left one feeling hungry and not for more.
March 13, 2020
An interesting world setting, which kept me reading throughout the prolonged build up to a somewhat unbelievable and disappointing denouement. A good light read for a holiday.
February 26, 2017
Okay, so Savant is the story of Tobe and Metoo, and I don't really want to say more about the story, simply because I don't think I can give much of a description of it without giving something away.
Savant is a damn good, slow burn, which unravels as the pages pass. I found it to be a page turner which surprised me at how quickly I read it. I am a slow reader but with Savant I zipped through it at quite a lick for me. I think it was three weeks that I smashed through it with the last half of the book in about a week, which is pretty impressive for me. It really pulls you along and it's easy to read it in small doses and not loose the momentum of the story.
The pace of the story is impressive, it never feels like it's speeding up or slowing down but just leads up to the story's climax very naturally. There's no real world building in the story, but everything you need to know is revealed as the story progresses, and revealed at the right time to give the answers needed.
The writing is very beautiful and it was easy to picture what was going on while not having too much detail of the surroundings inserted into the text.
If you want a book that spoon-feeds you everything, or is action packed, then this isn't the book for you. If you want something that has depth, a little mystery, varied and engaging characters. A storyline that slowly gains pace to it's climax, then this book is worth checking out.
Savant is a damn good, slow burn, which unravels as the pages pass. I found it to be a page turner which surprised me at how quickly I read it. I am a slow reader but with Savant I zipped through it at quite a lick for me. I think it was three weeks that I smashed through it with the last half of the book in about a week, which is pretty impressive for me. It really pulls you along and it's easy to read it in small doses and not loose the momentum of the story.
The pace of the story is impressive, it never feels like it's speeding up or slowing down but just leads up to the story's climax very naturally. There's no real world building in the story, but everything you need to know is revealed as the story progresses, and revealed at the right time to give the answers needed.
The writing is very beautiful and it was easy to picture what was going on while not having too much detail of the surroundings inserted into the text.
If you want a book that spoon-feeds you everything, or is action packed, then this isn't the book for you. If you want something that has depth, a little mystery, varied and engaging characters. A storyline that slowly gains pace to it's climax, then this book is worth checking out.
December 31, 2017
My initial thoughts, just a few pages in, were “Oh no. This is going to be awful.” It started with a genius with apparently severe autism called Tobe. Tobe is helped by an assistant and companion called Metoo. Then there’s Tobe’s student (of which he has several, all with the same name to save him the bother of learning them) called Pitu 3. The floor is covered in linopro, Metoo wears cottonpro socks, she makes Tobe eggpro for breakfast. You get the idea.
For some reason (explained at the very, very end of the book) Tobe suddenly becomes obsessed with statistics. Statistics is considered a solved problem, and Tobe is supposed to be one of the greatest mathematicians in the world, so this represents odd behaviour. Tobe is, as a genuis mathematician, considered a master. In this story, some masters are also “actives”, and actives somehow protect the planet by hiding from mysterious forces which would attack it if they found it. How this works is never explained, but it requires large facilities, or colleges, where the actives, their students, companions, assistants, and all the necessary support staff live. It’s also important that no one ever finds out which of the masters are actives.
Because of the unexplained threat to the Earth, and because of the secrecy regarding which masters are actives, all of the masters are monitored carefully. Indeed, basically everyone is monitored constantly. This monitoring takes the form of watching strings float about on a screen – the strings represent brain activity and might be a thought or an emotion or almost anything else. When Tobe starts thinks about statistics, the mysterious people in charge start worring – this could threaten the safety of the planet. For some reason. So far, this is all getting very sci-fi world build-y.
I actually got drawn in. A lot of it is very compelling. I wanted to know how the monitoring worked. I wanted to know how the Earth’s safety net worked. I wanted to know what the threats were. When I read about a college where things had gone wrong, I wanted to know more about the experiences of the people there (although, to be fair, there’s probably enough about that college in this particular novel). I found myself liking some of the characters and amused that alongside Tobe, Metoo and Pitu 3, we also had characters named things like Bob. I mean, why not? Screw me for getting annoyed at the daft names, right?
So I was ready to admit that I’d been wrong, and as the odd detail filled in the gaps I got really into it. I was worried that I was more than half way through with plenty of questions still unanswered, but we were getting there. The story was getting exciting and I read the second half quite quickly. Then, annoyingly, the end kind of just falls flat. The problem gets solved a bit too conveniently and everyone goes back to normal.
I think the world that has been built here is fascinating (yes, in spite of myself) and I want to know more about it, but the story seems to have been added simply so we can read about the world. There are some fun character studies here too, but again, since we don’t have a good story for the characters to be involved in, it’s hard to enjoy the book as a whole. If Abnett wrote a sequel and the narrative was there, I’d be at the front of the queue to buy a copy. As it is, I’m just hoping that this was the first novel she needed to get some practise with.
For some reason (explained at the very, very end of the book) Tobe suddenly becomes obsessed with statistics. Statistics is considered a solved problem, and Tobe is supposed to be one of the greatest mathematicians in the world, so this represents odd behaviour. Tobe is, as a genuis mathematician, considered a master. In this story, some masters are also “actives”, and actives somehow protect the planet by hiding from mysterious forces which would attack it if they found it. How this works is never explained, but it requires large facilities, or colleges, where the actives, their students, companions, assistants, and all the necessary support staff live. It’s also important that no one ever finds out which of the masters are actives.
