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The Sleepless
Journalist Jamie Vega is Sleepless: he can’t sleep, nor does he need to. When his boss dies on the eve of a controversial corporate takeover, Jamie doesn’t buy the too-convenient explanation of suicide, and launches an investigation of his own.
But everything goes awry when Jamie discovers that he was the last person who saw Simon alive. Not only do the police suspect him, Jamie himself has no memory of that night. Alarmingly, his memory loss may have to do with how he became Sleepless: not naturally, like other Sleepless people, but through a risky and illegal biohacking process.
As Jamie delves deeper into Simon’s final days, he tangles with extremist organizations and powerful corporate interests, all while confronting past traumas and unforeseen consequences of his medical experimentation. But Jamie soon faces the most dangerous decision of all as he uncovers a terrifying truth about Sleeplessness that imperils him—and all of humanity.
But everything goes awry when Jamie discovers that he was the last person who saw Simon alive. Not only do the police suspect him, Jamie himself has no memory of that night. Alarmingly, his memory loss may have to do with how he became Sleepless: not naturally, like other Sleepless people, but through a risky and illegal biohacking process.
As Jamie delves deeper into Simon’s final days, he tangles with extremist organizations and powerful corporate interests, all while confronting past traumas and unforeseen consequences of his medical experimentation. But Jamie soon faces the most dangerous decision of all as he uncovers a terrifying truth about Sleeplessness that imperils him—and all of humanity.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 2, 2022
109 people are currently reading
10406 people want to read
About the author
Victor Manibo
5 books196 followersVictor Manibo is a Filipino novelist living in New York. A 2022 Lambda Literary Emerging Voices Fellow, he is the author of the science fiction novels THE SLEEPLESS and ESCAPE VELOCITY. His first crime novel, DEAD NOTE, comes out May 2025 from Bonnier Books. His first horror novel, THE VILLA, ONCE BELOVED, comes out November 2025 from Erewhon Books. Aside from fiction, he also spins fantastical tales in his career as a lawyer. He lives in Queens with his husband and their pets. Find him online at victormanibo.com and on most social media platforms @victormanibo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
August 27, 2022
In a Nutshell: I liked it. I didn’t love it. There are a few novel elements in this sci-fi thriller but the rest of the plot is somewhat standard.
Story Synopsis:
✔ I like the concept of the Sleepless. Rather than making this plot a typical cli-fi dystopian thriller, the author focusses instead on the impact of 24-hour-functional people on the planet. It delves into both pros and cons of being Sleepless.
❌ Because it is a novel concept, there’s a lot of time dedicated to establishing what Sleepless go through. It gets monotonous after a while.
✔ The futuristic world-building is great. Rather than making the 2043 lifestyle too outlandish, the author extrapolates from our current scientific developments and provides what might be the most realistic depiction of two decades later.
❌ A lot of time goes in explaining the tech and life of the future, especially in the first half. This kills the pacing.
✔ There is great rep in the book. Jamie Vega is a Filipino bisexual. His boss Simon is of Indian origin. There are other LGBTQ+ characters as well.
❌ While Jamie’s Filipino roots come out strongly through his family’s lifestyle and food habits (the author’s own Filipino background would have undoubtedly helped), Simon’s Indian background feels pretty vague and at times, poorly sketched. No Hindu funeral would be held in a temple, for instance. Also, Simon is a common name among Indian Christians, certainly not among Hindus.
✔ The book is tagged as a Sci-fi mystery. I’ve written about the sci-fi angle above. The mystery aspect is fairly convoluted with enough distractions to throw you off track.
❌ A great part of the book goes in establishing the mystery in the first half – lots of conversation, barely any action. The final section contains a lot of info-dumping to explain the mystery. The ending is quite sedate. I wasn’t blown away by the mystery part of the content, though I enjoyed the sci-fi parts.
✔ Jamie’s narration isn’t as rambling as first person povs usually are. His observation is more practical than emotional. While he is an unreliable narrator to a certain extent, the cause of this is explained very well in the plot, and it has nothing to do with alcohol or drug overuse. In other words, he isn’t as irritating as first-person characters in thrillers often are.
❌ Because we hear from Jamie, we hear a lot about his past as well as his present. The timeline isn’t linear but regularly goes into flashbacks. The pacing gets affected because of all the forays into Jamie’s backstory, which gets quite extended attention.
✔ At the surface level, the book appears to cover a lot of themes – the impact of the Sleepless on world resources, political and corporate profiteering methods, widespread drug abuse without guilt over usage, mental health issues, suicide, and grief handling. Most of these are done fair justice to.
❌ If you dig deep, you will see that it is just another story with an investigative journalist digging into a covered-up murder and finding out more on his own than the police forces can. It’s just the dystopian+futuristic combination that adds the novelty.
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at almost 13 hrs, is narrated by Joel de la Fuente. He handles the reading very well and does justice to the story. Those who are comfortable with audiobooks will certainly enjoy this audio version. Can’t recommend it to audio newbies as they might get confused with the changing timelines.
All in all, there are enough reasons to enjoy this #OwnVoices sci-fi mystery, but I expected to love it a lot more. If you are looking for an unusual thriller set around the intriguing concept of “Sleepless” people, please do give this a try. For a debut work, it is quite ambitious and hits enough targets to keep you entertained.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to RB Media and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Sleepless”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
2043. After a pandemic, about two billion people in the world are now “The Sleepless”, staying awake for days on end with no ability/need to sleep. This creates a new class of people who function 24x7, working all hours of the day, earning more and spending more than regular people.
Jamie Vega, an investigative reporter with a media company, is one such Sleepless. When his boss Simon is found dead in his office apparently having killed himself, Jamie doesn’t buy it. He sets off looking into what might have led Simon to this end, thereby uncovering plenty of shady dealings and corporate politics. All the while, he is also battling another issue – his Sleeplessness has created an unexpected side-effect.
The story comes to us in the first person pov of Jamie.
✔ I like the concept of the Sleepless. Rather than making this plot a typical cli-fi dystopian thriller, the author focusses instead on the impact of 24-hour-functional people on the planet. It delves into both pros and cons of being Sleepless.
❌ Because it is a novel concept, there’s a lot of time dedicated to establishing what Sleepless go through. It gets monotonous after a while.
✔ The futuristic world-building is great. Rather than making the 2043 lifestyle too outlandish, the author extrapolates from our current scientific developments and provides what might be the most realistic depiction of two decades later.
❌ A lot of time goes in explaining the tech and life of the future, especially in the first half. This kills the pacing.
✔ There is great rep in the book. Jamie Vega is a Filipino bisexual. His boss Simon is of Indian origin. There are other LGBTQ+ characters as well.
❌ While Jamie’s Filipino roots come out strongly through his family’s lifestyle and food habits (the author’s own Filipino background would have undoubtedly helped), Simon’s Indian background feels pretty vague and at times, poorly sketched. No Hindu funeral would be held in a temple, for instance. Also, Simon is a common name among Indian Christians, certainly not among Hindus.
✔ The book is tagged as a Sci-fi mystery. I’ve written about the sci-fi angle above. The mystery aspect is fairly convoluted with enough distractions to throw you off track.
❌ A great part of the book goes in establishing the mystery in the first half – lots of conversation, barely any action. The final section contains a lot of info-dumping to explain the mystery. The ending is quite sedate. I wasn’t blown away by the mystery part of the content, though I enjoyed the sci-fi parts.
