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Altered Carbon (GollanczF.) | Paperback

by Richard Morgan (Author)

List Price:

$12.04

Binding:

Paperback

Publisher:

Gollancz

Page Count:

480 Pages

Publication Date:

September 04, 2008

Sales Rank:

828,812th

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

Product Description
Four hundred years from now mankind is strung out across a region of interstellar space inherited from an ancient civilization discovered on Mars. The colonies are linked together by the occasional sublight colony ship voyages and hyperspatial data-casting. Human consciousness is digitally freighted between the stars and downloaded into bodies as a matter of course. But some things never change. So when ex-envoy, now-convict Takeshi Kovacs has his consciousness and skills downloaded into the body of a nicotine-addicted ex-thug and presented with a catch-22 offer, he really shouldnt be surprised. Contracted by a billionaire to discover who murdered his last body, Kovacs is drawn into a terrifying conspiracy that stretches across known space and to the very top of society. For a first-time SF writer to be so surely in command of narrative and technology, so brilliant at world-building, so able to write such readable and enjoyable SF adventure, is simply extraordinary.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 224 reviews)

like Asimov on steroids by sazerac

4 Stars
February 10, 2010
As a kid, I abolutely loved the Robot Trilogy: The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn, but I always wanted the story to move along faster. Altered Carbon reminds of this series but it's more exciting and strikes the right pace. It's probably less philosophical, but it makes up for it with gravitas. Great sci-fi noir.

Gritty. Unique. Man, what a book! by Jason Cooper (Denham Springs, LA USA)

5 Stars
January 22, 2010
I can't really say anything about this book that hasn't already been said. Several of these reviews outline the plot and Morgan's unique ideas with much more detail and class than I'm willing to invest. Basically, I'm just writing this review to push you over the edge and make you click the ORDER button. If you think smart*** John McClain of the DIE HARD movies would make for an ideal private detective in some distant future, READ THIS BOOK. If you like your sci-fi gritty and raw, READ THIS BOOK. If you've ever thought it would be cool to download your entire psyche into a different body (or bodies, as the case may be), READ THIS BOOK. If you like the idea of a classic "who done it" turned on its ear, READ THIS BOOK. By far the best of the Kovacs series, this book is a fairly dark, completely disrespectful, and (frequently) thought-provoking read. READ IT!

Good, but sequels are better by M. Ebert (Californa)

4 Stars
December 15, 2009
I recently picked up all 3 books in the trilogy and listened to them back to back. I found the first one enjoyable, but a little jumbled. Some of the detective work done by Kovac made no sense and several obvious routes of investigation were left unexplored. Often I felt like the Kovac just stumbled onto answers. As set up to the universe and character this book is fantastic. I enjoyed the depth to which the author explored all the various impacts re-sleaving would have upon a civilization. The book was good enough to make me want to listen to both sequels, which I think are more enjoyable books. I recommend getting all 3 books. It's almost necessary to fully understand Kovac's character. Hope to see a fourth book someday.

Exquisitely Crafted First Novel by Stephen D. Carr (Washington DC)

5 Stars
December 07, 2009
Richard K Morgan is the real deal. He doesn't flinch when it comes to following his premises where they plausibly lead. Making Kovacs (his protagonist) a sympathetic character, as ruthless as he is, is a challenge unto itself. Morgan achieves this very thoughtfully, with the originary, formative narrative that he sketches in small vignettes that don't overwhelm, and with his accounts of Envoy conditioning that are provided as needed but don't feel too pat or ad hoc. I'm thoroughly impressed by this combination of narrative skill and literary craftsmanship. I appreciate the little intervals of comedy--the snappy repartee, e.g.--as much for the breathing space they afford as for any other reason. The story grabs you by the throat, but he's careful not to let it choke you too much. It's a dangerous line, and Morgan hangs onto the reins admirably. Kovacs' character explains himself, subjectively, but you never feel like he's justifying himself. The reader needs to understand, not approve. At the heart of that understanding, for Kovacs character, is a struggle with his humanity and with his ambivalence about his status in that category. Sometimes you revel with him in the purity of his particular phenotype and its aptitude for unmitigated havoc; at other times, you follow a more challenging existential struggle, or find unexpected warmth. The character self-describes as a sociopath, but his is an imposed condition, not a pure type. He cares a great deal for those he connects with, e.g., and for reasons that resonate as moral and humane, as well as merely professional. Likewise with those he detests: they are often the actual and unambiguous sociopaths. And while he finds their elimination disconcertingly redemptive and satisfying, you get why this is so. It jibes with what you know about his own condition. It never feels simply gratuitous. I love that experience of stumbling on a writer who inspires immediate obsession. That's one of the coolest things about the medium, to me. Every once in awhile, you sample something so startling and resonant that you just have to mainline it for awhile. Bravo, Mr. Morgan.

Ok but Philip Dick he isn't by Mandobob (Denver, CO)

2 Stars
November 18, 2009
Slow. Ponderous pacing. One dimensional characters. And one intriguing idea (resleeving). Too bad most of the atmosphere is a redo from PD (as are some of the character ideas). Easily twice as long as needed to play out the plot. I was disappointed in the whole mesh-mash given the level of adoration this book garners. I hope the forthcoming movie does more with the book that the author did. BTW - I got about 300 pages through and couldn't finish it. Real glad I got it from the library!

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