Because of the unexplained threat to the Earth, and because of the secrecy regarding which masters are actives, all of the masters are monitored carefully. Indeed, basically everyone is monitored constantly. This monitoring takes the form of watching strings float about on a screen – the strings represent brain activity and might be a thought or an emotion or almost anything else. When Tobe starts thinks about statistics, the mysterious people in charge start worring – this could threaten the safety of the planet. For some reason. So far, this is all getting very sci-fi world build-y.
I actually got drawn in. A lot of it is very compelling. I wanted to know how the monitoring worked. I wanted to know how the Earth’s safety net worked. I wanted to know what the threats were. When I read about a college where things had gone wrong, I wanted to know more about the experiences of the people there (although, to be fair, there’s probably enough about that college in this particular novel). I found myself liking some of the characters and amused that alongside Tobe, Metoo and Pitu 3, we also had characters named things like Bob. I mean, why not? Screw me for getting annoyed at the daft names, right?
So I was ready to admit that I’d been wrong, and as the odd detail filled in the gaps I got really into it. I was worried that I was more than half way through with plenty of questions still unanswered, but we were getting there. The story was getting exciting and I read the second half quite quickly. Then, annoyingly, the end kind of just falls flat. The problem gets solved a bit too conveniently and everyone goes back to normal.
I think the world that has been built here is fascinating (yes, in spite of myself) and I want to know more about it, but the story seems to have been added simply so we can read about the world. There are some fun character studies here too, but again, since we don’t have a good story for the characters to be involved in, it’s hard to enjoy the book as a whole. If Abnett wrote a sequel and the narrative was there, I’d be at the front of the queue to buy a copy. As it is, I’m just hoping that this was the first novel she needed to get some practise with.
August 20, 2025
Confusing and convoluted, with a clinical tone that makes you feel like you should be getting answers but nothing is said in the chapter.
The ending 'payoff' comes out of nowhere (at best there are maybe six chapters of build up) and the wrap up is lackluster.
The characters feel organic, which helps the story and they all feel like they have unique traits, but there are so many names thrown around that it is hard to keep track of them when several are shown once and never again.
There is a suicide scene that feels extremely unnecessary and, other than being remarked upon as an "I could have helped him" moment, it doesn't affect the characters at all.
All in all I spent the book confused and slightly bored. The premise isn't really explained for some time and so the stakes for the story don't feel urgent even though it's "the end of the world". They also mention that the reason this is bad is that the "earth would become visible" but not why that's important? Or why it would put people at risk?
On top of the actual story premise I feel like Tobe was very very autistic coded (which was probably on purpose with the title of SAVANT) but it felt like they spent a lot of the book claiming that the way things were 'saved' was because he was being 'cured' of being an 'active' (cough*autistic coded*cough) by being able to experience emotions.
Tagline
Halcyon squints suspiciously at a possibly ableist novel because there is literally nothing else that stands out.
All in all 1.5/5
The ending 'payoff' comes out of nowhere (at best there are maybe six chapters of build up) and the wrap up is lackluster.
The characters feel organic, which helps the story and they all feel like they have unique traits, but there are so many names thrown around that it is hard to keep track of them when several are shown once and never again.
There is a suicide scene that feels extremely unnecessary and, other than being remarked upon as an "I could have helped him" moment, it doesn't affect the characters at all.
All in all I spent the book confused and slightly bored. The premise isn't really explained for some time and so the stakes for the story don't feel urgent even though it's "the end of the world". They also mention that the reason this is bad is that the "earth would become visible" but not why that's important? Or why it would put people at risk?
On top of the actual story premise I feel like Tobe was very very autistic coded (which was probably on purpose with the title of SAVANT) but it felt like they spent a lot of the book claiming that the way things were 'saved' was because he was being 'cured' of being an 'active' (cough*autistic coded*cough) by being able to experience emotions.
Tagline
Halcyon squints suspiciously at a possibly ableist novel because there is literally nothing else that stands out.
All in all 1.5/5
September 26, 2016
From Solaris Books comes Savant, the first full novel from Nik Abnett, who might be more familiar to some under the name Nik Vincent. A brave, adventurous book, it’s set in a recognisable but clearly different world where the Earth is protected from the rest of the galaxy by a shield generated by the minds of certain key individuals. A complex system of roles and organisation keeps minds like these around the world calm and functioning in order to safeguard the shield, but when one man begins to stray from his usual routine the entire system risks falling apart.
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
December 13, 2016
I went into this book really intrigued by the idea, but found it a bit of a let down. The author needed to spend more time explaining the world (such as what service is - which you only vaguely figure out by reading the whole book and why they need to protect themselves from external threats). I felt like I understoond the world better from the book description than the whole first half of the book. I was expecting some reveal at the end that would justify the lack of information, but there was no grand twist that explained this.
The book did have interesting qualities and I felt like it had a lot of potential, it just wasn't what I wanted out of it.
The book did have interesting qualities and I felt like it had a lot of potential, it just wasn't what I wanted out of it.
abandoned
September 24, 2016DNF after 100 pages. I really want to like this, but I still can't find anything to hang on to. Opaque.
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