Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1) by Sylvain Neuvel -- Restarting May 15th 2025

[Natalie]

A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.

Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved—its origins, architects, and purpose unknown. Its carbon dating defies belief; military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected.

But some can never stop searching for answers.

Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top secret team to crack the hand’s code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the provenance of the relic. What’s clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history’s most perplexing discovery—and figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result prove to be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?

[Sarah]

Is it all right if I join this? :)

[Natalie]

Of course! c:

[Natalie]

Hoping to start this within the next couple of days c:

[Sarah]

I have my copy now and I'm ready to start whenever!

[Natalie]

Finally got around to startinggggg 8'D

Prologue: (view spoiler)[Very short sentences o.O I'm used to the novels I read having much longer sentences on average than this. It just seems very concise and to the point: "This happened. Then this. I thought. And then." Bit disconcerting for me actually and I'm not sure if I like it...

The fact that she was found lying in the palm of a giant metal hand is interesting though... wonder what relevance that has c:
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

End of Part One: File No. 034
(view spoiler)[Great news! It didn't continue with the super short sentences! :D The formatting of it now reminds me somewhat of Illuminae, which I read recently (and loved), so I've got pretty high hopes for this novel now as a result c:
--
The information/science lesson we were given on iridium was truly fascinating; considering the only thing I knew about it previously was its name I really enjoyed reading that and even went online to do more research for background as a result - which honestly wasn't really necessary because it appears everything mentioned covered all the bases accurately c:
--
The first chapter with Kara was pretty interesting too, though as I don't really have any previous knowledge of Military "speech", a couple of the things went over my head. It does appear that the "whale" was made of the same material as the hand from the prologue though, and that it perhaps has some EMP-like properties if it was able to bring down a military helicopter.
--
I liked the idea of using a less-qualified (or learning) linguist so that they could start afresh with translating a language rather than someone who had all the previous knowledge; and thus too many things that might conflict with the translating. Good idea.
--
I didn't really think about the potential devastation caused by giant body parts coming rapidly up through the ground... crap. I just hope the little girl's death was quick ;u; Her poor mother (and other family members).
--
Okay seriously, who is the mysterious interviewer, who do they work for, and how powerful ARE they? They're interviewing someone in the Office of the POTUS? And they apparently have more power (or work for some organisation with more power) than the NSA? Conspiracies!
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

End of Part Two: File No. 118
(view spoiler)[The description of the inside of the giant (robot? ship? giant exoskeleton?) reminds me a bit of Pacific Rim. Wonder if it works the same way...
--
Yeah, putting the alien helmet on with no preparation or paramedics handy was a dumb idea ._.
--
The helmet healed her eyes? :o
--
Okay, the base-8 system of mathematics that the "ancient alien civilisation" left behind as a rosetta stone is just confusing as hell ._. Even reading over the "2222" explanation makes my brain hurt XD;;
--
Well crap. Now Russia's in the know (at least somewhat) and really not too pleased with the Americans... As a NZer I would say the Russians are rather pissed :P
--
Poor Ryan ;u; Losing his job and his... kind of girlfriend... in one fell swoop just because a helmet liked one person but not another.
--
...Wait... Did Ryan try and KILL Vincent? What the HECK was that?
(hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Page 24: Not very far in, but I'm liking it a lot so far. (view spoiler)[I wonder who the interviewer is ... they seem to be more important than just a mouthpiece. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Page 94: (view spoiler)[I feel like the explanation that the robot was just created by an ancient alien race is too ... normal now. Like they've been pretty much pushing this theory on us the whole book, they HAVE to be buttering us up for some kind of twist? Or big reveal? I hope I'm not disappointed. Really hooked so far, though. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Natalie wrote: "End of Part Two: File No. 118
[spoilers removed]

I REALLY hope it's not (view spoiler)[just a giant metal war robot. That's so ... unoriginal. And I really do think that by pushing that theory on us, Neuvel must be buttering us up for some kind of big reveal. I do love giant robots, though. Just hoping for more. (hide spoiler)]

Page 148: (view spoiler)[Kind of fucked up that the interviewer forced the doctor to give Vincent alien legs. I understand why, but still -- he's a human being with a life outside of piloting the robot, and doing something like that without his consent is ... really fucked up. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Finished! (view spoiler)[So turns it out WAS just a giant alien war robot after all. Hm. A little disappointing, if I'm going to be honest, but to be fair I probably shouldn't have expected anything else. How else are you supposed to explain a huge, technologically advanced war robot?

I definitely enjoyed the first half of the book better ... I liked reading about the discoveries that the team made, like that the symbols were numbers, not words. The second half of the book was more about the consequences of the robot being revealed to the world. While still interesting, it wasn't quite as ... exciting, you know?

