WWW: Wake (WWW Trilogy Series #1)

Highly Recommended-must read.

I read the first two books in this series in a matter of days, could not put my Nook down. Great character development and movement throughout.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Third in a Fun Trilogy

I very much enjoyed this trilogy of books. It is the story of an artificial intelligence spontaneously emerging on the internet. A new lifeform is suddenly born. Because this entity is discovered by a teenage girl, aspects of these books can have the feeling of "young-adult" or "teen-lit." However, that does not interfere with the level of entertainment these stories provide. There is a great deal of science and philosophy presented here, as well as much information about the internet and its history. These novels are thought-provoking. Be sure to read Wake, Watch, and Wonder in the proper order. You will have a good time.
Michael Travis Jasper, author of the novel "To Be Chosen"

Second in a Fun Trilogy

I very much enjoyed this trilogy of books. It is the story of an artificial intelligence spontaneously emerging on the internet. A new lifeform is suddenly born. Because this entity is discovered by a teenage girl, aspects of these books can have the feeling of "young-adult" or "teen-lit." However, that does not interfere with the level of entertainment these stories provide. There is a great deal of science and philosophy presented here, as well as much information about the internet and its history. These novels are thought-provoking. Be sure to read Wake, Watch, and Wonder in the proper order. You will have a good time.
Michael Travis Jasper, author of the novel "To Be Chosen"

First of a Fun Trilogy

I very much enjoyed this trilogy of books. It is the story of an artificial intelligence spontaneously emerging on the internet. A new lifeform is suddenly born. Because this entity is discovered by a teenage girl, aspects of these books can have the feeling of "young-adult" or "teen-lit." However, that does not interfere with the level of entertainment these stories provide. There is a great deal of science and philosophy presented here, as well as much information about the internet and its history. These novels are thought-provoking. Be sure to read Wake, Watch, and Wonder in the proper order. You will have a good time.
Michael Travis Jasper, author of the novel "To Be Chosen"

Agreed, an awesome trilogy

Sawyer got himself added to my watchlist with this series. Near future scifi that is fun and engaging, it deals with emergent intelligence in the web. Kinder, gentler Neuromancer.

Great plot, well written

Sawyer addresses emergent phenomena in the internet in a great novel. A kinder, gentler Neuromancer.

WOW!!!!!!

The trilogy is a MUST read!!!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Finally a good Sci-Fi!

I've been searching for a good Sci-Fi series, and it seems I've finally found one! Enjoyed the book immensely and even learned a few new things!

I am glad that this trilogy has finally wrapped up

Sawyer has done an excellent job of reworking prior ideas revolving around artificial intelligence from his prior books and taking them in a whole new direction. The Webmind was created from "rogue" computer packets (those that do no have a time to live flag set) that have formed themselves into a thinking entity. Webmind was able to view humanity through the artificially corrected eye of Caitlan, a 16 year old Texas girl who had move to Canada with her family.

In the wrapup of the trilogy, the government has become aware of the Webmind and performs a test to see whether they can contain or destroy it. Meanwhile Caitlan is coming of age with her friend Matt. The other main plotline revolves around the Chinese government attempting to close their firewall and isolate China from the Internet. This operation causes the Webmind to split becoming a weak primary entity and an "evil" other. This part reminded me of the Star Trek episode where Kirk was split into two entities.

This book is a lot more interesting than the second book but still nowhere as good as the first. There is some intrigue as a government man (Hume) tries to locate a hacker to create a virus to defeat Webmind. However, every hacker he approaches seems to have been taken away by a large scary man.

The trilogy does get wrapped up by the end of the book and even the hybrid ape, Hobo plays a part. I just didn't find this trilogy as intriguing as some of Sawyer's other efforts (Hominids). Considering that Caitlan is a minor, there was one scene between her and Matt that was a little disturbing. I give this book just slightly less than four stars.

Fantastic!

