The Mind Pool

by Charles Sheffield

Book Overview

When the Cyborgs, nonliving biological constructs, threaten the entire galaxy, it is up to the despised inhabitants of planet Earth--the humans--to protect the galaxy from them. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671721658
• ISBN13: 9780671721657
• Release Date: April 1993
• Publisher: Baen Books
• Length: 420 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Flawed, often hard to get into, but a must-read

Charles Sheffield's The Mind Pool is a rework of an older novel, The Nimrod Hunt. Centered around the hunt for a renegade artificial life-form, the novel paints a mixed picture of the future, with humans living in harmony with alien species, genetic engineering rampant and uncontrolled, a divided, violent, and irrelevant Earth, and a militaristic outer system.This is a difficult book to get into. Initial chapters are tedious and there are a lot of key characters who inter-develop as the the book continues which devolves quickly into a confusing mess. Sheffield's humour barely holds the story together as empathy with the main, distant and too many, characters seems close to impossible, and the reader is expected to take in a little too much, from different technologies to the behaviors of three wildly different species. The book, initially, also seems to live up to its back-cover synopsis, which in science fiction can be a bad thing, especially if the synopsis seems to be written to appeal to John W Campbell.The novel is saved by a number of factors: Sheffield's humour, naturally, helps. Certain characters become fleshed out and sympathetic. Some time about half way through the novel the pace and understandability of what is going on becomes quicker and easier. And then there's an absolutely beautiful twist concerning the very subject of the novel - and I say beautiful not just to describe the twist itself but the subject matter and the novel at that point, which just turned my opinion of the book on its head.This is a flawed novel. You should read it anyway.

One of the best science fiction novels ever

To my mind, speaking as a very long-time science fiction reader, this may be one of the best science fiction novels ever, and head and shoulders about most of the stuff that passes for science fiction on the book racks today. Why is it so good? As John Campbell said about van Vogt's The World of Null-A, "It's like a 220-volt power line--it looks innocent, but once you grab it, you can't let it go." One of the best shoot-the-sheriff-on-the-first page opening chapters ever; enough plot and concepts for half a dozen ordinary novels; a compelling and visionary concept. It really does recall the intense sense of wonder of the great science fiction novels of the 50s and 60s. I would quite cheerfully hand this, along with, say, Pohl's Heechee series, Vance's Araminta Station, Asimov's Foundation Trilogy (and sequels), something by Phillip K. Dick, Blish's A Case of Conscience, and a classic Heinlein like Double Star and say, "Well, if you don't like any of these, then you will never like real science fiction."

Fascinating read

I've long enjoyed Sheffield. The first I read was My Brother's Keeper. Since then I've enjoyed his imagination and creative stories. This is an incredibly creative book and I have trouble putting it down. I read it first a year and a half ago, and I'm reading it for the second time. Even knowing how the plot twists and turns, I can't wait to finish. He masterfully weaves plots and sub-plots, which take countless twists and turns. He plays on the future-is-seedy theme perhaps a bit too much. Nevertheless, his characters are amazing in their quirks and brilliant streaks. Each character is colorful and intriguing. This is a must read for anyone interested in SF or who is testing the SF waters.

Full of great ideas and great characters

I loved this book! The best Sci-Fi is rich in new ideas as well as intriguing characters, and this book excels in both areas. I couldn't put it down. Sheffield is always good, but I'm tempted to rank the Mind Pool as one of his best ever. This is a rewrite of one of his earliest novels, by the way ("The Nimrod Hunt"). By reading both books, you can appreciate how Sheffield has grown as a writer. Read this book if you like "real" sci-fi (rather than fantasy) -- you won't be disappointed.

Captivating ! One of the best Hard-SF in recent years

Hi-tech, drama and excitement, aliens, superb plot and sub-plot, totally unpredictable... I agree, I like Charles Sheffield (probably) too much but this is definitely one of the best hard-SF books I have ever read !