This is a book i really want to read. I'd like a nice hardback but they're hard to come by in great condition. I'd be happy with a SFMW edition for now (preferably an older black one!). I've been collecting Greg Bear in hardback, I have several now. Nice overview Richard. 👍🚀🔫👽📚
Blood Music is a fantastic book. Bear depicts the runaway, uncontrollable chain of events in a way that makes it so deeply unsettling. There is still something worryingly believable about the novel, which is remarkable given its age. It is both terrifying and somehow hopeful in its implications - amazing stuff.
one of my favs - the writing is rather pedestrian, in fact kind of cornball. its like bear has no idea how to write about real humans, but that doesn’t matter because the book goes from a mundane body horror story to way, way, waaay out there bonkersville. and i mean that in the very best way. its utterly fearless with how far he took it. also exciting and thought proking. i am so glad bear was persuaded to expand his novella like this. its an easy must read - and you’ll never forget this book. 🎉
One of my favorites. If you enjoyed the premise and themes check out Linda Nagata's 'Limit of Vision'. One of the main characters is even named after Blood Music's early main character, which was fun to realize, having read Blood Music first.
I'm so happy to see this pop up in my notifications! Happy early birthday gift to me lol After letting the novel roll around in my brain for a while after reading, it has become one of my favorites in my library. I'm overjoyed to know you liked it as well! ❤
Great review, Richard! I am a big Greg Bear fan. Besides Blood Music, I have read and greatly enjoyed: Eon, The Forge of God, Eternity, Anvil of Stars, and Darwin's Radio, along with several of his shorter works. I still have quite a few of his works to read, but now I think I want to reread Blood Music. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
It was a fantastic short story. Very applicable to the science being debated at the time. The bots do destroy the entire world population in the short story. Just my opinion, the novelette was a much better read, and a cautionary tale. There may have been a few hints at "Odd John"/ "Childhoods End" nietzschean primitivism, but minimal as I recall. I am slogging thru "Odd John" for the second time, the first was 55 years ago. Keeping copious notes for a comparison and contrast to Gilbert "Go-Sane" in the benevolent philosophy of "The World of Null - A." Sorry for edits, doing 2 things at once!
For some reason, 'Blood Music' didn't appeal to me when it first came out, possibly because a number of other books about bad things in the bloodstream came out around the same time. It's strange, I've always liked the things by Greg Bear that I have read but he just never made it into my list of favorite authors. However, after your review, I've decided that I need to read it. The library only had it in audiobook so I found a reasonably priced copy on-line and should arrive by the end of the month. It apparently is a well thought-of book; I saw hardcover editions for $150 and up. For what it is worth, an audio of the short story version is available on UA-cam on the Works of Wonder channel.
This is a book i really want to read. I'd like a nice hardback but they're hard to come by in great condition. I'd be happy with a SFMW edition for now (preferably an older black one!). I've been collecting Greg Bear in hardback, I have several now. Nice overview Richard. 👍🚀🔫👽📚
Blood Music: essential in any format!
Blood Music is a fantastic book. Bear depicts the runaway, uncontrollable chain of events in a way that makes it so deeply unsettling. There is still something worryingly believable about the novel, which is remarkable given its age. It is both terrifying and somehow hopeful in its implications - amazing stuff.
Blood Music is the only Bear I read.
I liked it, Eon is on my long tbr list.
Yes, it’s one of my favorites from the 1980s
one of my favs - the writing is rather pedestrian, in fact kind of cornball. its like bear has no idea how to write about real humans, but that doesn’t matter because the book goes from a mundane body horror story to way, way, waaay out there bonkersville. and i mean that in the very best way. its utterly fearless with how far he took it. also exciting and thought proking. i am so glad bear was persuaded to expand his novella like this. its an easy must read - and you’ll never forget this book. 🎉
@@meesalikeu Well said.
One of my favorites. If you enjoyed the premise and themes check out Linda Nagata's 'Limit of Vision'. One of the main characters is even named after Blood Music's early main character, which was fun to realize, having read Blood Music first.
@@sciencefictionreads Will watch for ‘Limit of Vision’.
look good thx 🎉
I'm so happy to see this pop up in my notifications! Happy early birthday gift to me lol
After letting the novel roll around in my brain for a while after reading, it has become one of my favorites in my library. I'm overjoyed to know you liked it as well! ❤
Happy Birthday!
@@vintagesf Thank you!
Great review, Richard! I am a big Greg Bear fan. Besides Blood Music, I have read and greatly enjoyed: Eon, The Forge of God, Eternity, Anvil of Stars, and Darwin's Radio, along with several of his shorter works. I still have quite a few of his works to read, but now I think I want to reread Blood Music. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
@@rickcantrell5302 Thanks Rick. I’ve read a number of Bear’s books in the 80s and early 90s. I need to reread most of them for the channel.
It was a fantastic short story. Very applicable to the science being debated at the time. The bots do destroy the entire world population in the short story.
Just my opinion, the novelette was a much better read, and a cautionary tale. There may have been a few hints at "Odd John"/ "Childhoods End" nietzschean primitivism, but minimal as I recall.
I am slogging thru "Odd John" for the second time, the first was 55 years ago. Keeping copious notes for a comparison and contrast to Gilbert "Go-Sane" in the benevolent philosophy of "The World of Null - A."
Sorry for edits, doing 2 things at once!
Look forward to your thoughts on both novels.
@@vintagesf Hey Richard, I sent you an email on this topic.
For some reason, 'Blood Music' didn't appeal to me when it first came out, possibly because a number of other books about bad things in the bloodstream came out around the same time. It's strange, I've always liked the things by Greg Bear that I have read but he just never made it into my list of favorite authors. However, after your review, I've decided that I need to read it. The library only had it in audiobook so I found a reasonably priced copy on-line and should arrive by the end of the month. It apparently is a well thought-of book; I saw hardcover editions for $150 and up.
For what it is worth, an audio of the short story version is available on UA-cam on the Works of Wonder channel.
@@paulcooper3611 Thanks for the audio recommendation. There seems to be a number of UA-cam channels with audiobooks.
@@paulcooper3611 You could try the magazine edition. I felt it was far superior to the novel.
I know I read this. But it’s been so long, I can’t remember anything about it. Sounds like it’s due for a reread! Good stuff Richard!