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Proteus #1
Sight of Proteus
Del Rey / Ballantine, 1988. Mass market paperback, reprint. This novel was first published in 1978, and is the author's first novel.
246 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
6 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Charles Sheffield
218 books171 followersCharles A. Sheffield (June 25, 1935 – November 2, 2002), was an English-born mathematician, physicist and science fiction author. He had been a President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and of the American Astronomical Society.
His novel The Web Between the Worlds, featuring the construction of a space elevator, was published almost simultaneously with Arthur C. Clarke's novel about that very same subject, The Fountains of Paradise, a coincidence that amused them both.
For some years he was the chief scientist of Earth Satellite Corporation, a company analysing remote sensing satellite data. This resulted in many technical papers and two popular non-fiction books, Earthwatch and Man on Earth, both collections of false colour and enhanced images of Earth from space.
He won the Nebula and Hugo awards for his novelette "Georgia on My Mind" and the 1992 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for his novel Brother to Dragons.
Sheffield was Toastmaster at BucConeer, the 1998 World Science Fiction Convention in Baltimore.
He had been writing a column for the Baen Books web site; his last column concerned the discovery of the brain tumour that led to his death.
He was married to writer Nancy Kress.
His novel The Web Between the Worlds, featuring the construction of a space elevator, was published almost simultaneously with Arthur C. Clarke's novel about that very same subject, The Fountains of Paradise, a coincidence that amused them both.
For some years he was the chief scientist of Earth Satellite Corporation, a company analysing remote sensing satellite data. This resulted in many technical papers and two popular non-fiction books, Earthwatch and Man on Earth, both collections of false colour and enhanced images of Earth from space.
He won the Nebula and Hugo awards for his novelette "Georgia on My Mind" and the 1992 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for his novel Brother to Dragons.
Sheffield was Toastmaster at BucConeer, the 1998 World Science Fiction Convention in Baltimore.
He had been writing a column for the Baen Books web site; his last column concerned the discovery of the brain tumour that led to his death.
He was married to writer Nancy Kress.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 30, 2021
Sight of Proteus was Sheffield's first novel, and is an interesting look at post-human development and augmentation within the framework of an intriguing suspense/chase novel. It's not as well put together or polished as his later works, but it's a thought-provoking read with solid scientific speculations.
June 28, 2018
The late Charles Sheffield is one of my favorite "hard" science fiction authors, but this was not his best effort. His first published novel, "Sight of Proteus" is muddled and hacked up with mysterious gaps in the narrative. Crucial plot points are passed over and unexplained, characters are dropped into the narrative in the last chapter (huh?), and the whole thing is just unappealing. Sheffield obviously improved in his craft, but this one is a stinkeroo.
August 31, 2014
Très sympa (j'aime l'idée principale de capacité au morphisme comme caractéristique proprement humaine) un court roman (ouf) facile à lire, même si le style est franchement vieillot comme les réactions des protagonistes mais tant pis ! il faut bien voir comment tout ce jeu de pistes va aboutir et si cela a un sens !
September 8, 2020
I enjoyed this, but it is clunky and dated.
If you like wallowing in 1970s sci-fi, this is worth tracking down.
If you like wallowing in 1970s sci-fi, this is worth tracking down.
July 3, 2018
I read the italian translation a long time ago, but I didn't really remember anything about it, except that it was a book I liked, and that I always wanted to read the sequels but never got to.
Well, I definitely still like it, and this time I'm going to keep reading, hoping that it doesn't devolve in something sadly unsatisfying by the end of the series - as sometimes happens (but it was never an issue with Sheffield, so there's hope). In a weird period of my life in which I find hard as never before to read and get to the end of books, this one kept me stuck on the pages, and I finished it in just four days, so thanks Sheffield!
(There are more intelligent things that I could write about, like a picture of future Earth that is just sketched here but deeply unsettling, or the running theme of what it means to be a human being... but I think I'm just going to go read the next book!)