✔ Jamie’s narration isn’t as rambling as first person povs usually are. His observation is more practical than emotional. While he is an unreliable narrator to a certain extent, the cause of this is explained very well in the plot, and it has nothing to do with alcohol or drug overuse. In other words, he isn’t as irritating as first-person characters in thrillers often are.
❌ Because we hear from Jamie, we hear a lot about his past as well as his present. The timeline isn’t linear but regularly goes into flashbacks. The pacing gets affected because of all the forays into Jamie’s backstory, which gets quite extended attention.
✔ At the surface level, the book appears to cover a lot of themes – the impact of the Sleepless on world resources, political and corporate profiteering methods, widespread drug abuse without guilt over usage, mental health issues, suicide, and grief handling. Most of these are done fair justice to.
❌ If you dig deep, you will see that it is just another story with an investigative journalist digging into a covered-up murder and finding out more on his own than the police forces can. It’s just the dystopian+futuristic combination that adds the novelty.
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at almost 13 hrs, is narrated by Joel de la Fuente. He handles the reading very well and does justice to the story. Those who are comfortable with audiobooks will certainly enjoy this audio version. Can’t recommend it to audio newbies as they might get confused with the changing timelines.
All in all, there are enough reasons to enjoy this #OwnVoices sci-fi mystery, but I expected to love it a lot more. If you are looking for an unusual thriller set around the intriguing concept of “Sleepless” people, please do give this a try. For a debut work, it is quite ambitious and hits enough targets to keep you entertained.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to RB Media and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Sleepless”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
August 23, 2022
OUT NOW!!
The Sleepless is a queer genre-blending story, combining so many genres in one. From Sci-fi (set in 2043) to mystery/thriller to literary, with a pandemic causing sleeplessness at its core.
I’m not a huge Sci-fi reader, but I devour stories like this, only wanting more, more, and more. Jamie is a journalist and one of the 25% sleepless people in the world, dealing with loss in different ways. He doesn’t have nightmares and other dreams to process unhappy experiences. He’s on 24 hours a day.
What I liked most in this story were those little snippets thrown around. Things you take for granted at first and then start to question. Things slowly coming to the surface, and each time you’ll think, aw, that makes sense, or sh*t, I should have known. There are so many themes handled in this book. Of course, the sleeplessness, does that make the world better? Or worse? But the story is also about mental health issues, suicide, grief, and queerness, even though the last one isn’t even discussed. It’s just there. I laughed when Jamie talked about coming out to his parents. Not because he was queer but because he was sleepless.
Victor Manibo is a name to watch out for, and I can’t wait to see what he writes next!
I received an ARC from Ehrewon Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Follow me on Instagram
The Sleepless is a queer genre-blending story, combining so many genres in one. From Sci-fi (set in 2043) to mystery/thriller to literary, with a pandemic causing sleeplessness at its core.
I’m not a huge Sci-fi reader, but I devour stories like this, only wanting more, more, and more. Jamie is a journalist and one of the 25% sleepless people in the world, dealing with loss in different ways. He doesn’t have nightmares and other dreams to process unhappy experiences. He’s on 24 hours a day.
What I liked most in this story were those little snippets thrown around. Things you take for granted at first and then start to question. Things slowly coming to the surface, and each time you’ll think, aw, that makes sense, or sh*t, I should have known. There are so many themes handled in this book. Of course, the sleeplessness, does that make the world better? Or worse? But the story is also about mental health issues, suicide, grief, and queerness, even though the last one isn’t even discussed. It’s just there. I laughed when Jamie talked about coming out to his parents. Not because he was queer but because he was sleepless.
Victor Manibo is a name to watch out for, and I can’t wait to see what he writes next!
I received an ARC from Ehrewon Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Follow me on Instagram
August 6, 2023
Another Highly Recommended Disappointment
This science fiction thriller came highly recommended. Like many such books, it failed to live up to its stellar
reputation.
Good, Until it Wasn’t
This was mildly compelling until it wasn’t.
I was pretty interested until the half way mark. Then, for me, it rapidly devolved.
Main character and narrator Jamie Vega’s neuroses and obsessions turned from interesting to irritating. And the plot became increasingly unbelievable as he made a series of stupid decisions that got him in more and more trouble.
Also, things got more preachy as the tale went on. (Mostly Jamie speechifying).
I found Jamie’s moral indignation a bit problematic, as he sees no problem with continually lying to all the people he supposedly cares about most.
Also, although he lied to everyone around him, he didn’t appear to be an unreliable narrator.
That was a strange discrepancy.
Some background: Jamie Vega is a young rising star journalist at media company C+P. He becomes sleepless part way through the book. He also uncovers some dangerous secrets about the sleeplessness pandemic which is the centerpiece of the story.
The Good Stuff
The world building was pretty good.
The idea of a pandemic in the near future which rendered a large minority of the world’s population sleepless was kind of credible. (Although this is a type of health problem for which no current parallel exists. Which is why I said it was sort of believable).
The depiction of a near future New York City with a large sleepless population was entirely credible extrapolating forward from New York (“The City that Never Sleeps”) as it is now. And the writer clearly knows the city.
Problematic Audio Narration
Actor Joel de la Fuente might have been a decent audio reader if there hadn’t been so many issues and mistakes with his reading.
(It seems as if screen acting and audio reading are different skills. Although some actors are good readers, many are not).
The audio narrator did get the Filipino accents of Jamie’s family correct, which I would expect considering that de la Fuente is from a Filipino background.
However, he botched other accents. A fellow from Manchester England, instead of having the appropriate Mancunian accent, is given a phony-sounding British aristo (RP) accent.
Also, de la Fuente made a fair number of mistakes in reading. He repeatedly pronounced “chyron” as “cryon” and read “XFrames” as “XF Frames” for example.
However, I don’t want to blame the downhill slide of the book on the narrator. It wasn’t his fault; it was the writer’s.
This science fiction thriller came highly recommended. Like many such books, it failed to live up to its stellar
reputation.
Good, Until it Wasn’t
This was mildly compelling until it wasn’t.
I was pretty interested until the half way mark. Then, for me, it rapidly devolved.
Main character and narrator Jamie Vega’s neuroses and obsessions turned from interesting to irritating. And the plot became increasingly unbelievable as he made a series of stupid decisions that got him in more and more trouble.
Also, things got more preachy as the tale went on. (Mostly Jamie speechifying).
I found Jamie’s moral indignation a bit problematic, as he sees no problem with continually lying to all the people he supposedly cares about most.
Also, although he lied to everyone around him, he didn’t appear to be an unreliable narrator.
That was a strange discrepancy.
Some background: Jamie Vega is a young rising star journalist at media company C+P. He becomes sleepless part way through the book. He also uncovers some dangerous secrets about the sleeplessness pandemic which is the centerpiece of the story.
The Good Stuff
The world building was pretty good.
The idea of a pandemic in the near future which rendered a large minority of the world’s population sleepless was kind of credible. (Although this is a type of health problem for which no current parallel exists. Which is why I said it was sort of believable).
The depiction of a near future New York City with a large sleepless population was entirely credible extrapolating forward from New York (“The City that Never Sleeps”) as it is now. And the writer clearly knows the city.
