Most all of us are probably familiar already with its most famous and iconic moments, but that does not mean there are not still fresh insights to be gained by reading the story straight through.
The Memory of Earth Review
He presents a unique culture, which we can know exists as a transient blip in that enormous history, and he gives us the Oversoul, one of the most philosophically challenging science fiction elements I’ve ever encountered.
On the Bondage of the Will Review
This is a piece of philosophy praised for its insight, lauded for its clarity of composition…and quite disappointing to a reader like me.
Blindsight Review
If I had to distill Blindsight down to a single, central theme, it would be that of self. What is the concept of self? How does it relate to the concept of what is human? What is the origin, function, and cost of self-awareness? How does it relate to free will, and does free will exist, or is it merely an illusion? Watts seems to have created the entire novel as a thought experiment to explore these concepts, and he leverages two lenses to accomplish that: the various neuro-atypicalities of his characters, and the distinctively intelligent but unaware aliens. Either of these ideas alone could have easily been the foundation of a compelling novel. Combining them together made this one both more compelling, and more challenging, and is in many ways at the core of my personal dichotomy over Blindsight.
IGC Publishing 