Behemoth: Seppuku by Peter Watts
|
Book Summary Author: Peter Watts Edition: Hardcover Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published) Published: 2005-01-01 ISBN: 0765311720 Number of pages: 304 Publisher: Tor Books |
| Used | gohastings | Used, verygood 100% GUARANTEED! Fast shipping on more than 1,000,000 Book, Video, Video Game & Music titles all in one location! Discover Your Entertainment at goHastings. Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $2.30 | |
| Used | bohemian-ink | Used, mint Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $2.30 | |
| Used | _athenaeum_ | Used, good EX-LIBRARY; used item may have library binding and show stamps, stickers or other marks. Items not meeting quality expectations may be returned for refund. Buy with confidence - your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $2.30 | |
| Used | betterworldbooks_ | Used, mint Book in almost Brand New condition. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Shipped to over one million happy customers! Your purchase benefits world literacy! Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $2.42 | |
| Used | alibris | Used, mint Like New condition Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $3.35 | |
| Used | m-cbs | Used, good Hardcover with Dust Jacket in good condition, binding tight. Pages clean. We could find no marks or highlighting. Ex-Library book with minor labels and stamps. Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $3.99 | |
| Used | jaybees-books | Used, good Withdrawn canceled library copy with protective mylar cover and the usual library markings, stamps and labels. Mylar cover has light shelf rubbing wear and has completely protected the dust jacket. Binding is tight and pages are clean. Ships quickly with delivery confirmation! Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $4.00 | |
| Used | woodys-books | Used, verygood Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $7.93 | |
| Used | laurielangdalen | Used, mint LIKE BRAND NEW , Same or Next Day Shipping , Guaranteed Satisfaction. Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $7.94 | |
| Used | fuzzymarcusbooks | Used, good Former library copy in very good condition; dust wrapper like new but for stickers; stamps on front free endpaper; no other markings; very clean copy; Ships in waterproof, protective packaging (box or cardboard and bubble wrap with poly bag--no paper envelopes) w/delivery confirmation & email notification of shipping (S4, 1'1") Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $7.95 |
Your purchase is protected by the A-to-z Safe Buying Guarantee. Amazon.com automatically transfers your payment to the merchant so you'll never need to pay a merchant directly. Amazon.com A-to-z Safe Buying Guarantee covers both the delivery of your item and its condition upon receipt.
Book Reviews of the Behemoth: Seppuku
Customer Review: Satisfying conclusion to a fascinating series
Summary: 5 Stars
First off, for those of you haven't already read "Behemoth: B-Max" (at least) you will definitely want to do so before tackling "Behemoth: Seppuku". For reasons that the author explains in the first volume, they constitute one book that was split into two due to pressures in the publishing issue. This novel does not stand alone, and will make no sense without reading the previous volume. Furthermore, there are two other volumes in the series "Starfish" and "Maelstrom" and while each entry stands on its own fairly well, reading the books in order would definitely be the approach I would recommend.
For those of you who are new to the series, here is a brief synopsis that should tell you whether or not these books are for you. Essentially, the story arc is about evolution: human, animal and electronic. By mixing a blend of biology, computer science and chaos theory, author Peter Watts has created a near future Earth where man is simultaneously at the height of his powers and walking the knife's edge of total ecological failure. In an effort to maintain the high standard of Western living mankind has turned to deep sea geothermal power to meet their energy needs. Miles below the ocean, specially engineered humans culled from the dregs of society maintain these power plants. However, what no one could have expected was that they would encounter an organism that would unleash an apocalypse. Part hard science-fiction, part post-apocalyptic, the first two books represent a genuinely original voice in the genre.
For those of you who have been eagerly awaiting "Seppuku" rest assured the ending is eminently satisfying. Given the two volume approach, it is difficult to offer much in the way of plot details without providing spoilers, but I can say that after the somewhat broader focus of "Maelstrom" and "B-Max" the story has gone full circle and boiled back down to the most perverse trinity of characters one is likely to find: Lenie Clarke, Ken Lubin and Achilles Desjardins. As the three engage in a power-play in which no one's motivations are clear and the fate of the world hangs in the balance, action takes precedence over thought, to sometimes disastrous effect. Nonetheless, the science and technology which has so defined this series is on ample display and is as prescient as ever.
Of particular note, I found the conclusion to be perfectly enigmatic. This is post-apocalyptic fiction, and a happy ending would have been wildly out of place, but Watts' conclusion recognizes this without being entirely bleak. In this regard, his novel owes more to "Alas, Babylon" with it's open ended conclusion, than the superb, but utterly fatalistic "On the Beach".
To say more would risk huge spoilers, so suffice it to say "Sepukku" is every bit the conclusion I was hoping for. Watts has combined hard science fiction and post-apocalyptic fiction and taken both in new and exciting directions. If you're a fan of the series, you'll be glad at the way it ends; if you're intrigued by this review, grab "Starfish" and start from the beginning.
Jake Mohlman