Well, I definitely still like it, and this time I'm going to keep reading, hoping that it doesn't devolve in something sadly unsatisfying by the end of the series - as sometimes happens (but it was never an issue with Sheffield, so there's hope). In a weird period of my life in which I find hard as never before to read and get to the end of books, this one kept me stuck on the pages, and I finished it in just four days, so thanks Sheffield!
(There are more intelligent things that I could write about, like a picture of future Earth that is just sketched here but deeply unsettling, or the running theme of what it means to be a human being... but I think I'm just going to go read the next book!)
July 2, 2022
One of Sheffield's most imaginative works. His depiction of a society that has learned how to use biofeedback, computer software, and genetics to tailor human beings to suit the current fashions (Marilyn Monroe and William Shakespeare look-a-likes) or to adapt them for hostile environments (life underwater) is fascinating.
As for the narrator, I can't understand why they picked Laurel Lefkow. Except for a few minor characters, all are men. So why choose a woman to voice them? She doesn't have a suitable range, so big men sound like little men and they all sound a little squeaky. Disappointing.
Otherwise, the story is interesting and optimistic about humanity's future. Recommended.
As for the narrator, I can't understand why they picked Laurel Lefkow. Except for a few minor characters, all are men. So why choose a woman to voice them? She doesn't have a suitable range, so big men sound like little men and they all sound a little squeaky. Disappointing.
Otherwise, the story is interesting and optimistic about humanity's future. Recommended.
May 13, 2020
Full review: https://sciencefictionruminations.com...
"Charles Sheffield’s fix-up novel Sight of Proteus (1979) posits a hard science (biofeedback and chemo-therapy induced shape-shifting) mystery. In an overpopulated future, humankind has ventured into space. On Earth, agencies control Form Change, the biofeedback process by which humans can change [...]"
"Charles Sheffield’s fix-up novel Sight of Proteus (1979) posits a hard science (biofeedback and chemo-therapy induced shape-shifting) mystery. In an overpopulated future, humankind has ventured into space. On Earth, agencies control Form Change, the biofeedback process by which humans can change [...]"
September 29, 2017
This is my first Charles Sheffield read and he sure packed a punch with this one. Charles was a physicist and a mathematician so this tale of a future Earth some two hundred years from now, involving drastic form change, and even to be able to reverse aging all in an effort to escape an over crowded Earth hit a home run. It is the first of a trilogy and I'll be reading the rest soon.
July 10, 2020
Meh, very seventies SF, and not in the Dangerous Visions sense. One or two sort-of interesting ideas carried out to their conclusion.
I gather there are sequels, but that doesn’t mean the first book has to end so abruptly.
I gather there are sequels, but that doesn’t mean the first book has to end so abruptly.
May 27, 2025
I loved this book! The setting and characters pulled me in. I loved the concept of form change and the city in which it took place. Bey is a fascinating character, and I loved his obsession with the professor. It was an enjoyable read with a satisfying ending!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2011
Veamos…
Alguno de ustedes ha visto la serie “The Big Bang Theory”?
Para los que sí, me alegro... segun yo es una buena serie, de la que no me pierdo un solo cap, y para los que no… sorries pero talvez no entiendan lo que describo… y es que no tengo como comparar como me sentí al leer Proteo.
Este es un libro con dos novelas dentro…
El Ascenso de Proteo nos introduce a un mundo con tecnología suuuuuuper desarrollada… con la que incluso se realizan “cambio de formas”, en este mundo hay ciertos parámetros que la señora ley indica deben seguirse, y a su vez estos cambios son regulados por un "test de humanidad". En estas, uno de los agentes encargados de mantener esa ley, Bey Wolf, descubre a Dr. Loco ciertas prácticas ilegales, las que a su vez le llevaran a destapar todo un “secreto” que el buen Wolf tendrá que destapar…
Proteo Desencadenado esta situado años después en el mismo escenario pero con un Bey Wolf con una extraña enfermedad y con un nuevo secreto a desentrañar… y para mi sorpresa me resulto mucho mas fácil de leer y aunque sigue con las mismas explicaciones “Sheldonescas” tiene muchas mas aventuras que hacen que la lectura fluya con mas facilidad.
