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53rd out of 98 books
—
87 voters
Evolution's Darling
Does a clone have a soul? Darling, an astronavigational control unit and personal companion, achieves sentience and wants to know. Now, 200 years and an artificial body later, he is off in search of a dead artist, a living artwork, and the forces behind a mystery that spans the universe. Accompanied by a female assassin, he'll confront the Maker and get the answer.
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
April 3rd 2000
by Running Press
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Scott Westerfeld, I expected more from you. As the Uglies series shows, you're a good sci-fi writer. It and Leviathan proved you can convincingly write a new (or semi-new) world and yet leave the reader feeling like they *get* it.
Too bad you didn't in this book.
It's obviously meant for older teens, if not adults--not his fault my library has it in the juvenile section. But it seems that half the book is sex, sex, sex without a point. In fact, the entire book doesn't have a point. Chapters skip a...more
Too bad you didn't in this book.
It's obviously meant for older teens, if not adults--not his fault my library has it in the juvenile section. But it seems that half the book is sex, sex, sex without a point. In fact, the entire book doesn't have a point. Chapters skip a...more
Scott Westerfeld for grownups! Here's an AI book that's quick and straightforward enough for us all to enjoy. For his adult readers, Westerfeld ups the reading level, cuts the exposition, and adds lots of sex. As a fan of "Uglies" I thought all those things would make me just love this book more, but it actually clunked a little for me. I had to re-read bits of the beginning because I was expecting to be hit over the head with all the new conceptual stuff a few more times than I got. The sex act...more
Evolution's Darling is not the best book I've read though I really love how Westerfeld built the world around it. It's not fair to compare this book to Leviathan series or Uglies series. It's not YA, so what? It's not because it has lots of sex that it's a bad book. I actually really like how the AI didn't seem to understand his/its impact on human sexuality. He/it wants to learn everything. I read this book a while ago, so I can't really say why I gave it three stars instead of 4 (5 is usually...more
Feb 22, 2012
Aaron
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sci-fi,
worst-sex-scene
The plot is mediocre. There's nothing especially noteworthy that happens in the story and you see everything coming from a mile away.
What makes this story interesting/bizarre is that every character in it is a sociopath for some reason. There's no explanation for why this is, just everyone, human and AI both, are perfectly fine with murder and no one can achieve orgasm without giving or receiving near-fatal wounds. Oh yeah, did I mention the sex and rape? Lots of near-fatal violent sex, lots of...more
What makes this story interesting/bizarre is that every character in it is a sociopath for some reason. There's no explanation for why this is, just everyone, human and AI both, are perfectly fine with murder and no one can achieve orgasm without giving or receiving near-fatal wounds. Oh yeah, did I mention the sex and rape? Lots of near-fatal violent sex, lots of...more
Oh, Scott Westerfeld. I wish I knew how to quit you.
A very... interesting book. The rather disjointed style, hopping between times and places and perspectives, threw me a bit at first, but eventually the thread binding it together became clear. Very much a scifi novel. It reminded me rather of Ray Bradbury, which was disconcerting especially because I hadn't really thought of Scott Westerfield as doing scifi before, though at that Uglies/Pretties/Specials/Extras is rather in the realm of science fiction. I don't really know what to say besides th...more
AI's are called "evolution's darlings" because they can evolve in one lifetime, rather than in generations like biologicals do. And the particular AI who is the protagonist of this book just happens to be named Darling.
The story is complex, thought-provoking, sometimes intense, and always riveting. I really like Darling, as well as several other characters who in some ways aren't actually very likable. And the book doesn't just ask the question what it means to be human, to be a person -- it we...more
The story is complex, thought-provoking, sometimes intense, and always riveting. I really like Darling, as well as several other characters who in some ways aren't actually very likable. And the book doesn't just ask the question what it means to be human, to be a person -- it we...more
This is one of those books that I'm not quite sure about. I liked parts of it a lot and then there were parts that I was iffy on. I am going to state, very clearly, that this is absolutely a sci-fi book. And don't let Scott Westerfeld's name fool you into thinking it's YA. It's not. It's very firmly in the adult spectrum. There's sex. Lots of sex. Lots of marathon sex that push the boundaries of what the human body can take. No, it's not terribly graphic (I think everyone knows at this point tha...more
Beginning this book, I was sure I had found Westerfeld's masterpiece. It is so intricate, it's characters, many of them artificial intelligences, so well fleshed out. The language itself is absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, as I continued, I found it's also one of the more bizarre books I've read, which is why, I'm guessing, it's out of print (which is very sad). I saw many parts and subjects that were later used in his genius Succession duo, which contained much of the awesome without all the...more
I'm a huge Scott Westerfeld fan so I really expected a lot from this book. And the basis was very interesting, however, I had a hard time getting back into the book every time I picked it up to read a bit.
I considered just stopping it but I was compelled to finish and see how it ended.
I considered just stopping it but I was compelled to finish and see how it ended.