Problematic Audio Narration
Actor Joel de la Fuente might have been a decent audio reader if there hadn’t been so many issues and mistakes with his reading.
(It seems as if screen acting and audio reading are different skills. Although some actors are good readers, many are not).
The audio narrator did get the Filipino accents of Jamie’s family correct, which I would expect considering that de la Fuente is from a Filipino background.
However, he botched other accents. A fellow from Manchester England, instead of having the appropriate Mancunian accent, is given a phony-sounding British aristo (RP) accent.
Also, de la Fuente made a fair number of mistakes in reading. He repeatedly pronounced “chyron” as “cryon” and read “XFrames” as “XF Frames” for example.
However, I don’t want to blame the downhill slide of the book on the narrator. It wasn’t his fault; it was the writer’s.
August 28, 2022
4.0 stars
This was a gripping sci fi thriller that explores a future where certain people have lost the need to sleep. The book reminded me of Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress, but I found the explanations surrounding the sleeplessness to be more believable.
I thought the author painted a realistic picture of how Sleepless people might be treated in society. He describes the potential advantages for productivity but also depicts the fear and prejudice that would likely emerge.
On top of an intriguing idea, this science fiction novel also offered a really engaging plot. There was a fantastic mystery at the center of the story, which created some good suspense. I found myself always dying to get back to the book because I truly wanted to know what was going to happen next. I thought the characters were all nuanced and complex in ways that made them relatable.
Needless to say, I was very impressed by this new release and would highly recommend it to readers looking for an engaging, smart sci-fi thriller.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a gripping sci fi thriller that explores a future where certain people have lost the need to sleep. The book reminded me of Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress, but I found the explanations surrounding the sleeplessness to be more believable.
I thought the author painted a realistic picture of how Sleepless people might be treated in society. He describes the potential advantages for productivity but also depicts the fear and prejudice that would likely emerge.
On top of an intriguing idea, this science fiction novel also offered a really engaging plot. There was a fantastic mystery at the center of the story, which created some good suspense. I found myself always dying to get back to the book because I truly wanted to know what was going to happen next. I thought the characters were all nuanced and complex in ways that made them relatable.
Needless to say, I was very impressed by this new release and would highly recommend it to readers looking for an engaging, smart sci-fi thriller.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
August 1, 2022
Actual rating: 4.5
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What's that? A reader who generally does not enjoy sci-fi actually loves a sci-fi book? I thoroughly enjoyed The Sleepless from start to finish. Set in the not-too-distant future, this murder mystery that borders on being a thriller asks the question, what if there is a pandemic that makes about a quarter of the population unable and unneeding of sleep? What would the repercussions be in terms of public health, how big corporations would respond, how work-life balance would shift, and how the media would portray such a phenomenon?
Despite not being able to mentally keep track of all the characters, the fact that this story held my interest from start to finish says a lot about this book. The main character is a compelling narrator, not necessarily because he is an endearing character but because his thought process and the way he views his many different relationships were so interesting to follow. I also found the dialogue to be realistic and the themes that this story touches on to be thought-provoking. The pacing of the book was also nearly perfectly executed with each chapter unraveling the mystery just a little bit more without feeling like the reader is being forced to turn the pages the way most thrillers do. I honestly would love to see this book adapted as a film since reading this felt almost like watching a Jason Bourne movie, though less edge-of-your-seat.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for any future works from Victor Manibo. He's definitely an author to watch, especially in the speculative thriller scene.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What's that? A reader who generally does not enjoy sci-fi actually loves a sci-fi book? I thoroughly enjoyed The Sleepless from start to finish. Set in the not-too-distant future, this murder mystery that borders on being a thriller asks the question, what if there is a pandemic that makes about a quarter of the population unable and unneeding of sleep? What would the repercussions be in terms of public health, how big corporations would respond, how work-life balance would shift, and how the media would portray such a phenomenon?
Despite not being able to mentally keep track of all the characters, the fact that this story held my interest from start to finish says a lot about this book. The main character is a compelling narrator, not necessarily because he is an endearing character but because his thought process and the way he views his many different relationships were so interesting to follow. I also found the dialogue to be realistic and the themes that this story touches on to be thought-provoking. The pacing of the book was also nearly perfectly executed with each chapter unraveling the mystery just a little bit more without feeling like the reader is being forced to turn the pages the way most thrillers do. I honestly would love to see this book adapted as a film since reading this felt almost like watching a Jason Bourne movie, though less edge-of-your-seat.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for any future works from Victor Manibo. He's definitely an author to watch, especially in the speculative thriller scene.
August 22, 2022
E-ARC provided by Erewhon Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
4.5 stars. While a bit slow to start, The Sleepless is a promising debut that is one part speculative thriller and one part a searing examination of science, technology, and capitalism through the eyes of a queer Filipino protagonist.
4.5 stars. While a bit slow to start, The Sleepless is a promising debut that is one part speculative thriller and one part a searing examination of science, technology, and capitalism through the eyes of a queer Filipino protagonist.
May 27, 2025
Wow. This book was simply amazing and original. I don't think I've ever read a story/plot quite like this. Also, I didn't think I was a fan of speculative fiction, but this one totally changed my mind! It's hard to believe this a debut. Victor Manibo is a shining star. I will definitely read more from him in the near future. His writing style is so slick, emotive, and entertaining. I truly connected with the main protagonist, Jamie. You can really feel the anguish and frustration he feels when it comes to his past trauma and current dilemmas. The whole sleepless storyline was unique. I can totally see why this book is receiving glowing reviews. My only gripe is the book feels a little long, but overall - I loved every second of this cat and mouse game.
April 14, 2024
3.75*
Thank you to Netgalley and Erewhon Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings: suicide, loss of a loved one, depression, drug abuse, violence, blood, self-harm, mental torture.
I went into this, I have to admit, with mixed expectations. On one side, this is a Sci Fi thriller/mystery noir story. I don't really like thrillers. The Sci Fi elements might make them more interesting, but I'll still always be sceptical of them.
On the other hand, in the last few month, I fell deeply in love with near-future Sci Fi (such as Goliath, The City Inside, The Vanished Birds) and am eager to read as much of that sub-genre as I can - even in the form of a more plot-driven book.
Particularly if that book also happens to be queer and written by a BIPOC author.
Another thing this book has going for it is the fact that it isn't climate fiction. While the world building, of course, includes the consequences of the ongoing climate crises Earth is facing, at its centre is a different topic. After reading quite a few Cli Fi titles this year already, I welcomed this as a breath of fresh air.
I love how nuanced the author's exploration of the main theme of the book "What if People weren't sleeping anymore" is. It's not just a gimmick, but the main question that drives this book. By the time this book starts (2043), around 25% of the world population are hyper insomniac - and it affects everything. From religious extremists to climate activists worrying about the impacts Sleeplessness has on the planet. Mental health issues, social expectations and imbalances, medical developments, political machinations, and economic masterplans.
There is a lot of greyness to the issue of sleeplessness, no absolute good or bad.
Manibo's exploration of the themes was definitely my favourite aspect of the book and has me excited for future books by him.
I also liked our protagonist, Jamie Vega. He's your typical hardworking, nice guy, a bit of a bisexual mess (very relatable). But there's much under the surface, some rather tragic things but also more grey mroality than I first expected.
