Watermind

by M.M. Buckner

Book Overview

From storm drains, illegal dumps, and flooded landfills, all of North America's most advanced technology flows down the Mississippi River--microchips, nano-devices, pharmaceuticals, genetically modified seed--and lodges in the Louisiana delta. Out of this mire emerges a self-organized neural net, drifting in the water: the Watermind. It can freeze, boil, condense, and move--seemingly at will. CJ Reilly is a brilliant, sexy, self-destructive dropout...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765359901
• ISBN13: 9780765359902
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 353 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.1" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Excellent

I don't really understand the critical reviews because I find this book to be of very high quality, intelligently written, and fun to read, with an excellent story and interesting characters. My friends and family all loved it, too, even those who are not science fiction readers. "Watermind" is a cut above ordinary genre fiction, and the author has won several awards for her work, including the prestigious Philip K. Dick Award. Give it a try if you like great characters and a gripping story in your science fiction.

Receives an excellent narration by Tanya Eby Sirois

M.M. Buckner's WATERMIND receives an excellent narration by Tanya Eby Sirois and tells of a dangerous life evolving in toxic waterways. A sexy self-destructive dropout cleaning up a small pollution spill comes across the mysterious Watermind - and finds it holds a murderous danger to all.

It floats!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It seems to be a cautionary tale, warning us of the folly of using nature as our very own dumping ground, yet it also shows that something beautiful can come out of garbage. Some of the science was simplistic, though that was probably necessary to keep the story running and not become weighed down with theoretical nonsense. A lot of the water science, though was pretty accurate and really made that part of the story hold together. I was left wanting more, though I suppose that sets the stage for a sequel, which I will also read and be happy with if it's half as good as this book. All in all, WATERMIND is a good read; suspend your disbelief and dive in, the water's fine!

engaging cautionary science fiction

Although her future seemed bright, CJ Reilly dropped out of MIT graduate school. She heads south with hopes of cleansing her disturbed mind. In sweltering but polluted Devil's Pond, Louisiana she finds a strange phenomena that should not be there: ice. After testing a sample, CJ believes she has found a magical elixir to save the water supply; the ice purifies water. However, the ice turns even more mysterious when she observes it react to music and display locomotion skills. When the ice kills scientist Roman Saxony, CJ reconsiders her belief she will be a world hero. Instead she needs to destroy the metamorphosing ice that has "waded" into the Mississippi before it destroys the world. An engaging cautionary science fiction warning people to watch how they dispose of their discards (in this case electronic, but easily extrapolates to drugs in the water systems and nuclear energy byproduct waste, etc). In some ways the ice seems like the Blob; however unlike both of the films that stars heroes, none of the humans especially CJ is heroic as everyone seems to have their own agenda. Fans will enjoy touring Louisiana with the WATERMIND host. Harriet Klausner