Al principio me costo mucho “entrar” en la historia, y no por el mundo que nos presenta, ni por
los personajes, sino por el tipo de narración, El autor era un científico, y a su vez escritor, y creo que incluso si no se los dijera y estuvieran leyendo el libro, sabrían eso… se nota mucho… casi toda la mitad del libro me sentí como Penny hablando con Sheldon… (sip, asi d tonta soy… pero vamos… las cosas como, son digo yo)
Lo bueno?
- La imaginación… teniendo en cuenta que esta es una novela escrita en 1978 cuando los avances tecnológicos ni se acercaban a ser “avances” a comparación de hoy… es de verdad sorprendente la imaginación del autor.
- La tecnología… cuentan con cada chuche que vieran! Desde teléfonos, hologramas, “pcs” y ni que hablar de los avances médicos y científicos… *hablando de imaginación
- Bey Wolf… el tio es mmm “Sherlock del futuro” mejorado (*nunca mejor dicho) y aunque lo sentí mmm bajoneado por vete a saber que? El hecho de que sea tan inteligente y perspicaz le disculpa la onda depre…
Lo malo?
- No sé ustedes pero yo suelo acudir al mata burros diccionario cada vez que encuentro una palabra que me deja con el ojo cuadrado, en este libro hay muuuuchas de esas palabras, y no es que este mal incrementar tu vocabulario, vamos eso es buenísimo… y ésta debe ser más bien una autocritica, o solo el reflejo de mi pobre vocabulario… pero enserio, la primera parte del libro sentí que me hablaban en chino… :S otra vez fui... fui Penny (lo q explicaría xq el 2° libro me resulto mas fácil de leer, ha de ser que ya estaba “curtida”)
- Lo emocional… no sé si esto debe ir en lo malo, o debe ir en “lo Curioso” … el autor no tiene problema en redactarnos una escena de aventura, detallarnos cada uno de los tantos análisis, procesos científicos, pero a la hora de redactar alguna situación emocional, un chiste, una situación embarazosa… no tiene los mismos resultados… es mas en muchas de estas escenas resultan… mmm ridículas *?
- El final de la 1° parte… pensé que en el 2° libro se resolverían muchas de las preguntas del 1°, porque termina como a medias, pero no; el 2° libro si bien me gusto mas… mucho no tiene que ver con el 1°… lo que me deja dudas, y por lo que lei de la sinopsis del 3°, creo que la intención es esa.
En fin, un libro entretenido y que a los seguidores del CF les encantara de mas… y q los geeks amaran! (lo sé… se lo acabo d pasar a uno y anda como enamorado del libro)
Yess
Alguno de ustedes ha visto la serie “The Big Bang Theory”?
Para los que sí, me alegro... segun yo es una buena serie, de la que no me pierdo un solo cap, y para los que no… sorries pero talvez no entiendan lo que describo… y es que no tengo como comparar como me sentí al leer Proteo.
Este es un libro con dos novelas dentro…
El Ascenso de Proteo nos introduce a un mundo con tecnología suuuuuuper desarrollada… con la que incluso se realizan “cambio de formas”, en este mundo hay ciertos parámetros que la señora ley indica deben seguirse, y a su vez estos cambios son regulados por un "test de humanidad". En estas, uno de los agentes encargados de mantener esa ley, Bey Wolf, descubre a Dr. Loco ciertas prácticas ilegales, las que a su vez le llevaran a destapar todo un “secreto” que el buen Wolf tendrá que destapar…
Proteo Desencadenado esta situado años después en el mismo escenario pero con un Bey Wolf con una extraña enfermedad y con un nuevo secreto a desentrañar… y para mi sorpresa me resulto mucho mas fácil de leer y aunque sigue con las mismas explicaciones “Sheldonescas” tiene muchas mas aventuras que hacen que la lectura fluya con mas facilidad.
Al principio me costo mucho “entrar” en la historia, y no por el mundo que nos presenta, ni por
los personajes, sino por el tipo de narración, El autor era un científico, y a su vez escritor, y creo que incluso si no se los dijera y estuvieran leyendo el libro, sabrían eso… se nota mucho… casi toda la mitad del libro me sentí como Penny hablando con Sheldon… (sip, asi d tonta soy… pero vamos… las cosas como, son digo yo)
Lo bueno?
