Science fiction · Fantasy · Adventure
Blindsight
In the late twenty-first century, a strange crew is sent to investigate an alien object after thousands of probes lit up the sky. The narrator is a man with a brain rebuilt to observe, not feel. A hard science-fiction novel about consciousness.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2006
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 384
- Format
- Book 1 of 2 in Firefall
Read this if you like hard science fiction that questions what intelligence and awareness are, and are happy to be unsettled.
Skip this if you want warm characters or an easy read, since it is cold, technical and deliberately bleak.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Blindsight
- What is Blindsight about?
- In the late twenty-first century, a strange crew is sent to investigate an alien object after thousands of probes lit up the sky. The narrator is a man with a brain rebuilt to observe, not feel. A hard science-fiction novel about consciousness.
- Who should read Blindsight?
- Read it if you like hard science fiction that questions what intelligence and awareness are, and are happy to be unsettled. Skip it if you want warm characters or an easy read, since it is cold, technical and deliberately bleak.
- How long and how fast is Blindsight?
- It is a slow-paced, medium read of about 384 pages, first published in 2006.
- Does Blindsight have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death.
- Can I borrow Blindsight for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Blindsight; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Blindsight?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Solaris, Annihilation, The Three-Body Problem.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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