Starfish

The idea that social outcasts from ‘our' society might be ‘pre-adapted' (as the author puts it) to hostile environments is interesting, and Peter Watts uses the setting in this book to great effect to highlight the differences between ‘normal' people and the crew of the ocean-floor power station called Beebe.

I didn't like how the ‘Ganzfield Effect' was used here, though. It felt superfluous, and its introduction forced, into what is, otherwise, a believable world.

TL;DR

Average in my opinion, I didn't dislike it to stop reading but after I reached the end I didn't exactly like it either. I liked the banter between the characters, definitely the highlights of the book. Every time we got out into the ocean and the narator took over it was boring, the story also feels like nothing happened and as a stand alone it did not have a satisfying ending. We left with some big questions that will probably get resolved in later books.

Read the sinopsis and go for a preview of a chapter to see if you might like it, the idea of some mechanical enhanced people with traumas working together at the botttom of the ocean did sound interesting to me. But unfortunately if you don't plan on continuing to read the series I think this one will leave you unsatisfied.

My Scoring System

I have five things I look for in a book, if the book checks all five it's a 5/5 stars book, if it checks none it's a 1/5 stars and everything else is a combination:

X - Main Story: I thought I find it interesting but after finishing it it's not that great of a story. Probably because there are so many question that we don't get the answers for.

X - Side Stories (if it applies): I didn't care much for the backstories of the characters or the side plot going outside of the ocean, mainly because we're left with a lot of questions by the and that don't get answered.

✓ - Characters: Best part of the book, I liked the banter between then it's nice to see them go from complete strangers to working together like a team.

✓ - Setting/Ambiance: The deep ocean is pretty scary so you don't have to do much to get that mood, this is where the book shines. Even with the vastness of the ocean the fact that you can't see anything makes it feel very claustrophobic.

X - Ending: Unsatisfying ending, questions left unanswered that I would assume get resolved in later book.

Extensive Review

Not much to add, the banter between characters was the best part. I really liked some of the characters like our main protagonist. The darkness of the ocean is pretty scary and it was well written. There are some tense moments in the story outside of their little protective shelter. In my opinion the ending of a story is very important, I can only forgive a cliffhanger or an open ending if I really like it and plan on reading the whole series but I believe that every story even if you plan it to be more than one book must have a satisfying ending.