I read the first toe of this series back-to-back and wanted more. You can be assured, I will be getting book three. Really great books! Science fiction is not my thing, but this isn't really hare core sci fi. It's a great story!

Fantastic!

Fantastic! I read the first two of this series back-to-back and would have gone into the third but I don't have it - maybe it isn't available yet? When it is, I will get it. Great books!

Hard to put down

I have been anxiously awaiting this book since reading the first book in the series. While I found the first one a bit slow, it eventually hooked me and I was really looking forward to what happened next. Picking up right where the first one left off, the main action centers around a US government agency becoming aware of Webmind and deciding they need to get rid of it. Our formerly blind protagonist and her family must now try to prevent that from happening. Along the way, Caitlin turns 16 and gets a boyfriend. While this is a distraction from the main plot, the budding young romance does help make the character more real. We see more of the chimp Hobo and that storyline finally intersects the main plot. I have to believe that more is yet to come in the 3rd book however.

This one seems to move at much brisker pace than the first. Of course it doesn't hurt that this time around, we're already familiar with most of the cast and so we're not wasting any time getting to know them. I literally had a hard time putting this one down and finished it in just a couple of days. Now I just have to endure the long wait for the third and final book in the series to see how it all turns out.

Insightful, thought provoking and genuine

The stories that we read define our expectations and in many ways our reality also.
Stories like this one remind us to choose which stories we identify with and the type of world we create as a result.

Unforgettable, unable to put the book down!! The last 100 pages flew.

Unforgettable, unable to put the book down!! The last 100 pages flew. WWW:Watch picks up immediately after WWW:Wake.

Disappointing after an Excellent First Book

Let me preface this review by saying that Sawyer is my favorite scifi writer today and that I found the first book in this trilogy to be excellent. However, much to my dismay this book was difficult to get through. Caitlin has recently gained site through an implant behind one of her eyes. Her new friend, the Webmind is starting to evolve. Meanwhile a group of government scientists have detected the Webmind and want to destroy it before it becomes too powerful to be destroyed.

Caitlin eventually lets her parents know about the Webmind and they are convinced that it is someone on the Internet pulling a prank until Caitlin's father tests it out. Eventually they are convinced and are fascinated with the Webmind like it is an additional child.

Overlayed on this tale is the story about Hobo, the intelligent chimp/bonabo crossbreed. Hobo starts to get violent towards the woman who is responsible for him and the scientists have to decide what to do with him.

Meanwhile, through Dr. Kuroda, the Webmind is able to view more than text files on the internet and branches out to sound and video files. Eventually, the Webmind witnesses a teen suicide through the net. Caitlin becomes furious at it because it didn't intervene.

There comes a point where Sawyer hints that the Webmind will be to Caitlin like the computer implant that he introduced in the Hominid series.

Some of the drawbacks to this book are that you really needed to read the first book to understand what is going on and that the book drags. The deep feelings that the reader developed for Caitlin in the first book seem to be lacking here.

What a way to start

WWW:Wake is the first book of a (scheduled) trilogy by Robert J. Sawyer. It was also my introduction to this author. It was good enough to make me want to go out and find everything else written by this author, and here's why:

WWW:Wake takes a standard science fiction theme (what is intelligence/sentience) and makes you look at the concept and the world around you in a whole new way. It starts out with multiple plot lines, some of which connect in unexpected ways in this book and others which will probably connect later in the trilogy. The first main character you meet is Caitlin Decter, a blind teenager who explores the world through the internet. The title refers to her awakening though a surgery intended to give her sight, as well as the possible 'awakening' of two other characters. The novel deals with how different people perceive the world, the differences between sight and perception, and how knowledge can change what we see and what we think about it. In addition, the book challenges ideas about how we learn.

Personally, I am really looking forward to seeing where Sawyer takes this in the next book, WWW:Watch.