Of course, the ending was pretty exciting, even though I kind of saw it coming. Still really liked the book overall though. I definitely plan on reading the sequel. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Congrats on finishing so soon Sarah! c: I didn't manage to read well... any of it... over the weekend (yay sleep! :P) so I'm gonna try and finish it today (or tomorrow) if I can ;D

End of Part Three: File No. 189
(view spoiler)[
Wow, poor Vincent ._. That must've been pretty hard, growing up with such expectations. I mean, I know my Dad had pretty high expectations for me growing up, and was always pushing me to be better than my best but I always had Mum to kind of temper those issues. Doesn't seem that Vincent had that ;u; Gotta say though, he reacted surprisingly well to the potential losing of his legs.
--
Holy crap. They're going to reconstruct his legs in the same fashion as the "robot's" - with two sets of knees :o
--
Oh hey! Our first direct "contact" with Alyssa! And honestly... from that communication with her? I don't like her :|
--
Now the Russians AND the Chinese are involved? Yikes. Military stand-off it is.
--
Wait... how did they find out where the head was if it's underwater?
--
Intercepting Russian subs. That's how.
--
Oh neat! The "robot" has a sword and shield (LOTR crossed with Star Wars apparently ;D) rather than lasers!
--
Wait... I'm confused... Did THEY destroy the plane?
--
ROSE IS DEAD? :o
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

End of Part Four: File No. 250
(view spoiler)[
Okay, the aftermath of the "explosion" actually wasn't near as intense as I was expecting ._.
--
Okay, this bit shows a bit more of the aftermath that I was expecting. Gotta say though, I really didn't expect them to kill off Rose considering she was the very first character introduced. It just seems to be a bit of a let down really :/
--
...Is the giant robot from Atlantis or something?
--
Okay, sounds like the "colony" is a solar system, or universe or something. Maybe the Emperor and his people who were banished were sent into space?
--
...Wait... are the "aliens" (or whoever they are) going to come and take back the "robot" as a result of the fact that the different nations on earth are fighting over it?
--
Huh. They really did drop it to the bottom of the ocean.
--
Couldn't they use radioactive material to bring the robot back up to the surface? After all, isn't that how the pieces dug themselves out of the ground?
--
They're bringing Greek mythology into this? NICE. That's a really unique way to bring in gods and goddesses (etc). I really like the direction this novel seems to be going in c:
--
...There's a propulsion system?
And I gotta say, I really don't see how this train thing is meant to bring the pieces of the robot out of a 5km deep trench in the ocean ._.
--
"—So we went from the greatest discovery in history, for the betterment of all mankind, blah blah blah, to a weapon for profit? Is that it?"
That's capitalism for you! XD
--
Yeah, I don't trust Alyssa :|
--
Uh oh. Giant robot being deployed. Not good.
(hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

(view spoiler)[I really liked that bit with the Greek mythology, too! I do think that some of the stuff in the novel, like the way they brought the pieces out of a trench somehow, was a little bit unrealistic. But hey, it IS a book about a giant alien war robot, so ... I suppose I can't really complain. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

End of Part Five: File No. 263
(view spoiler)[
That was a really strange way to read about a militaristic confrontation o.O Rather than it being all excitement and explosions and guns and what-not it's just a play-by-play from one of the people in the middle of it reporting to her "superiors". Such an odd (yet somehow satisfying) way to read about a conflict
--
Okay, I *REALLY* don't like Alyssa. And I think things are going to blow up in her face... I certainly hope so.
--
I'm lost. What did they do to Kara? Impregnant her via IVF or something? What the HECK is wrong with Alyssa?
--
Is Mr. Burns the "Earth" ambassador for the "ancient civilisation" that built the robot, or something? He made a verbal slip that suggests he's much older than he appears, and has far more knowledge than he's letting on...
--
Once again, a really great way to describe a combat scene XD
--
Geez, the narrator guy has his fingers in all the pies ._.
--
Where the HECK is Alyssa, and is she pregnant with a IVF baby that she stole from Kara and Vincent? D:
--
Vincent wants to propose to her? That's adorable :|
(hide spoiler)]

Epilogue (Finished ;D)
(view spoiler)[WAS THE UNKNOWN SUBJECT ABDUCTED BY ALIENS.
--
OH MY GAWD IT'S ROSE. Was she in a parallel dimension as a result of the explosion? I *KNEW* they wouldn't just kill her off!
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Sarah wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

I definitely thought that was neat, but honestly if you're (view spoiler)[going to create a specific reality with specific rules I feel like you should stick to it. The giant alien war robot was explained by well... an alien civilization that is more advanced than earth... but the train thing to bring the pieces out of a 5km deep trench in the ocean? NOT buying it. That was not believably put together :P (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I get you. I totally agree with all of your reactions, though, haha -- I NEED to know what happened to Rose. (hide spoiler)] We should buddy read the sequel! I think it's already out, not sure if my library has it yet though. :(

[Abi]

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Reading from the 8th of January 2018

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[Anna]

i have to start this a little early because my library copy is due on the 8th

[Anna]

Part One: (view spoiler)[The interviewer seems like he's going to turn out to be either some crazy evil dictator type person who wants to control the robot to become the leader of the entire world, or one of the aliens who put the giant robot there. (hide spoiler)]

[Bayan]

Prologue
(view spoiler)[In all honesty, I was impressed by that beginning, it was like the book is starting on an entry to a whole new world, when you read the words “giant metal hand”, it’s like WOAH, let me sit comfortably for this one. Excited. (hide spoiler)]

[Bayan]

Part one
(view spoiler)[In the beginning of the part, I liked the unnamed interrogator, at some points, he was charming, sometimes too formal for my liking, sometimes really annoying.
I love the Files style of dropping news and events, even feelings and all, reminds me of Illuminae, one of my first favorite sci fi reads. It makes the read a lot faster, easier, and somewhat fresh and more enjoyable.
The characters of Rose, Kara and Ryan are likable, so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Bayan]

Part two
Everything that happened in this part is long forgotten, I don’t know how to react to what Ryan just did.