Most of the side characters I would've liked to see more of. There were so many characters in this book, and while it made for some complex intrigue, sometimes I forgot who exactly a person was, and many of them were a little two-dimensional.
Some of them also only popped up once and then were never mentioned agai, which sometimes left me wondering why the author included them at all.
I already mentioned that I'm usually not a fan of thrillers or mysteries, for the simple reason that those tend to fall on the more plot-driven side of fiction. I'm myself not a plot-driven reade, and this is a great example of why. While reading, I have a good time and am invested (at least when the story is well-written, which in this case it was, but often plot-driven books don't evoce lsting emotions in m.
Her, it felt like my brain was invested and fascinated, but my heart wasn't. I really liked the ideas and intrigue and big reveal, but there was always a little distance between me and the book that kept me from fully getting into it.
I still think of this as a very solid debut that I expect many readers to enjoy.
Thank you to Netgalley and Erewhon Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings: suicide, loss of a loved one, depression, drug abuse, violence, blood, self-harm, mental torture.
I went into this, I have to admit, with mixed expectations. On one side, this is a Sci Fi thriller/mystery noir story. I don't really like thrillers. The Sci Fi elements might make them more interesting, but I'll still always be sceptical of them.
On the other hand, in the last few month, I fell deeply in love with near-future Sci Fi (such as Goliath, The City Inside, The Vanished Birds) and am eager to read as much of that sub-genre as I can - even in the form of a more plot-driven book.
Particularly if that book also happens to be queer and written by a BIPOC author.
Another thing this book has going for it is the fact that it isn't climate fiction. While the world building, of course, includes the consequences of the ongoing climate crises Earth is facing, at its centre is a different topic. After reading quite a few Cli Fi titles this year already, I welcomed this as a breath of fresh air.
I love how nuanced the author's exploration of the main theme of the book "What if People weren't sleeping anymore" is. It's not just a gimmick, but the main question that drives this book. By the time this book starts (2043), around 25% of the world population are hyper insomniac - and it affects everything. From religious extremists to climate activists worrying about the impacts Sleeplessness has on the planet. Mental health issues, social expectations and imbalances, medical developments, political machinations, and economic masterplans.
There is a lot of greyness to the issue of sleeplessness, no absolute good or bad.
Manibo's exploration of the themes was definitely my favourite aspect of the book and has me excited for future books by him.
I also liked our protagonist, Jamie Vega. He's your typical hardworking, nice guy, a bit of a bisexual mess (very relatable). But there's much under the surface, some rather tragic things but also more grey mroality than I first expected.
Most of the side characters I would've liked to see more of. There were so many characters in this book, and while it made for some complex intrigue, sometimes I forgot who exactly a person was, and many of them were a little two-dimensional.
Some of them also only popped up once and then were never mentioned agai, which sometimes left me wondering why the author included them at all.
I already mentioned that I'm usually not a fan of thrillers or mysteries, for the simple reason that those tend to fall on the more plot-driven side of fiction. I'm myself not a plot-driven reade, and this is a great example of why. While reading, I have a good time and am invested (at least when the story is well-written, which in this case it was, but often plot-driven books don't evoce lsting emotions in m.
Her, it felt like my brain was invested and fascinated, but my heart wasn't. I really liked the ideas and intrigue and big reveal, but there was always a little distance between me and the book that kept me from fully getting into it.
I still think of this as a very solid debut that I expect many readers to enjoy.
July 8, 2022
talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before
full review to follow!
full review to follow!
August 22, 2022
a mystery set in a familiar near future world done well
Want to read
May 20, 202219.05.2022 a near-future sci-fi noir mystery (!) i must read this.
Read
September 11, 2022this was an absolutely delightful read. set in a world where a quarter of the global population is sleepless, this sci-fi mystery intrigued me until the very last page. not many people may like its slow pacing, but i liked it just fine. in fact, for me, the pacing was meticulous and served the story well enough. the sleepless is rife with mystery and suspense, featuring a narrator you don't know you can trust. it also has many layers to it, and i had fun uncovering every single one of them. i picked this up because of the intriguing title and ended up loving it for its well-executed mystery and poignant commentary on capitalism. highly recommend this one!! definitely one of the most imaginative sci-books i've ever read. it deserves so much more recognition. PICK IT UP!
August 17, 2022
4.5*
First: can you imagine never needing to sleep? That is wild, and such a cool premise for a story! It starts out as a virus of sorts that causes humans to not be able to/need to sleep. But... some folks decide that they could be more productive sans sleep, so they try to become sleepless. Such is the case with our friend Jamie, who no longer needs sleep, but also finds himself missing chunks of time.
This story is kind of two-in-one: You have the component of sleeplessness, which is obviously a big part of it. How the virus started, what the side effects are, the pharmaceutically-manufactured sleeplessness and whether it has side effects, how the various Powers That Be react to sleeplessness, how society itself views those who are Sleepless. But the second component is a mystery, a whodunit, if you will. When Jamie finds his boss and mentor dead, from what at first looks like a suicide, Jamie is not buying it. And eventually, neither do the police.
The mystery and the Sleepless are of course intertwined, and not only because Jamie himself is Sleepless. But he refuses to give up his quest for information on what may have led to the death of Simon, and along the way, he finds himself in the center of a whole world of messiness.
That is all I'll say about the plot. Because obviously this is the kind of book you want to read this stuff for yourself. Jamie has to come to terms with a lot of stuff from his past, as well as confront some of why he chose to become Sleepless in the first place. He also will uncover a lot of things that he never bargained for, and hopefully will solve the mystery along the way. The book is exciting and incredibly readable, as well as thought-provoking. I could not help but wonder what choices I would have made in Jamie's shoes.
Bottom Line: Thought-provoking and complete with an exciting mystery, this book has something for everyone.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
First: can you imagine never needing to sleep? That is wild, and such a cool premise for a story! It starts out as a virus of sorts that causes humans to not be able to/need to sleep. But... some folks decide that they could be more productive sans sleep, so they try to become sleepless. Such is the case with our friend Jamie, who no longer needs sleep, but also finds himself missing chunks of time.
This story is kind of two-in-one: You have the component of sleeplessness, which is obviously a big part of it. How the virus started, what the side effects are, the pharmaceutically-manufactured sleeplessness and whether it has side effects, how the various Powers That Be react to sleeplessness, how society itself views those who are Sleepless. But the second component is a mystery, a whodunit, if you will. When Jamie finds his boss and mentor dead, from what at first looks like a suicide, Jamie is not buying it. And eventually, neither do the police.
The mystery and the Sleepless are of course intertwined, and not only because Jamie himself is Sleepless. But he refuses to give up his quest for information on what may have led to the death of Simon, and along the way, he finds himself in the center of a whole world of messiness.
That is all I'll say about the plot. Because obviously this is the kind of book you want to read this stuff for yourself. Jamie has to come to terms with a lot of stuff from his past, as well as confront some of why he chose to become Sleepless in the first place. He also will uncover a lot of things that he never bargained for, and hopefully will solve the mystery along the way. The book is exciting and incredibly readable, as well as thought-provoking. I could not help but wonder what choices I would have made in Jamie's shoes.
Bottom Line: Thought-provoking and complete with an exciting mystery, this book has something for everyone.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
March 30, 2022
Thanks to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for proving me with an ARC of this title.
