From the Bookshelf of Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy…

Altered Carbon (Takeshi Kovacs, #1)

Richard K. Morgan

Start date: January 21, 2018

Finish date: February 14, 2018

Discussion: Book Discussions

Discussion leader: RJ - Slayer of Trolls

Why we're reading this: Group discussion topic January 2018
[close] Group discussion topic January 2018

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 250 topics — 8,801 comments total

Book Discussions

"Cyteen" by C.J. Cherryh
By deleted member · 48 posts · 103 views

last updated May 24, 2025 11:25PM

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
By deleted member · 46 posts · 150 views

last updated Mar 28, 2025 02:28PM

showing 10 of 18 topics view all »

What Members Thought

May 08, 2013 Alicja rated it really liked it

Shelves: cyberpunk, sff, science-fiction, male-author, crime-fiction, mystery, sci-fi-fantasy-challenge, noir

rating: 4/5

I loved the cyberpunk (and otherwise) concepts! It explores the tech of downloading minds into different bodies, space travel, and colonization of other planets, while mulling over the cultural, moral, and philosophical implications and their evolution as they re-shape society. The world building was just phenomenal.

The storyline starts with Kovacs being re-sleeved (meaning downloaded into another body) far away from his home planet. Now that he's on Earth, walking around in a body rating: 4/5

I loved the cyberpunk (and otherwise) concepts! It explores the tech of downloading minds into different bodies, space travel, and colonization of other planets, while mulling over the cultural, moral, and philosophical implications and their evolution as they re-shape society. The world building was just phenomenal.

The storyline starts with Kovacs being re-sleeved (meaning downloaded into another body) far away from his home planet. Now that he's on Earth, walking around in a body of a disgraced cop, he finds out he's been hired by a long-lived rich dude, or Meth, (if you have enough money and can keep downloading your mind into new bodies... how long can a person/the mind live? how would people change if faced with possible immortality?) who claims that someone killed him, that it wasn't suicide as the cops have determined. This leads us on a complicated journey where many tendrils of the case not only take us through the underworld of society but also in an exploration of the concepts.

The writing is dark, filled with graphic violence and sex (although, I must admit, the sex seemed so ridiculous it had me giggling like crazy... and I'm no erotic-novel virgin with all my romances and such, it was just hilarious with that noir bad-ass detective dude tone of voice). But otherwise, the mood was consistent and sustained nicely throughout.

The story does include abuse of women, prostitution, torture (especially one torture scenes stands out 'cause it made my skin crawl). But these mostly happen off screen. Instead, there are awesome female characters like Ortega who are very kick-ass and realistic. Kovacs relationship with Ortega was fascinating, and brought up some interesting philosophical questions (what is attraction anyway? body? mind? or something else?).

I'm not a big fan of noir in general, although I seem to be warming up to it. It had that tone of voice that I image is typical of noir (that Sin City type, like from the movie). But I couldn't help but love this book with all the wonderful food for thought. So, even if you aren't a fan of noir, give this book a chance, especially if you like sci fi. And if you are, I don't see why you haven't picked it up yet. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 27, 2017 Ash rated it it was ok

Shelves: dnf, suspense-thriller, cyberpunk, 0-arthur-cclarke, 0-pk-dick

It’s more like a crime fiction - detective thriller which is not my type of book. I only prefer psychological thrillers and not ones with bad guys being chased by good guys with lot of car chases and guns. This is not my type.

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 08, 2014 Sam rated it really liked it

Flippin' intense! Like blade runner meets Neuromancer meets detective noir. Very graphic and violent, but very good. Not sure I have the stomach for the next two books! ...more

Like · see review

Feb 27, 2018 Kelsey rated it did not like it

Shelves: dnf

I've listened to about half of this audiobook, and I actually hate it. It is very rare that I really truly hate a book, but in general I'm finding this is just gruesome. Too gorey, sexy to an uncomfortable point, and I just don't give one shit about the character or the mystery he's investigating. To be left unfinished. ...more

Like · see review