I honestly like Scott Westerfeld. Normally I am quite the book snob but I loved his Uglies series and found many of his other books fascinating- this one was just too much. I found the beginning section quite disturbing and decided to not push through to reading the rest.
Interesting sci-fi, interesting robot sex, very cool imagery, especially the stuff about art...I just can't figure out Scott Westerfeld's fascination with cutting/pain/blood though. Seems to be a common theme in this and the Uglies series. Must be one kinky dude!
Crazy book. Not sure what to think about it although I enjoyed it. Should have been about twice as long; the book isn't nearly fleshed out enough. I always find it weird to read a sexually explicit book with the same writing style as my favorite YA novels...
The theme is interesting --- what is sentience? The world is vivid and unique. The characters are good, although after we lose the first heroine they become less likeable. Unfortunately, there are these long passages of extremely painful sex and torture.
Started out way too confusing for my liking, but as the story continued it explained things and the confusing parts made more sense. Not necessarily a bad read just requires some patience. Definitely an adult novel.
At the halfway through point, I really like this one. Warning: it has a LOT of tentacle sex. I'm not really a fan of using anachronic order to impose mystery on the plot, but it works well enough.
The end isn't as satisfying at the beginning...several threads are left carelessly loose and one is left deliberately loose. It's still a good short read.
The end isn't as satisfying at the beginning...several threads are left carelessly loose and one is left deliberately loose. It's still a good short read.
This book is sexually disturbing. It is also hard to follow and seems like it could get to the point a lot easier or a lot sooner.
This is the first Westerfeld I've read and it reminded me of other early novels of great science fiction writers where the prose immediately captures you but you can tell this writer still has room to grow. The execution wasn't perfect, but I liked his writing style and can see the potential of a great future body of work.
Many other reviews either loved or hated the sex portions in the book. Overall I liked them because they gave me a different view of the AI's sentience but difference from huma...more
Many other reviews either loved or hated the sex portions in the book. Overall I liked them because they gave me a different view of the AI's sentience but difference from huma...more
Nov 13, 2012
Steve
added it
Some parts of that book are illegal to read in Estonia. We have a kind of interesting criminal code.
It's an intriguing tale of intelligence, identity and memory, but the best part of this book is the really hot sex. I always love Westerfeld's fluid take on gender and sexuality (read Polymorph for some more good stuff), but he's especially good here. The relationship between the main characters is charged with competativeness, sensuality, and a certain tinge of moral disquiet. Add that to Darling's impressive array of attachments (think tentacles, not egg beaters) and an inventive streak that w...more
A thoughtful and not at all overwrought exploration of humanity, intelligence, and the soul in an age of artificial intelligence.
Prologue has robot sex with a teenager. CREEPY!
Sexy, creepy, thoughtfull, daring. Loved it :D
One of my favorite go-to space operas!
Best Westerfeld book I have read so far!
I read the bulk of it while at the gym and listening to http://symphonyofscience.com/, which made for a really interesting sensory perception.
I read the bulk of it while at the gym and listening to http://symphonyofscience.com/, which made for a really interesting sensory perception.
not the tweeny romp i was expecting, more nuanced and sexy!
Lots of cyborg sex fu. It's good, but somehow not as good as his er, four book trilogy --Uglies (Pretties, Specials, Extras). I can't quite put my finger on why, I think perhaps the characters aren't as sympathetic.
However, this is a good book even with the lack of sympathy. The characters are complex and the science fiction is well done. I'd have liked to know more about Darling and less about his love interest.
However, this is a good book even with the lack of sympathy. The characters are complex and the science fiction is well done. I'd have liked to know more about Darling and less about his love interest.
Definitely one of Westerfeld’s adult books, what with all the robot on human sex going on. Pretty good so far. I never thought about how nano tech will change the way people do it. And by “do it” I mean people having sex with robots and AIs. But you knew that. It has a William Gibson slickness but it's mixed with the almost quaint melodrama of Bester's "the Stars My Destination."
Some interesting concepts. A bit out there. Don't see this kind of sex scenes every day! XD
I read the first chapter of this book when it was printed as an excerpt in the F&SF Magazine, and I was hooked. Stunning, sprawling story that explores the future, the universe, and what it means for an artificial creature to make itself self-aware. Oh, and sex. Lots and lots of sex.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Where can I find this book!? | 1 | 5 | Feb 24, 2010 09:27am |
Scott Westerfeld is a New York Times bestselling American-born author of YA sci-fi literature. He was born in the Texas and now lives in Sydney and New York City. In 2001, Westerfeld married fellow author Justine Larbalestier.
His book Evolution's Darling was a New York Times Notable Book, and won a Special Citation for the 2000 Philip K. Dick Award. So Yesterday won a Victorian Premier's Award and...more
More about Scott Westerfeld...
His book Evolution's Darling was a New York Times Notable Book, and won a Special Citation for the 2000 Philip K. Dick Award. So Yesterday won a Victorian Premier's Award and...more
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