[Bayan]

Part three
(view spoiler)[How do you curl up in a ball and cry until you get over Rose’s death? I mean, she was the first to know anything! She was the first to discover the hand which later made everyone search for the rest.. Oh my god… (hide spoiler)]

[Bayan]

Anna wrote: "Part One: [spoilers removed]"

I had similar thoughts especially the alien theory :P

[Anna]

Part Two: (view spoiler)[I really like Ryan, but attempted murder is not something I pictured him of all people doing. I'm intrigued to see what they can do about the leg operation if Vincent can't walk/is dead (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

Part Three: (view spoiler)[so it can teleport??? also i don't entirely believe that rose is dead, but we'll see...
Edit: i read this super wrong and thought they went to iceland, not just exploded out of the denver airport bunker (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Alyssa is awful. I wasn't surprised that Rose wasn't actually dead, but it leaves an open ending for the next book. (hide spoiler)]

[Bayan]

Now I know where Themis comes from lol
Also (view spoiler)[theory about our interrogator being alien or something is out the window, I don’t think he would have plainly stated it if it were otherwise.. (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

Bayan wrote: "Now I know where Themis comes from lol
Also [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[i'm thinking extremely high ranking cia official who went rogue. it would explain how he knows so much but isn't really working with the government? i'm not entirely sure though, their hostility towards him at the end makes me doubt it.... (hide spoiler)]

[Bayan]

Here's my 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Anna]

here's mine, it got 3 stars and it was pretty short lol
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting August 19th 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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[Maddie]

I'm going to be starting this one today.

[Maddie]

Starting soon.

[Dr. Andy]

Maddison wrote: "Starting soon."

Sweet

[Dr. Andy]

Part 1 (view spoiler)[ This is super interesting so far. I'm really liking it. I find the physics aspect fascinating. Definitely getting some Illuminae vibes with the files. I like the characters even though I don't know much about them. I hope we'll learn more about this mystery guy who's running everything. I can't believe he threatened the president! These giant parts are really cool too I can't wait to see what it can do. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Well I thought I would haha.

I ended up starting Confess. I'll get to this one tonight or tomorrow.

[Dr. Andy]

Maddison wrote: "Well I thought I would haha.

I ended up starting Confess. I'll get to this one tonight or tomorrow."

That's fine, I'm almost done!

[Dr. Andy]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ Holy fuck I can't believe Ryan hit Vincent with his truck! That was insane. This book is intense af. I'm loving it. All of that training tho for Ryan was just wasted. And I was starting to ship Ryan and Cara. (hide spoiler)]

Part 3 (view spoiler)[ Wait wtf just happened!? Rose can't be dead, not her!! WHY BOOK WHY!?! I was also starting to ship Vincent and Cara finally and it seems like everything is ruined! (hide spoiler)]

Part 4(view spoiler)[ Wow I really don't like Alyssa anymore. But I'm super excited to see more of Cara and Vincent and the giant. It's so cool that it's called Themis and is based on mythology. I loved how much information Vincent got from the two words the mystery man told him. It was interesting to see Mr. Burns intimidate the mystery man. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ This was freaking amazing!! Absolutely loved it. I liked how we couldn't really trust the mystery man who influenced everything. I wonder if more information will be given about him in the next book? AND HOW IS DR FRANKLIN ALIVE WHAT HAPPENED TO HER (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Wow that was quick. Isn't the audio like 12hr? It surprised me that it was so long.

[Dalziel]

Starting this now! Sorry I'm so late

[Maddie]

I'm not going to be reading this one sorry. I think I want to read the physical because of the different formats and things

[Dalziel]

Awhhh okay, always here if you want someone to discuss it with if you get round to reading the physical :)

[Maddie]

Yeah I want to read it sometime :)

[Dr. Andy]

Maddison wrote: "Wow that was quick. Isn't the audio like 12hr? It surprised me that it was so long."

No it's only 7 parts so like 8-9 hours max

[GridGirl]

I'm late to the party, too. Sorry about that :/
I'll start it right now :)

[Dr. Andy]

GridGirl wrote: "I'm late to the party, too. Sorry about that :/
I'll start it right now :)"

Dalziel wrote: "Starting this now! Sorry I'm so late"

no worries! I'll try to check in once you guys comment :)

[Maddie]

Oh strange then! 8-9hr is more realistic. Oh yeah I just checked, 8.5hr. Wonder what was 12hr then..