My favorite thing about this book is how it treats the pandemic at its core. As the story opens, the pandemic – Sleeplessness – is ten years along, so there is none of the usual outbreak and spreading to the story arc. We jump right into the action, which centers on the apparent suicide of a higher-up in a media company. Our main character suspects murder and embarks on a fact-finding mission, which brings him into contact with loads of nefarious characters, whose interests lie on one side or another of the pandemic. See, the pandemic is big business. The approximate 1-in-4 members of the population who have been “afflicted” by sleeplessness find the extra time allows them to earn more money and broaden skills, among other effects. On the other hand, the pandemic stretches resources and pits the population against one another. Those members of the population who have not “caught” Sleeplessness, but want to are increasingly looking to the black market for a Sleepless fix.
I’m not usually a fan of thrillers, but I loved this. (Could it be a literary thriller?) The author creates a world in which Sleeplessness feels real and the arguments on both sides of the issue make sense. I was engaged from the beginning of the novel and rushed through the last half to see the outcome. It’s a great debut, made all the better by the fact that the author is a queer POC.
My favorite thing about this book is how it treats the pandemic at its core. As the story opens, the pandemic – Sleeplessness – is ten years along, so there is none of the usual outbreak and spreading to the story arc. We jump right into the action, which centers on the apparent suicide of a higher-up in a media company. Our main character suspects murder and embarks on a fact-finding mission, which brings him into contact with loads of nefarious characters, whose interests lie on one side or another of the pandemic. See, the pandemic is big business. The approximate 1-in-4 members of the population who have been “afflicted” by sleeplessness find the extra time allows them to earn more money and broaden skills, among other effects. On the other hand, the pandemic stretches resources and pits the population against one another. Those members of the population who have not “caught” Sleeplessness, but want to are increasingly looking to the black market for a Sleepless fix.
I’m not usually a fan of thrillers, but I loved this. (Could it be a literary thriller?) The author creates a world in which Sleeplessness feels real and the arguments on both sides of the issue make sense. I was engaged from the beginning of the novel and rushed through the last half to see the outcome. It’s a great debut, made all the better by the fact that the author is a queer POC.
September 7, 2022
A hyperinsomnia pandemic affecting 25% of the world's population in the year 2043. Our story takes place in a near future New York city. The outbreak creates a new class of people, the sleepless (people who lose the ability to sleep) who is now seen as something positive to help boost the economy and give people the time they need in their life to accomplish all that they have ever dreamed of.
The main character, Jamie Vega, who is bisexual and a journalist takes a pill that causes the hyperinsomnia. Jamie's boss Simon dies on the eve of a corporate takeover, Jamie uncovers corporate conspiracies and delves deeper into Simon's final days. He tangles with corporate interests and extremist organizations. He discovers that he was the last person to see his boss alive, the police suspect him. Jamie's sleeplessness was caused by a risky and illegal biohacking process. This Sci-fi thriller was a n exciting page turner. So many twists and turns. The Sleepless is Manibo's debut novel. I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author.
Thanks to Pride Book Tours, Victor Manibo and Erewhon books for the book.
The main character, Jamie Vega, who is bisexual and a journalist takes a pill that causes the hyperinsomnia. Jamie's boss Simon dies on the eve of a corporate takeover, Jamie uncovers corporate conspiracies and delves deeper into Simon's final days. He tangles with corporate interests and extremist organizations. He discovers that he was the last person to see his boss alive, the police suspect him. Jamie's sleeplessness was caused by a risky and illegal biohacking process. This Sci-fi thriller was a n exciting page turner. So many twists and turns. The Sleepless is Manibo's debut novel. I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author.
Thanks to Pride Book Tours, Victor Manibo and Erewhon books for the book.
August 17, 2022
Read an Advanced Bound Manuscript obtained from ALA AC 2022
Trigger/Content warning: suicide, burnout, gun violence, beating, alcoholism, drug abuse
In the year 2043, the world has passed through a plague like any other, one that rendered a quarter of the population Sleepless. We follow Jamie Vega, a reporter, who didn’t develop hyperinsomnia via the illness. He got it by biohacking, and it leads to some serious problems. Like forgetting the details of what happened the night before he found his boss, Simon, dead. Mysteries and a global conspiracy unravel, with twists on twist on twist.
This sharp examination of the cost of non-stop productivity at a personal and a global level includes a personal character journey as Jamie tries to clear his own name and get to the truth of what really happened that night.
An interview with the author will be going up on release day, August 23rd, 2022.
While getting back eight to ten hours of your day sounds awesome, Manibo quickly nips that awesomeness in the bud. From the introduction of Jamie's Sleepless status, the affliction is exhausting as he has . In addition, there is an eye for the environmental costs of having a population who never rests, and the potential biases and crimes against the afflicted. It's handled in a way that feels true to current critiques of the capitalistic ideals of toxic productivity.
Jamie himself is a mess even without being Sleepless. Granted, there is a heavy bit of back story that, if suicide is a trigger for you, I recommend treading with caution. Even in the future, trauma is still complicated, and it makes sense why he would turn to biohacking. While the ones making those drugs are unequivocally the villains of this story, there logic is outlined in a way that makes sense until you consider the environmental impacts.
The examination of productivity and “the hustle” as a concept is also critiqued in a way that both fits with the narrative and contemporary society in real life. People take on multiple jobs and myriad hobbies only to fill the time, chasing fulfillment from external sources that have nothing to do with intrinsic needs. Jamie’s loneliness highlights this, especially when taken in the contrast with the community values held by his Filipino family. In addition, it’s relying on other people that gets him out of his binds with both the legal entanglements and finding a way to free himself from being Sleepless.
With a hopeful ending and a clever resolution, this is a science fiction mystery clearly written by someone with a love and reverence for both genres.
Trigger/Content warning: suicide, burnout, gun violence, beating, alcoholism, drug abuse
In the year 2043, the world has passed through a plague like any other, one that rendered a quarter of the population Sleepless. We follow Jamie Vega, a reporter, who didn’t develop hyperinsomnia via the illness. He got it by biohacking, and it leads to some serious problems. Like forgetting the details of what happened the night before he found his boss, Simon, dead. Mysteries and a global conspiracy unravel, with twists on twist on twist.
This sharp examination of the cost of non-stop productivity at a personal and a global level includes a personal character journey as Jamie tries to clear his own name and get to the truth of what really happened that night.
An interview with the author will be going up on release day, August 23rd, 2022.
While getting back eight to ten hours of your day sounds awesome, Manibo quickly nips that awesomeness in the bud. From the introduction of Jamie's Sleepless status, the affliction is exhausting as he has . In addition, there is an eye for the environmental costs of having a population who never rests, and the potential biases and crimes against the afflicted. It's handled in a way that feels true to current critiques of the capitalistic ideals of toxic productivity.
Jamie himself is a mess even without being Sleepless. Granted, there is a heavy bit of back story that, if suicide is a trigger for you, I recommend treading with caution. Even in the future, trauma is still complicated, and it makes sense why he would turn to biohacking. While the ones making those drugs are unequivocally the villains of this story, there logic is outlined in a way that makes sense until you consider the environmental impacts.
The examination of productivity and “the hustle” as a concept is also critiqued in a way that both fits with the narrative and contemporary society in real life. People take on multiple jobs and myriad hobbies only to fill the time, chasing fulfillment from external sources that have nothing to do with intrinsic needs. Jamie’s loneliness highlights this, especially when taken in the contrast with the community values held by his Filipino family. In addition, it’s relying on other people that gets him out of his binds with both the legal entanglements and finding a way to free himself from being Sleepless.