- La imaginación… teniendo en cuenta que esta es una novela escrita en 1978 cuando los avances tecnológicos ni se acercaban a ser “avances” a comparación de hoy… es de verdad sorprendente la imaginación del autor.
- La tecnología… cuentan con cada chuche que vieran! Desde teléfonos, hologramas, “pcs” y ni que hablar de los avances médicos y científicos… *hablando de imaginación
- Bey Wolf… el tio es mmm “Sherlock del futuro” mejorado (*nunca mejor dicho) y aunque lo sentí mmm bajoneado por vete a saber que? El hecho de que sea tan inteligente y perspicaz le disculpa la onda depre…
Lo malo?
- No sé ustedes pero yo suelo acudir al mata burros diccionario cada vez que encuentro una palabra que me deja con el ojo cuadrado, en este libro hay muuuuchas de esas palabras, y no es que este mal incrementar tu vocabulario, vamos eso es buenísimo… y ésta debe ser más bien una autocritica, o solo el reflejo de mi pobre vocabulario… pero enserio, la primera parte del libro sentí que me hablaban en chino… :S otra vez fui... fui Penny (lo q explicaría xq el 2° libro me resulto mas fácil de leer, ha de ser que ya estaba “curtida”)
- Lo emocional… no sé si esto debe ir en lo malo, o debe ir en “lo Curioso” … el autor no tiene problema en redactarnos una escena de aventura, detallarnos cada uno de los tantos análisis, procesos científicos, pero a la hora de redactar alguna situación emocional, un chiste, una situación embarazosa… no tiene los mismos resultados… es mas en muchas de estas escenas resultan… mmm ridículas *?
- El final de la 1° parte… pensé que en el 2° libro se resolverían muchas de las preguntas del 1°, porque termina como a medias, pero no; el 2° libro si bien me gusto mas… mucho no tiene que ver con el 1°… lo que me deja dudas, y por lo que lei de la sinopsis del 3°, creo que la intención es esa.
En fin, un libro entretenido y que a los seguidores del CF les encantara de mas… y q los geeks amaran! (lo sé… se lo acabo d pasar a uno y anda como enamorado del libro)
Yess
April 10, 2016
Much of the best science fiction revolves around Big Ideas. The Big Idea of this book from 1979 is that one of the most revolutionary technological developments in the future will be "form change"; the ability to alter the human body at will. Imagine paying some money to go into a machine which is programmed to alter your body- potentially over a period of many days, depending on how radical the change you want- into just about anything; aquatic forms, avian forms. Forms which can exist without oxygen for extended periods. Forms with a slowed-down metabolism, so they can survive the thousands of years it might take for human ships to reach other star systems. Enhanced strength and sexiness.
The main character here is an investigator whose job is to investigate illegal form changes; in the early going, he discovers that a respected hospital is being used as a cover for illegal form-change experiments, in which some of the test subjects are dying. From there, the plot jumps around a lot, as the author introduces more and more ideas: discovery of alien life, exploration of gas-giant planets, rivalry between Earth-dwellers and space-dwellers, and so forth. As sometimes happens with this sort of science fiction, the author has so many ideas that it gets in the way of constructing a tight, lucid plot. That's OK. Take it for what it is: a fascinating, mind-expanding exploration of pure Possibility.
The main character here is an investigator whose job is to investigate illegal form changes; in the early going, he discovers that a respected hospital is being used as a cover for illegal form-change experiments, in which some of the test subjects are dying. From there, the plot jumps around a lot, as the author introduces more and more ideas: discovery of alien life, exploration of gas-giant planets, rivalry between Earth-dwellers and space-dwellers, and so forth. As sometimes happens with this sort of science fiction, the author has so many ideas that it gets in the way of constructing a tight, lucid plot. That's OK. Take it for what it is: a fascinating, mind-expanding exploration of pure Possibility.
November 23, 2021
Sheffield, Charles. Sight of Proteus. 1978. Proteus No. 1. Orbit, 2013.
