Echopraxia

I've been looking forward to reading Echopraxia with both eagerness and with trepidation. Eagerness, because it's predecessor, Blindsight was so marveleously great and trepidation because I thought it be pretty hard to write a "sequel" that was the equal of Blindsight. Now, after having read it, I came away feeling that it was a strong book, but, almost inevitably, it didn't match up to Blindsight.

It's hard, dense science fiction with interesting things to say about evolution, posthumans, aliens, and the tension between science and religion. (Also, some fascinating stuff about portia spiders - nature can be more more amazing than fiction!)

On the debit side of the ledger, the protagonist is prickley and unlikable and is literally "along for the ride" while decisions concerning his fate are taken by various super-intelligent beings with opaque thought processes. The ending felt weak and farfetched.

Still, a very worthwhile read.