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WE

3.4 of 5 stars 3.40 · rating details · 58 ratings · 12 reviews

We are the only Humans left...In the furthest, coldest, darkest reaches of our solar system, Paul Munro is on a mission from which he can never return. A desolate ice-covered moon will be his home for the rest of his life. And only from here can he see what humanity has become. A thriller to freeze your blood. To absolute zero.

Paperback, 299 pages

Published 2010 by Oxford : David Fickling, 2010

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Jan 30, 2011 TheBookSmugglers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-of-2010

Original Review HERE

In a not-so-distant future, mankind has changed. The majority of the human population is interlinked by the World Ear, an implant that allows its user to instantaneously connect with anyone else who is implanted, communicating in a mixture of images, sounds, and even transmitted sensations like touch, scent, or taste. The World Ear has allowed humanity to supersede the individual; it has allowed humanity to be connected in one massive consciousness, with information received...more Original Review HERE

In a not-so-distant future, mankind has changed. The majority of the human population is interlinked by the World Ear, an implant that allows its user to instantaneously connect with anyone else who is implanted, communicating in a mixture of images, sounds, and even transmitted sensations like touch, scent, or taste. The World Ear has allowed humanity to supersede the individual; it has allowed humanity to be connected in one massive consciousness, with information received and dispersed at the speed of thought.

There is no need for speech.

There is no need for strong emotion.

The World Ear has taken humanity to its next evolutionary stage.

WE is the story of Paul Munro, one man selected by the collective consciousness of the World Ear as a telemetry specialist on an important outpost at the furthest reach of the solar system, dedicated to analyze the gas planet, its moon, and search for any sign of intelligent life. But because of the unique problems posed by the planet and moon, none of the station’s inhabitants can be connected to the World Ear. Our first introduction to Paul is immediately after he awakens from the procedure that has disconnected him from the network – and his abject terror at being utterly alone, mute and almost completely incapable of communication. After his eight year journey (in stasis) to the outpost at the edge of the solar system, Paul gradually adjusts to new life with the three other humans that will likely be his only companions for the rest of his life – May (exuberant doctor), Lewis (imposing commander), and Vandamme (partner to the lost telemetrist and a self-contained astro-geologist) – learning to speak, emote, and interact. As Paul becomes more articulate and self-conscious, he suspects that there is something amiss in his mission to uncover the source of the interference with transmissions to Earth. With his suspicions mounting, Paul is determined to discover the truth at any cost.

This is the first book I have read by John Dickinson, and what a fabulous introduction it turned out to be. WE is one hell of a novel. This is cerebral science fiction at its best, posing ambitious questions and demanding its characters and readers to confront what it truly means to be human. It is one of those books that gets better the longer one thinks about it; processing, digesting, and interpreting the data in every possible way (much like Paul’s “hunter” program). Ever since discovering Stephen Baxter last year, I have been on the lookout for hard science fiction titles that manage to blend human character appeal with the cold, cruelty of space – and WE manages to do just that.

Reminiscent of Baxter’s Titan and of M.T. Anderson’s dystopian SF masterpiece, Feed, WE examines the meaning of humanity, the definition of intelligent life, and the value of the individual in relation to the whole. It is in these quiet questions, asked both explicitly by the characters, and implicitly of the readers, that WE shines. Is emancipation from “the We” (as the characters aboard the station call Earth and the World Ear) a good thing? At what level of connection does the individual begin to become irrelevant? The We is utilitarianism in the extreme, with a new overall consciousness comprised of ALL its interlinked consciousnesses – akin to a giant brain, with each human acting as a neuron, firing signals and interacting with others to produce the desired result. Instead of painting a dystopian future where consumerism runs amok (as in Anderson’s Feed), WE‘s future is more quietly menacing – our cult of personality and fixation on the individual falls to the greater good, which sounds fine, doesn’t it? Except in such a society, there is no individual autonomy – just as protagonist Paul is asked by Lewis, “Did you consent?” he is unable to answer.

On a less-nebulous/more-concrete level, the reason why WE is able to provoke such intriguing questions is because the science, the setting, and the characters are impeccably written. From the technical aspects to the science (the space elevator, the limitations of the World Ear, the physiological changes to those in deep space, the temperature and atmosphere readings) Mr. Dickinson appears to have done his homework, working within the parameters of our current understanding of physics and our own solar system (see additional thoughts below for more on that). The images of a distant gas giant and its icy moon are richly – if coldly – detailed, providing a harsh, unforgiving, and evocative backdrop for the novel. On the character level, WE is told through Paul’s observations – effective, since Paul’s communication skills are underdeveloped to say the least, especially in his exchanges with his fellow crew members. In such an unrelenting, isolated environment, these character are a microcosm of humanity – Van, who turns to religion; May and Lewis, who cling to a different hope for the future; Paul, obstinate and determined to uncover the truth. As these characters say in the book, they are the last four humans in existence, differentiated from their siblings on Earth because of their disconnection from the We, their ability to feel acute emotion, and even physically with their low-gravity distorted bodies. It’s a scary and effective picture, with these fragile creatures struggling for life in the most inhospitable of locations. These characters are flawed, genuine creatures that make questionable decisions – and that is part of the beauty of WE. Ultimately, regardless of whether or not Paul and the crew made the right choices, they are able to make a choice, and that is the important thing.