In his first novel, Sight of Proteus, Charles Sheffield (1935-2002) imagines a transhuman future in which transplants have become routine and have been combined with a computer-enhanced biofeedback and chemotherapy. These technologies have given humanity almost complete control over the form of their bodies. Like the mythological Proteus, we can all be shapeshifters. The process is not cheap or universally approved, and there are social inequities. Not all forms are viable, and not all are legal. A sizable proportion of the human population now lives in space, and babies that don’t pass a genetic humanity test are euthanized. Some of the forms people take are utilitarian, others simply whimsical. A mediocre poet, for example, changes her sex to male and makes herself look like Shakespeare, hoping it will improve her poetry. Our hero, Bey Wolf, and his partner, John Larson, investigate illegal form changes. Like many science fiction novels of the period, this one is a fix-up from stories originally published in a magazine, so don’t expect a lot of polished writing or structural coherence. Consider it a predecessor of Richard Morgan’s Altered Carbon.
In his first novel, Sight of Proteus, Charles Sheffield (1935-2002) imagines a transhuman future in which transplants have become routine and have been combined with a computer-enhanced biofeedback and chemotherapy. These technologies have given humanity almost complete control over the form of their bodies. Like the mythological Proteus, we can all be shapeshifters. The process is not cheap or universally approved, and there are social inequities. Not all forms are viable, and not all are legal. A sizable proportion of the human population now lives in space, and babies that don’t pass a genetic humanity test are euthanized. Some of the forms people take are utilitarian, others simply whimsical. A mediocre poet, for example, changes her sex to male and makes herself look like Shakespeare, hoping it will improve her poetry. Our hero, Bey Wolf, and his partner, John Larson, investigate illegal form changes. Like many science fiction novels of the period, this one is a fix-up from stories originally published in a magazine, so don’t expect a lot of polished writing or structural coherence. Consider it a predecessor of Richard Morgan’s Altered Carbon.
February 16, 2013
The book starts out a bit slow, but builds quickly. The concept of bio-feedback form change is interesting, with the down side that children unable to meet biofeedback requirements are considered not human, and euthanized.
It also paints a future that is a bit bleak, with overpopulation, resource scarcity, and tighter economic controls. This is part of the setting.
The characters are believable, with enough depth to make them so, without so much depth that it becomes boring. The plot moves along at a fair pace, and what you think you know early on, you find is not quite right.
This is a book that is part of a series, I am currently on the second. It originated in the Sci-Fi pulp magazines, but comes together quite nicely. I think I found a new author to read!
It also paints a future that is a bit bleak, with overpopulation, resource scarcity, and tighter economic controls. This is part of the setting.
The characters are believable, with enough depth to make them so, without so much depth that it becomes boring. The plot moves along at a fair pace, and what you think you know early on, you find is not quite right.
This is a book that is part of a series, I am currently on the second. It originated in the Sci-Fi pulp magazines, but comes together quite nicely. I think I found a new author to read!
February 3, 2014
This one is some hard core science fiction from Charles Sheffield. It's split into 3 parts that all tie together to make the whole. With the main character trying to track down an illegal "form" changer, where people can use devices to change the way they appear, but must be legally approved versions, things get interesting quickly, and you can see that bigger things are afoot! There are 2 more books in the series, so it will be interesting to see where this goes long term.
January 23, 2015
My husband got this book for Christmas and suggested that I'd like it, too. For some reason I had thought it was a new book, but 2 pages in I was thinking it seemed like classic sci fi so I checked the publication date. Sure enough, 70s sci fi! It isn't my favorite genre but the ideas were interesting so I persevered. I definitely enjoyed the ideas and the world, but the characters were not compelling.
May 10, 2014
this is a reread. I really enjoy this author
March 27, 2014
Bello, ma non ai livelli degli altri lavori di Sheffield
May 15, 2014
An enjoyable little fiction piece. In the strain of Asimov or Clarke, but perhaps not quite at their level. Still a fun pleasure read.
December 1, 2014
There are some intriguing ideas here, but the prose is about as well written and interesting as a farm report.
May 7, 2015
1990 grade B-
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews