The Mountain in the Sea

by Ray Nayler
The Mountain in the Sea cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Technical:
  • ID: 231
  • Added: 2025-09-06
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • ISBN: 9781399600460
  • Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
  • Published: 2023-02-16
  • Formats: 10
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99

In "The Mountain in the Sea," Dr. Ha Nguyen, a marine biologist, is sent to the isolated Con Dao Archipelago to study an extraordinary octopus species with transformative bodies and advanced communication abilities. The islands have been purchased and sealed off by DIANIMA, a tech corporation known for its breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, aiming to unlock the secrets of these creatures for vast technological gains. The novel explores the tension between scientific discovery and corporate exploitation, raising questions about the rights and intelligence of nonhuman species. As the octopuses reveal their alien minds and their desire for humans to leave, the story delves into themes of ecological respect, the limits of human understanding, and the consequences of imposing human ambitions on other forms of life.

Reviews
Goodreads · carol · 2024-12-26
complex 3.50

Character-driven with beautiful writing style, though the three intertwined storylines and slow plot development dilute the focus on the octopus and philosophical themes.

Carol praises the novel's evocative and beautiful prose and the vivid character development, especially highlighting the primary storyline of Dr. Ha and her research on the octopus language. However, she finds the multiple story threads and the delayed focus on the octopuses somewhat detract from the narrative cohesion. She notes the book's philosophical ambitions around consciousness and humanity but feels they could have been more deeply developed beyond philosophical exposition replacing dialogue. Despite these criticisms, the novel remains a highlight in her science fiction collection for its style and thematic scope.

Quick quotes

    Wonderful story, character-driven, gorgeously alivened by a great writing style.

    Unfortunately, plotting took a long time to develop.

    Ha's story turns out to be what it means to have consciousness and to be human.

Tar Vol · 2022-09-21
thoughtful 4.50

The book blends sci-fi thriller elements with deep philosophical inquiry on consciousness and humanity's failure to recognize other minds, favoring contemplative storytelling over fast-paced plot.

This review appreciates the novel for its thoughtful and reflective approach to storytelling, emphasizing its focus on philosophical questions around consciousness and sentience rather than a typical thriller pace. The reviewer highlights how the narrative encourages readers to contemplate the challenges faced by characters and the broader human condition, particularly humanity's discomfort with acknowledging other minds. The book is recommended for readers who enjoy first contact stories, literary-leaning sci-fi, and philosophical depth.

Quick quotes

    The Mountain in the Sea has the feel of something very different, somewhere in between classic first contact and literary fiction.

    Nayler neatly parallels the questions about AI and other species with humanity’s treatment of each other.

    These are deeply human themes, and Nayler integrates the philosophical musings into the story, making for some fascinating quiet passages worth lingering over.

Publishers Weekly · 2022-06-24
masterful 4.50

A masterful debut combining scientific rigor and well-developed characters to explore the nature of intelligent life with intellectual depth and entertainment.

The review praises Nayler's novel for its tight focus on scientific and philosophical themes, particularly through the character of marine biologist Ha Nguyen studying intelligent octopuses. The inclusion of nuanced AI and drone operator characters enriches the thematic exploration of consciousness. The narrative skillfully weaves subplots that expand the world-building and political context, offering a compelling and intellectually rigorous reading experience that appeals to science-minded readers.

Quick quotes

    Nayler’s masterful debut combines fascinating science and well-wrought characters to deliver a deep dive into the nature of intelligent life.

    Aiding her are Evrim, the world’s first android, and Altantsetseg, a human expert drone operator, who add nuance to Nayler’s thematic exploration of consciousness.

    As entertaining as it is intellectually rigorous, this taut exploration of human—and inhuman—consciousness is a knockout.

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