From a plotting perspective, I am loathe to say too much for fear of spoilers – suffice to say that WE is a psychological thriller, with a mystery and a powerful revelation. Though this is more of a quieter, slowly simmering plot, heavy on dialogue and internal reflection and lighter on action, WE may not appeal to everyone (this is no military science fiction novel, so if you are looking for nonstop battle scenes, look elsewhere). That isn’t to say the plotting is poor or the book cumbersome – because it’s not. I devoured WE in a single sitting.

What else can I say? I loved this book. On a final note concerning the genre – WE is a young adult novel as much as, say, The Handmaiden’s Tale or 1984 or The Martian Chronicles (all books that are frequently shelved in the YA section, as well as the mainstream SF or Literature sections). Which is to say, WE doesn’t really fit into the typical, current mold of romance-featuring, adventure filled coming-of-age sort of novel that one might normally associate with YA F/SF (in fact, author John Dickinson has blogged about the mis-categorization of this book). That isn’t to say that WE shouldn’t be read by young adults – rather, it is a book that can transcend age barriers. Yes, neither the protagonist nor any other character in this book is a young adult, but need that be a defining quality for the genre?

How about I put it like this: WE is a mainstream Science Fiction novel that I encourage anyone – of any age – to read. Rife with imposing, challenging questions, WE resonates as one of the best new science fiction titles I have had the pleasure of reading this year.(less)

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Nov 01, 2011 Alice Radwell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia, science-fiction

WE is a book about isolation in every imaginable form. Set in a near-future where the Earth’s populace is becoming linked to a hive-mind social communication device, WE explores the problems of social networking. Mostly, the problems. And he explores them from light-years away on the moon of a distant planet. Which is an incredibly interesting way to get an audience to engage with a story, and one that works exceptionally well. Identifying with the initial plight of the protagonist becomes easie...more WE is a book about isolation in every imaginable form. Set in a near-future where the Earth’s populace is becoming linked to a hive-mind social communication device, WE explores the problems of social networking. Mostly, the problems. And he explores them from light-years away on the moon of a distant planet. Which is an incredibly interesting way to get an audience to engage with a story, and one that works exceptionally well. Identifying with the initial plight of the protagonist becomes easier, when we have a situation with which we as readers can relate as well as a futuristic scenario much harder to sympathise with. Far simpler for us to sense the bitter separation of being shipped millions of kilometers from our home planet, to being disconnected from a networking system which doesn’t exist (yet?).

Even the writing is simple, and analytical, creating a tone as bleak as the subject matter, which still manages to be captivating. As Paul learns to embrace being a human being in the traditional sense, readers contemplate the possible ramifications of relaying too much on automated systems to do our communicating for us. I found myself following Paul’s often paranoid rationals, trying to uncover the mystery of what was happening, but through his obsessive and despairing mindset. Dickinson keeps most other factors at a safe distance, much like his character, never spilling into the thoughts or emotions of other characters, beyond what his protagonist is able to perceive. This worked wonders for enabling a true link with Paul and his readership, who are unable to escape his indoctrinated way of thinking. The atmosphere of the novel is as cold, empty and unreachable as the moon on which it’s set.

I wouldn’t label this novel a thriller – there wasn’t anything overly thrilling about it, but it does make for fantastic dystopia reading. Exploring the scientific elements of a frozen wasteland added an educational flare, but sometimes the descriptive paragraphs involving the ins and outs of physics (and/or chemistry..?) can get a little confusing. The ending leaves a lot to be desired, arriving abruptly just as the story’s climax was reaching it’s best, and with no resolution or indication about where the future is headed. My mind ponders sequel. There’s so much more that can be done with the premise, and with it’s ‘finale’. I wanted to know more than was said about the World Ear, and some of the later theories and plans spoken about by the characters, and if this is a stand-alone it’s a shame more of these things weren’t covered.

WE is a read designed to make you think, and it does so, about the world now and about what it could be become, especially with regards to the decreasing need for verbal conversation. If you’re into dystopia, or you enjoy light science-fiction, pick this one up.

More Reviews At http://alicereadsbooks.wordpress.com/ (less)

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Jan 28, 2010 Ove rated it 5 of 5 stars

From my blog review on Cybermage.se
What’s chilly about WE is the future it paints. The Story:

We are the only Humans left…

In the furthest, coldest, darkest reaches of our solar system, Paul Munro is on a mission from which he can never return. A desolate ice-covered moon will be his home for the rest of his life. And only from here can he see what humanity has become.

A thriller to freeze your blood. To absolute zero.

I bought this after reading Mark Chitty’s excellent review (link below) and it l...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

In the future everyone on earth is connected shortly after birth to the World Ear and from that point onwards not even speech is necessary. When Paul Munro is selected to replace a man on earths furthest outpost - and the only one beyond the world ear connections - he is about to find what he thought he knew about being human was wrong and that the past was something he never really understood.

The author has a nice clean writing style and an interesting future history but I would class this as a...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Joe Reese rated it 5 of 5 stars

A distant moon-base crew of four have settled within a protective eco-bubble on an icy satellite, orbiting a gas giant at the edge of the solar system. Its inhabitants, too far from Earth, have been separated from the World Ear, an advanced electronic network that connects the Earth's population by surgically-implanted receivers. No longer now are they part of a hive-mind of knowledge, shared experience and ideas, but isolated and alone in their thoughts, forced to revert back to using speech as...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-read

WE is another book that I recently received and, with a quick look at the lovely cover and interesting blurb, I wanted to read pretty much right away. With the synopsis vague enough not to spoil the story, it raised my interest and made me wonder just how John Dickinson was going to approach a subject such as this - separation and isolation within the solar system. The first thing that struck me was the writing and how effortlessly he pulled me into a story that is much more than it first appear...more WE is another book that I recently received and, with a quick look at the lovely cover and interesting blurb, I wanted to read pretty much right away. With the synopsis vague enough not to spoil the story, it raised my interest and made me wonder just how John Dickinson was going to approach a subject such as this - separation and isolation within the solar system. The first thing that struck me was the writing and how effortlessly he pulled me into a story that is much more than it first appears.

Paul Munro is separated from the World Ear, the one thing that almost all the population of Earth now use to communicate. It can allow instant discussion and interaction while providing a platform to have feedback and opinions at a mere thought. Once this has been removed, Paul feels very lonely and had to adjust to life with what feels like inferior and slower interaction. However, he has done this for a reason and soon embarks on an eight year frozen voyage across the solar system to his new home where he will take up the position of communications officer on an ice moon where only four humans live, and the World Ear is a distant memory.

On this moon he lives with three others -Lewis, Van and May - and must be a vital part of the team that keeps the moon in operation. He must deal with the loss of the World Ear, learn to engage in conversation and human interaction in a way he has never before needed to do, and he must solve the problem that is plaguing the communications to Earth. With all of these little things adding up it gets too much for Paul and events take an interesting turn.

The setting is definitely one of the highlights of WE and John Dickinson does a fantastic job of creating a haunting atmosphere and the feeling of complete isolation. The explanations and detail given of the station is realistic and believable and it felt like the fifth member of the group. The distance involved between the station and Earth mean that communication can take up to eight hours, and with the absence of the World Ear on the station it can feel like an completely alien civilisation.

The characters are also great and help bring the story to life. Munro is our main character and it's through his eyes that we see what Earth is like before heading into the outer reaches of the solar system. It is his struggle to adjust that pushes the story forward and his determination that shows just how much of his humanity was lost on Earth. His new colleagues - Lewis, Van and May - are supportive when they can be, but are also trying to deal with a new member of their group that has very little social skills. The views each of these characters hold also become a key part of the story and it allows Dickinson to explore what it is to be human very effectively.

I found this such a great read and I was very pleasantly surprised by the prose and style of WE - I'll look forward to anything else John Dickinson writes. Highly recommended.(less)

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Mar 27, 2010 Ingrid rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy

Very very intriguing concept. A man gets disconnected from a 24/7 live feed ( via special contact lenses and an implant) of an upgraded version of the internet/facebook/twitter to go live on a space station far out in space.
I loved the way the writer described the confined space, climate and time relay with Earth.
The way the main character had to start to think for himself again, speech, writing. Very clever.

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Jan 24, 2011 Nathan Hurst rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

Some good ideas here but should have been longer and the ending should have followed an earlier story thread to it's conclusion, rather than the slow stop that it actually came to. In conclusion, it promised more than it gave.

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Sep 09, 2010 Sasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

This was as good as everyone said. Gripping, emotional, arresting and brilliant. It gave me chills & I read it in 1 day.

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Aug 20, 2010 Wealhtheow marked it as to-read

Shelves: sci-fi

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Oct 28, 2010 Sean Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great to see a novel with real science written so engagingly, with real heart, and without trying too hard.

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Sep 12, 2011 Januzrocket rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cerebral science-fiction at its best!

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May 19, 2013 Wee Jun Rong rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 17, 2013 Rachel marked it as to-read

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Shelves: sci-fi, isolation, fiction

May 07, 2013 Ellie marked it as to-read

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Apr 20, 2013 Rebecca Marshall rated it 2 of 5 stars

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Mar 31, 2013 Kathryn Preston rated it 3 of 5 stars

Mar 26, 2013 Stephanie added it

Shelves: bcc-wishlist

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Mar 09, 2013 Bootlesscry rated it 2 of 5 stars

Mar 06, 2013 Andrea Baldwin rated it 4 of 5 stars

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About John G.H. Dickinson

John Geoffrey Hyett Dickinson (born June 1962) is an English author of young adult novels, and has also written one adult novel- Lightstep.
Dickinson lives in Painswick, Gloucestershire with his wife, Pippa Thomson, and two children. He is the household cook, an accountant & church treasurer when he's not writing.

More about John G.H. Dickinson...

Books by John G.H. Dickinson

The Cup of the World (Cup of the World, #1)

The Widow And The King (Cup of the World, #2)

Muddle and Win: The Battle for Sally Jones

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