With a hopeful ending and a clever resolution, this is a science fiction mystery clearly written by someone with a love and reverence for both genres.
March 29, 2022
I was given an E-arc by Netgalley and Erewhon books in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Erewhon Publishing for approving me for this E-arc!
“The Sleepless” is a brilliant debut of Science Fiction Noir, that follows a futuristic reality in which a pandemic of Sleeplessness has struck the world- a world motivated by the often dark intentions of capitalistic greed. We’re taken on a journey where Jamie Vega, a journalist at a Media Company, must navigate this reality as well as solve a gripping murder mystery simultaneously.
I went into this being interested in this premise itself, and Victor Manibo did not disappoint! The world building and events he has crafted are so tangible that I believe this is absolutely a reality that could occur, making the story even more intriguing and unsettling. At the beginning I was waiting for things to build up, and towards the middle it really picked up pace and I simply could not put it down, wanting to know the answers just as Jamie does. By the end I really appreciated the world building and information that was given at the beginning of the book, and the encapsulation mixed with just how much fun I had reading this bumped it up to a 4.5-5 star read for me!
This is a great story- one that I already yearn for more of, and a fantastic debut for Victor Manibo- he will definitely be an author I’ll be on the look out for in the future! I’d love to read anything else he writes.
Also, I am so happy to see so much representation in this book, as well as seeing literature from queer POC. Thank you for this read!
“The Sleepless” is a brilliant debut of Science Fiction Noir, that follows a futuristic reality in which a pandemic of Sleeplessness has struck the world- a world motivated by the often dark intentions of capitalistic greed. We’re taken on a journey where Jamie Vega, a journalist at a Media Company, must navigate this reality as well as solve a gripping murder mystery simultaneously.
I went into this being interested in this premise itself, and Victor Manibo did not disappoint! The world building and events he has crafted are so tangible that I believe this is absolutely a reality that could occur, making the story even more intriguing and unsettling. At the beginning I was waiting for things to build up, and towards the middle it really picked up pace and I simply could not put it down, wanting to know the answers just as Jamie does. By the end I really appreciated the world building and information that was given at the beginning of the book, and the encapsulation mixed with just how much fun I had reading this bumped it up to a 4.5-5 star read for me!
This is a great story- one that I already yearn for more of, and a fantastic debut for Victor Manibo- he will definitely be an author I’ll be on the look out for in the future! I’d love to read anything else he writes.
Also, I am so happy to see so much representation in this book, as well as seeing literature from queer POC. Thank you for this read!
March 24, 2022
Back in the 90s in high school, we used to wear t-shirts that read "Sleep is for the weak." We had bumper stickers that declared "coffee: you can sleep when you're dead!" It's been a running gag for as long as I can remember that sleep is the true collective common enemy vs. productivity and creative output.
I thought about those slogans a lot as I read Victor Manibo's excellent sci-fi thriller debut. How many people did I know who would line up to catch such a sickness? And of course there would be well-organized bigots out there declaring themselves the next iteration of human evolution. Absolutely there would be plenty of desperate, hungry, ambitious, traumatized people out there willing to dip into the waters of black market pills to unlock Sleeplessness for themselves.
The genius behind this book is how absolutely real and reasonable it all feels. And that dreadful realism--a future we can envision so perfectly just by looking around at our current state of affairs--is the perfect setting to place a noir thriller.
Manibo's Sleepless reporter, Jamie Vega, gives us the full experience: broken relationships, a mentor who turns up dead, a suicide that seems far too convenient, further complicated by Jamie's realization that he has significant chunks of time missing from his memory. Add to this a host of supporting characters who ALL come off simultaneously charismatic, sympathetic, and shady as hell, and what you have is a masterful blend of science fiction noir.
I thought about those slogans a lot as I read Victor Manibo's excellent sci-fi thriller debut. How many people did I know who would line up to catch such a sickness? And of course there would be well-organized bigots out there declaring themselves the next iteration of human evolution. Absolutely there would be plenty of desperate, hungry, ambitious, traumatized people out there willing to dip into the waters of black market pills to unlock Sleeplessness for themselves.
The genius behind this book is how absolutely real and reasonable it all feels. And that dreadful realism--a future we can envision so perfectly just by looking around at our current state of affairs--is the perfect setting to place a noir thriller.
Manibo's Sleepless reporter, Jamie Vega, gives us the full experience: broken relationships, a mentor who turns up dead, a suicide that seems far too convenient, further complicated by Jamie's realization that he has significant chunks of time missing from his memory. Add to this a host of supporting characters who ALL come off simultaneously charismatic, sympathetic, and shady as hell, and what you have is a masterful blend of science fiction noir.
April 14, 2022
Books like THE SLEEPLESS remind me of why I love mysteries with unique settings—whether they be SciFi, historical, or just far-flung from my midwestern American life. Add in the hook of sleeplessness brought on by a pandemic (or possibly illicit drugs...) and I was sold on this book before I even picked it up.
THE SLEEPLESS would appeal to fans of Blake Crouch’s speculative premise-driven novels because Manibo knows how to grab hold of a cool idea and absolutely run with it, delivering on the “fun and games” the reader is looking for. It felt like Manibo anticipated a lot of the questions readers might pose (“Could a sleepless person still pass out?” “What happens to their metabolism?”) and answered them subtly throughout the story.
The mystery in THE SLEEPLESS was also quite compelling, although it felt a tad convoluted to me at times—lots of political/media business machinations that I found myself less invested in than the “howdunit” elements and the psychological trauma (and complex relationships) of the main character.
Overall, this was a memorable read and I’m definitely hoping to read more by the author in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the ARC!
THE SLEEPLESS would appeal to fans of Blake Crouch’s speculative premise-driven novels because Manibo knows how to grab hold of a cool idea and absolutely run with it, delivering on the “fun and games” the reader is looking for. It felt like Manibo anticipated a lot of the questions readers might pose (“Could a sleepless person still pass out?” “What happens to their metabolism?”) and answered them subtly throughout the story.
The mystery in THE SLEEPLESS was also quite compelling, although it felt a tad convoluted to me at times—lots of political/media business machinations that I found myself less invested in than the “howdunit” elements and the psychological trauma (and complex relationships) of the main character.
Overall, this was a memorable read and I’m definitely hoping to read more by the author in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the ARC!
February 25, 2023
I really wanted to like this book because I was definitely interested when reading the description. For the first time I actually could not physically read this book as ironically I was very sleepy and would fall asleep trying to read a few pages of this book. I ended up hoping for something and purchased this book on Audible but nothing ever really caught my interest. I did like the narrator’s voice, but sadly nothing else. None of the characters or storyline were interesting to me and found that the author dragged both to the point of pure exhaustion. The backstories were endless and a lot of time really had nothing to do with the plot. I’m happy this one is over.
March 3, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of The Sleepless. It's a cleverly written, unique exploration into hyper capitalism, productivity, unchecked technology, and mental health. I thought it was thoughtful, loaded with suspense, and complex world building, I was intrigued by the level of backstory in terms of the world and how The Sleepless came to be. The Sleepless is a whodunit novel that readers will stay up all night to finish.
