- I wrote this review earlier but out of respect for my Uncle Robb’s passing and my cousin, I waited until now. Uncle Robb enjoyed Clive Cussler and Dan Brown. I think “The Mountain In The Sea” is a book he would have enjoyed reading. This is for him and my cousins.
Book Review of Ray Nayler’s
“The Mountain In The Sea”
For Christmas my eldest niece, Rachel, gave me Ray Nayler’s “The Mountain In The Sea”.
It’s interesting that my niece would choose to give me this book. I was in Saint Martins years ago with my snorkeling buddies when I saw something amazing. I was standing in a rocky area, when I saw a young octopus stand up on a flat rock, and use its tentacles to walk into the water.
Nayler’s story is woven with different main characters into a story that takes place in the near future. He has written a science fiction thriller that asks, what defines the meaning of life, and can humans ever collaborate with other intelligent lifeforms? Although the story’s plot line discusses overfishing and the need for sanctuaries it also explores the possibility of evolving octopuses and whether an artificially made lifeform should be considered alive. He uses quotes from one of his main characters, Dr. Ha Nguyen, throughout the book to get the reader to ponder his main themes.
Quote from the book (p. 215)
We have finally taken the first steps toward truly observing life–not at a distance, as its masters, but in fellowship, recognizing a part of our selves.
— Dr. Ha Nyguyen, How Oceans Think
Quote from the book (p. 285):
What does it mean to be a self? I think, more than anything else, it means the ability to select between different possible outcomes in order to direct oneself toward a desired outcome:
— Dr. Ha Nyguyen, How Oceans Think
This is an original story that makes me think of the 2016 movie Arrival and the need to learn another species written language. It also reminds me of how Frank Herbert uses quotes from different main characters in his Dune series.
Ray Nayler is a critically acclaimed short fiction writer (The Very Best of The Year’s Best: 35 Years of the The Year’s Best Science Fiction). He currently serves as the international advisor to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
YouTube Interview with Ray Nayler by Media Death Cult
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