The main parts of the book are well written and interesting. It introduces concepts that make you put the book down and think about them for a few minutes befor continuing to read, like a good thought experiment. I would recommend it to anyone based on that alone. It also has too much filler. After the first hundred pages i began speed skimming all the flashbacks because they didn’t really add value in my opinion. It felt like he was attempting character development but didn’t quite pull it off.

A must read.

This is one of the most unique books I have ever read. There is a lot of philosophical meat held together by a science fiction plot. What does it mean to be sapient? Consciousness? Language? Neither? On top of these big questions, Watts does a superb job of making the reader feel claustrophobic and uneasy. For me, the main negative aspect is Blindsight can be jarring during the first reading. There are time jumps and digressions, and the descriptions can be confusing. I still haven't picked up the sequel, Echopraxia, but I'll be reading it soon!

The scenes Peter described have stuck with me long after I've finished the book. In my opinion, this book is required reading for anyone pondering humanity's impact and place in space.

Some novels are better the second time through – except I was at midway point before realizing I’ve read this novel already. First was a summer vacation past-the-time read. Suddenly, this time around, the memories come back to me: good plot, interesting characters, great pacing. And yet, the revisit is better. Slowing down, focusing more on the subtleties, it’s easier to dive into the novel’s layered rich world. Very realistic, yet unique enough to throw some surprises. It’s good. It’s fun. It’s thought provoking. Even when repeated.

And much more. It's like the fabric of reality in a novel form.

Don't judge this book by it's cover. The science is flimsy, to say the least, and Watts takes way more creative liberties than he should for a book that calls itself 'Hard SF'. That said, the story is only incidentally interesting, but the prose is difficult to navigate. You leave with the sense that not only are you not entirely sure what happened, but you're not sure you care.

Excellent and thought-provoking book. If you're a fan of hard sci-fi, definitely give this a read.