Good read

I really enjoyed reading this but I have to agree with other reviewers about the Chinese bird flu plot segment. It didn't really go anywhere. I expected it to be picked up and referred to later in the novel but it was simply left hanging; I understand that the plotline existed only to service the greater story but it was intriguing enough that it would have been interesting to see it be relevant to the main plot in some other way.

I thought Caitlin's experience with sight and her adaptation to it was a bit faster than I'd have expected. Other patients who've gained sight have had serious difficulties adjusting.

A stimulating read, but kind of biased

This book was accidentally given to me and I am glad it was. Caitlin is a truly engaging character and her journey to sight is particularly touching. The only issue I have with this book (spoiler ahead) is the Chinese bird flu segments. I felt that at the end of the book they were more like filler instead of an integrated part to the plot. I understand how the events in China lead up to the consciousness of the internet (my terms) but then it sort of ended abruptly and there was no resolution. I was also uncomfortable with the harsh, unfeeling and cold portrayal of some of the Chinese characters. Their emotions (or lack thereof) do make the book more engaging, but like I said earlier, no resolution, no finality. Do read this book, it is really very, very good, just be prepared for wanting more.

When will the next book in the trilogy come out?

Robert Sawyer has become one of my favorite authors. I really enjoy the different take on the world along with the science that is explained in his books.

I am ready to find out where Mr. Sawyer will take Catlain and her connection to WWW.

Brilliant!!

"Caitlin Decter is young, pretty, feisty, a genius at math and blind. Still, she can surf the net with the best of them, following its complex paths clearly in her mind. When a Japanese researcher develops a new signal-processing implant that might give her sight, she jumps at the chance, flying to Tokyo for the operation.

But Caitlin's brain long ago co-opted her primary visual cortex to help her navigate online. Once the implant is activated, instead of seeing reality, the landscape of the World Wide Web explodes into her consciousness, spreading out all around her in a riot of colors and shapes. While exploring this amazing realm, she discovers something, "some other" lurking in the background. And it's getting smarter..."

In addition to Caitlin's story are a couple of seemingly unrelated events in other parts of the world. In China an outbreak of the bird flu (H5N1) is handled by the Chinese government by culling the humans that are infected as well as shutting the country off from the rest of the outside word by cutting its internet and phone connections to hide their transgression. Elsewhere, in a research facility, a Bonobo/Chimpanzee hybrid that can use ASL (American Sign Language), produces art that defies what they are "supposed" to be capable of. Youtube videos and political strife follow. Thirdly, a growing intelligence on the world wide web begins to take form. It strains to come to terms with itself and its surroundings, yet it begins to evolve. And, like Annie Sullivan, reaching down into the depths of Helen Keller"s mind, Caitlin makes a connection with this web-based entity and strives to teach it.

I consumed this book. Like with his Neanderthal Parallax novels, I completely empathize with these characters. They lift off the page and pull you along with them, particularly Caitlin. Her ability to "see" through people and her edgy humour are brilliantly achieved and you can"t help but admire her strength of character and resolve. The use of biological terms and technology are meshed throughout the story in a way that it isn"t dumped on you. (It should be noted that I have a biology and information technology background, so I felt like this book was written for me. But with that said, the way he reveals the information would easily engage anyone without this knowledge.)

There are wonderful parallels and references to Helen Keller and her rise to awareness from the dark place in which she once lived as well as timely topics and subject matter that is deftly interwoven in the story. He engages in real world debates (i.e. the intelligence of apes and their ability to use sign language, the cross-breeding of species, the potential self-awareness of the internet, etc.) and employs throughout some some witty references and poignant gibes. It is obvious that Mr. Sawyer took his time to research well before writing this and it is no wonder he was won such honours as the Hugo, the Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award.

This is a fantastic beginning to a much anticipated series. It ends well, but leaves you hungering for more. I very much look forward to what will come in the next novel and how Mr. Sawyer is going to engage me further in the coming books, WATCH and WONDER. Whether you are a science fiction aficionado or not, add this book to your Must Read list. It will not disappoint.