The Mountain in the Sea
A Novel
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4.2 • 175 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
*WINNER OF 2023 LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL * FINALIST FOR THE NEBULA AWARD, and THE LOS ANGELES TIMES RAY BRADBURY PRIZE
“The Mountain in the Sea is a wildly original, gorgeously written, unputdownable gem of a novel. Ray Nayler is one of the most exciting new voices I’ve read in years.”
—Blake Crouch, author of Upgrade and Dark Matter
Humankind discovers intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture, and sets off a high-stakes global competition to dominate the future.
The transnational tech corporation DIANIMA has sealed off the remote Con Dao Archipelago, where a species of octopus has been discovered that may have developed its own language and culture. The marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen, who has spent her life researching cephalopod intelligence, will do anything for the chance to study them. She travels to the islands to join DIANIMA’s team: a battle-scarred securityagent and the world’s first (and possibly last) android.
The octopuses hold the key to unprecedented breakthroughs in extrahuman intelligence. As Dr. Nguyen struggles to communicate with the newly discovered species, forces larger than DIANIMA close in to seize the octopuses for themselves.
But no one has yet asked the octopuses what they think. Or what they might do about it.
A near-future thriller, a meditation on the nature of consciousness, and an eco-logical call to arms, Ray Nayler’s dazzling literary debut The Mountain in the Sea is a mind-blowing dive into the treasure and wreckage of humankind’s legacy.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Off the coast of Vietnam, scientists discover a colony of octopuses who can apparently use tools and communicate via a rich language, raising questions about humanity’s place in the world. Ray Nayler’s smart, near-future eco-thriller is full of fascinating philosophical ideas about communication and the nature of consciousness. There’s also explosive action as a marine biologist and the world’s only existing android go up against enemies determined to use this groundbreaking discovery for their own sinister goals. Exciting, cerebral, and surprisingly compassionate, The Mountain in the Sea shines a light on the importance of our fragile ecosystem. Read this riveting novel if you love fresh takes on science fiction or you’re just fascinated by the mysteries of nature.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Nayler's masterful debut combines fascinating science and well-wrought characters to deliver a deep dive into the nature of intelligent life. Marine biologist Ha Nguyen gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she's invited to study a recently discovered society of intelligent octopuses in Vietnam's Con Dao archipelago. Aiding her are Evrim, the world's first android, and Altantsetseg, a human expert drone operator, both of whom add nuance to Nayler's thematic exploration of consciousness through their vivid personalities and backstories: Evrim's programming gradually breaks down, leaving them contemplating the nature of self, meanwhile drones enhance Altantsetseg's natural awareness as she uses them to both observe the octopuses in their natural habitat and defend the archipelago from rivals eager to capitalize on Nguyen's research. Throughout, Nayler provides a tightly focused framework for the challenges Nguyen faces as she attempts to decipher octopus language and culture, which will especially please science-minded readers. Subplots featuring genius hacker Rustem and Eiko, a man trafficked into slavery aboard a fishing vessel, expertly weave into the narrative while also offering readers a broader understanding of the political and technological state of this near-future world. As entertaining as it is intellectually rigorous, this taut exploration of human—and inhuman—consciousness is a knockout.
Customer Reviews
5 star concept, 4 star read
Wonderfully imaginative and unique vehicle by which to explore that which makes us human. Definitely worth the read. However, while I found it a 5 star concept, I only gave it 3.5-4 stars for two reasons. First, I am not fond of a reliance on first person internalizations, a style that the author relies on heavily throughout the book. Second, I found the last act to be a bit disappointing. Sort of a cop out. Mr Naylor seems just too invested in, too connected to, his characters. The overall book would have benefited enormously from some tough love editing.
Thoughtful
A good tale of the difficulties of communicating, whether it’s with another species, another person, or to ourselves.
Thought Provoking
There were multiple times throughout the book where I stopped and pondered questions about the nature of consciousness and perception, which is what I think the author was aiming for. I think either the book is a little too smart for it’s own good, or I might not be intelligent enough to understand what was being conveyed.
There were times the story lost me, as it felt disjointed between the multiple perspectives and the reasons for character actions and at other moments it felt like there wasn’t enough meat on the bones.
Anything that makes you think this much is probably worth the time overall and I respect the author for the talent and dedication. Only taking a star off because I can’t help shaking the feeling this would have been better without the metaphor of it all and just been presented more straightforward in terms of what the author wanted to discuss.