May 24, 2022
A fascinating murder mystery about a friend who won't give up on finding justice for you. Set in a world plagued by an epidemic of insomnia, The Sleepless is the corporate thriller our dystopias deserve. Manibo asks not merely how such a pandemic would change our society, but how the corrupt systems would exploit and perpetuate it. Really dug it.
October 14, 2022
Self-delusion and self-centredness are big parts of main character Jamie Vega, as he deals with the fallout from the apparent suicide of his mercurial boss and mentor Simon Parrish. As well, an increasingly porous memory of events leading immediately up to Simon’s death, as well as those from six months ago (when he became Sleepless) to the present. All this is to say, though we begin believing and trusting Jamie’s thoughts and perceptions at the book’s outset, it becomes increasingly clear he’s an unreliable narrator of events.
Jamie is also dealing with anger issues, lingering grief from the suicide some years earlier of a cousin closer to him than his own brother, and a break-up. Jamie is one of the Sleepless, people who became sleepless after a pandemic. Unfortunately, no specific cause was found for the condition, but a quarter of the world suffers from it. And, there was significant bigotry levelled at the Sleepless, but as it's ten years after the outbreak, hyperinsomnia is normalized, and there are countless businesses that cater to the lifestyles of those who need to occupy 24 hours, everyday.
After investigative reporter Jamie discovers Simon dead, this sets off a series of incidents, and sends Jamie into a spiral. Jamie is convinced the death is not a suicide, and runs around, digging into the news company's past, the machinations behind the potential buyout of the news corporation by another company headed by an uber-wealthy Sleepless, various Sleepless advocacy and militant groups, and, as Jamie's memory begins failing, into deleterious effects of hyperinsomnia.
I liked this book and how well Victor Manibo wove together a murder mystery with corporate politics and in-fighting, health concerns, corporate ethics, the effect of the Sleepless on the environment, and grief. The resolution to all this works well, and though this isn't a propulsive thriller, I liked the pacing and the way Manibo built the tension after each new discovery Jamie makes. The ending is a little bit open, but it was still a satisfying end to this entertaining book.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Erewhon Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Jamie is also dealing with anger issues, lingering grief from the suicide some years earlier of a cousin closer to him than his own brother, and a break-up. Jamie is one of the Sleepless, people who became sleepless after a pandemic. Unfortunately, no specific cause was found for the condition, but a quarter of the world suffers from it. And, there was significant bigotry levelled at the Sleepless, but as it's ten years after the outbreak, hyperinsomnia is normalized, and there are countless businesses that cater to the lifestyles of those who need to occupy 24 hours, everyday.
After investigative reporter Jamie discovers Simon dead, this sets off a series of incidents, and sends Jamie into a spiral. Jamie is convinced the death is not a suicide, and runs around, digging into the news company's past, the machinations behind the potential buyout of the news corporation by another company headed by an uber-wealthy Sleepless, various Sleepless advocacy and militant groups, and, as Jamie's memory begins failing, into deleterious effects of hyperinsomnia.
I liked this book and how well Victor Manibo wove together a murder mystery with corporate politics and in-fighting, health concerns, corporate ethics, the effect of the Sleepless on the environment, and grief. The resolution to all this works well, and though this isn't a propulsive thriller, I liked the pacing and the way Manibo built the tension after each new discovery Jamie makes. The ending is a little bit open, but it was still a satisfying end to this entertaining book.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Erewhon Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
August 23, 2022
Unique and absorbing science fiction thriller.
When the global pandemic struck in 2033, the panic and confusion it created started a massive world shift. The condition did not actively kill -- it produced sleeplessness. Since no one understood where it came from or the vector or the mode of transmission, those affected were hauled to quarantine as scientists scrambled for answers. Things settled down in the ensuing decade, but Jamie Vega is a bit envious of those who are now sleepless. They have a lot more time in their lives to work, to pursue all sorts of hobbies or talents. The lure of becoming sleepless makes Jamie do something really daring.
Jamie is now finally sleepless and working as a journalist for a huge media company in the midst of a corporate takeover. He's living his best life and doing hard core investigative journalism when he finds his mentor, Simon Parrish, dead in the office right before a big board vote. Not believing in the line that this was a suicide, Jamie gets caught up in something that changes everything he believed about hyperinsomnia and has to face the consequences of how what he did was more than dangerous.
This was so much fun and I really enjoyed it. The character of Jamie is well-developed and certainly an unusual protagonist. I do not understand the emphasis in advertising the book about it being queer genre as that is such a small part of the narrative that it was inconsequential to any part of the story and certainly should need keep anyone from picking up this book to read. The science fiction part, the condition of hyperinsomnia or sleeplessness, was quite an interesting theme to explore with how all of those with it must consume so many resources and how they count time. It gave me lots to ponder and the plot, though a bit typical with good vs evil and someone being tasked to save the world, was entertaining. I liked the author's writing style and the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
When the global pandemic struck in 2033, the panic and confusion it created started a massive world shift. The condition did not actively kill -- it produced sleeplessness. Since no one understood where it came from or the vector or the mode of transmission, those affected were hauled to quarantine as scientists scrambled for answers. Things settled down in the ensuing decade, but Jamie Vega is a bit envious of those who are now sleepless. They have a lot more time in their lives to work, to pursue all sorts of hobbies or talents. The lure of becoming sleepless makes Jamie do something really daring.
Jamie is now finally sleepless and working as a journalist for a huge media company in the midst of a corporate takeover. He's living his best life and doing hard core investigative journalism when he finds his mentor, Simon Parrish, dead in the office right before a big board vote. Not believing in the line that this was a suicide, Jamie gets caught up in something that changes everything he believed about hyperinsomnia and has to face the consequences of how what he did was more than dangerous.
This was so much fun and I really enjoyed it. The character of Jamie is well-developed and certainly an unusual protagonist. I do not understand the emphasis in advertising the book about it being queer genre as that is such a small part of the narrative that it was inconsequential to any part of the story and certainly should need keep anyone from picking up this book to read. The science fiction part, the condition of hyperinsomnia or sleeplessness, was quite an interesting theme to explore with how all of those with it must consume so many resources and how they count time. It gave me lots to ponder and the plot, though a bit typical with good vs evil and someone being tasked to save the world, was entertaining. I liked the author's writing style and the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
April 8, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an early review.
THE SLEEPLESS by Victor Manibo is a near-future sci-fi “who-done-it” about a journalist who has contracted a rare disease that leaves him “sleepless”, and ends up trying to solve the mystery of his boss’s death as major players make big moves that could have drastic ripple effects on a frighteningly large scale.
It’s Chuck Palahniuk meets Philip K Dick.
The main character, Jamie Vega, is “Sleepless”, meaning he no longer needs sleep, and therefore becomes exponentially more productive in both his private and professional lives. The question posed here is: Is that a good thing? What does one do when they no longer lose a single minute to sleep? In a capitalist-driven world, a person could work themselves (or, more realistically, be worked by others) to death. Are the extra hours worth the price? If the condition could be reproduced in a lab…should it? Where are the ethical bounds in regard to biohacking one’s self?
There were more than a few lines that made me pause and think, and I love books that do that. There’s a strong commentary about anger and helplessness in this book that struck a cord with me. I highly recommend this one to anyone who likes grounded sci-fi that really digs into the perceptions of what it means to be human.
