Genesis

Genesis is a contemplative story covering a huge timescale. It uses science fiction and near omnipotent AIs to raise many ideas that are almost theological in nature, such as the problem of pain, the definition of self, and the meaning of death. The story is also deeply concerned with questions of free will, and the effect that an actively interfering 'God', even a benevolent one, would have on human society. While I enjoyed Genesis for its sense of wonder and thoughtful consideration of these and other ideas, it left me a little cold as a novel. It took quite some time to develop anything resembling a protagonist and a plot, and it constantly digressed into seemingly irrelevant short stories about characters and civilizations that would never be referenced again. While these stories had thematic relevance, I didn't feel like it was enough to hold it together as a coherent story.

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