Limit of Vision [Hardcover]

_Limit of Vision_ is set in the near future. A trio of scientists has been working on a project for a corporation basically exploring the feasibility of using organisms named LOVs (since they exist at the limit of human vision) for any practical purposes. Unfortunately, the scientists are hampered because all biotechnology is strictly regulated b/c of a horrible sounding accident caused by biotech gone awry. So, their LOV experiment actually lives on a space station in orbit around Earth. Before the LOVs were taken to the space station, the scientists stole some of them and implanted them on their foreheads.

This book is about the unexpected and unpredictable consequences of that action. Some of the questions that were raised in the book include: what defines consciousness? At what point does an organism stop being "animal" and start being something else? If an organism has consciousness, then do we have the right to just destroy it? And if we don't destroy it, does it pose a threat to the very things that define us as humans?

It's not a perfect book. It does leave some loose ends. It might even be missing some details throughout the book. But, that said, I absolutely had a GREAT time reading this book. It read almost like a thriller rather than some dry biotech story. In my mind, it encompassed many of the things that make sci-fi fun to read - a fast moving plot, lots of technology well used, a real concern about what might happen in the future. With a little stretching, I could absolutely see the vision Nagata created in _Limit of Vision_ as being a realistic possibility of what our future might look like. I was also really impressed by the strides that Nagata has made in creating realistic characters.

I also want to stress that Nagata is not some "new SF author" attempting to re-write Bear's _Blood Music_. First of all, she's been around for quite a while. She has several other books out there that are really well written, although in a much different style than _Limit of Vision_. Second, Nagata has written about nanotechnology in basically ALL of her earlier books. She's not attempting to re-write _Blood Music_, she's continuing in exploring a subject that she's been talking about for quite a while. In my opinion, even if you just look at the quality of the WRITING, _Limit of Vision_ is a far superior novel.

The author takes us on a very interesting ride through this story of computer/living matter confluence, and performs many aspects of plot-building and character creation very admirably. I have to say that I was truly intrigued with most of the book.

The problem I have with this book is that it sounds like the author is trying to sound like a scientist without the benefit of being a scientist. A story this intriguing and mind-bending needed a lot of scientific extrapolation, and well-done extrapolation would have added a tremendous amount to the plot. I'm sure it sounds like I'm being picky, but this is very important for me as a reader. I don't want to have to fill in many, many details of the plot using my own belief system.

Another problem was the ending. Very shaky and ill-conceived. I think Linda Nagata was trying to establish a creative and dramatic climax, for which I applaud her, but there were so many issues in the book that were left unresolved. I had no true feeling of conclusion when I finished the book. I don't think Linda Nagata did either.

Great ideas, but it needed more focus, better scientific extrapolation, and more questions answered.