THE SLEEPLESS by Victor Manibo is a near-future sci-fi “who-done-it” about a journalist who has contracted a rare disease that leaves him “sleepless”, and ends up trying to solve the mystery of his boss’s death as major players make big moves that could have drastic ripple effects on a frighteningly large scale.
It’s Chuck Palahniuk meets Philip K Dick.
The main character, Jamie Vega, is “Sleepless”, meaning he no longer needs sleep, and therefore becomes exponentially more productive in both his private and professional lives. The question posed here is: Is that a good thing? What does one do when they no longer lose a single minute to sleep? In a capitalist-driven world, a person could work themselves (or, more realistically, be worked by others) to death. Are the extra hours worth the price? If the condition could be reproduced in a lab…should it? Where are the ethical bounds in regard to biohacking one’s self?
There were more than a few lines that made me pause and think, and I love books that do that. There’s a strong commentary about anger and helplessness in this book that struck a cord with me. I highly recommend this one to anyone who likes grounded sci-fi that really digs into the perceptions of what it means to be human.
March 12, 2023
I’m not sure if fiction books about pandemics also qualify as dystopian but the certainly should. THE SLEEPLESS by Victor Manibo, and narrated by Joel de la Fuente, is about a worldwide pandemic that has the uninfected doing everything they can to BECOME infected too.
In the near future, a quarter of the population of Earth has become completely unable to sleep, with no obvious side effects. It’s unknown how it’s spread and those affected take all that extra time to their advantage. They work more shifts to earn extra money, they learn new skills, and catch up on everything they never seemed to have time for before.
Jamie has made himself become sleepless and he’s finding it’s not as glorious as it seemed. Capitalism is benefiting from the tireless workforce and since people are awake and more active constantly, goods and services are feeling the crunch. Jamie soon faces the most dangerous decision of all as he uncovers a terrifying truth about Sleeplessness that imperils him—and all of humanity.
I really enjoy a new type of pandemic story that I’ve not seen before. It’s just dystopian enough to show how it would impact daily life but nothing gruesome. 5 stars!!
Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me to read this for an honest review.
In the near future, a quarter of the population of Earth has become completely unable to sleep, with no obvious side effects. It’s unknown how it’s spread and those affected take all that extra time to their advantage. They work more shifts to earn extra money, they learn new skills, and catch up on everything they never seemed to have time for before.
Jamie has made himself become sleepless and he’s finding it’s not as glorious as it seemed. Capitalism is benefiting from the tireless workforce and since people are awake and more active constantly, goods and services are feeling the crunch. Jamie soon faces the most dangerous decision of all as he uncovers a terrifying truth about Sleeplessness that imperils him—and all of humanity.
I really enjoy a new type of pandemic story that I’ve not seen before. It’s just dystopian enough to show how it would impact daily life but nothing gruesome. 5 stars!!
Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me to read this for an honest review.
October 12, 2022
finally, it’s over! this is a real bummer, because i was pretty excited about this book before it came out, but it really missed the mark.
if someone were to just tell you the plot of this book, it would sound pretty good. the issue arises that, despite thorough worldbuilding and plenty of character backstory, it’s really hard to get invested in the characters or the setting. the writing style leans heavily on telling you exactly what emotions the protagonist is feeling in a way which i find unappealing and unenjoyable. the side characters felt like shallow stock characters built to proceed the plot (“oh, we need a doctor who specializes in sleeplessness? just write one in, don’t worry about giving her any personality traits!”) and speaking of sleeplessness, while cool in concept, the execution relied mostly on halting the action to dump ungodly amounts of extraneous background information into the unsuspecting reader. what’s worse is that aforementioned worldbuilding dumps are exactly as interesting as when we were learning about the protagonists own backstory. i wanted to like this book SO BAD, but alas.
an overall tedious and disappointing reading experience :(
if someone were to just tell you the plot of this book, it would sound pretty good. the issue arises that, despite thorough worldbuilding and plenty of character backstory, it’s really hard to get invested in the characters or the setting. the writing style leans heavily on telling you exactly what emotions the protagonist is feeling in a way which i find unappealing and unenjoyable. the side characters felt like shallow stock characters built to proceed the plot (“oh, we need a doctor who specializes in sleeplessness? just write one in, don’t worry about giving her any personality traits!”) and speaking of sleeplessness, while cool in concept, the execution relied mostly on halting the action to dump ungodly amounts of extraneous background information into the unsuspecting reader. what’s worse is that aforementioned worldbuilding dumps are exactly as interesting as when we were learning about the protagonists own backstory. i wanted to like this book SO BAD, but alas.
an overall tedious and disappointing reading experience :(
August 24, 2022
What would you do if you no longer needed sleep?
In a society where the pandemic has rendered a percentage of the population sleepless, that's become the reality in this twisty turny Sci Fi/Mystery Thriller.
Full of corporate espionage and betrayal this book will not only keep you on your toes as you and Jamie race against time to try and solve the mystery of Simon's death.
With themes of over consumption and capitalism, biohacking yourself, and the trade off of memories vs time. This book offers you some meaty topics to dive into and think about.
While the narrator did a great job as our main character Jamie, I would've loved a second narrator to do some of the flashbacks or other character's voices.
Delightfully queer and unlike anything I've read before, this book would be the perfect entry into Sci Fi for a thriller or mystery fan.
3.75 stars
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this Audio Arc. All opinions are my own.
In a society where the pandemic has rendered a percentage of the population sleepless, that's become the reality in this twisty turny Sci Fi/Mystery Thriller.
Full of corporate espionage and betrayal this book will not only keep you on your toes as you and Jamie race against time to try and solve the mystery of Simon's death.
With themes of over consumption and capitalism, biohacking yourself, and the trade off of memories vs time. This book offers you some meaty topics to dive into and think about.
While the narrator did a great job as our main character Jamie, I would've loved a second narrator to do some of the flashbacks or other character's voices.
Delightfully queer and unlike anything I've read before, this book would be the perfect entry into Sci Fi for a thriller or mystery fan.
3.75 stars
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this Audio Arc. All opinions are my own.
November 8, 2022
Timely story. Kinda heartbreaking, honestly.
9/10 for cool science and biology. Has a tendency to drone on about it at times.
8/10 for action. I wish there’d been more ass-kicking, but I see why there wasn’t.
7/10 for sleuthing and espionage.
Slow burn action/mystery involving the capitalist-exploitation of a pandemic.
9/10 for cool science and biology. Has a tendency to drone on about it at times.
8/10 for action. I wish there’d been more ass-kicking, but I see why there wasn’t.
7/10 for sleuthing and espionage.
Slow burn action/mystery involving the capitalist-exploitation of a pandemic.
dnf
August 24, 2022DNF @ 48&It pains me to say that writing style The Sleepless did not work for me. I loved the concept and underlying messages on capitalism but found the narrative dragging and circuitous. It took what felt like 48 hours to read 48% (it was really 4.5), and I knew that I'd be back in a slump if I kept reading. Many thanks to my pal Amanda for cheering me on and for ultimately telling me what happens.
"'It's the choice between more or less time, and the answer is pretty obvious.'"Thank you Kate for the recommendation, I'm so sad this one didn't work for me! This is a smart book with an important message, and I hope you give it a try if it sounds interesting to you!
eARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication.
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