Ray Nayler's debut novel, *The Mountain in the Sea*, is a compelling blend of speculative fiction, techno-thriller, and philosophical meditation. Set in a near-future world, the story explores the discovery of an intelligent octopus species with its own language and culture, sparking a high-stakes global competition.

Nayler's strength lies in his ability to create a vividly tangible world. His descriptions of the physical environment and the characters' inner monologues are rich and immersive. The plot, while slow and deliberate at times, builds steadily, balancing real-world science with engaging character development. This thoughtful pacing might feel slow to some, but it allows for a deeper exploration of complex themes.

The novel delves into profound questions about consciousness, both human and nonhuman, and the moral implications of artificial and animal intelligence. Nayler's background in international affairs adds a layer of authenticity to the geopolitical and ethical dilemmas presented in the story. Readers who appreciate intellectually rigorous and thematically rich narratives will find much to ponder in this book.

While the novel is less about high-paced adventure and more a meditation on deeper issues, it remains engaging through its exploration of underwater secrets and the philosophical challenges posed by new forms of intelligence. This unique blend of thriller elements with speculative fiction and deep philosophical inquiry makes *The Mountain in the Sea* a standout read.

Overall, *The Mountain in the Sea* is a thought-provoking and original debut that will appeal to fans of speculative fiction and those interested in the intersections of science, technology, and consciousness.

the mountain in the sea is an incredibly written sci-fi novel focusing on interspecies communication and all the complexities that come with it. going into the book i expected for the story to be most prominently focused on the octopus society and learning how they operate, and though that was the backdrop of our main character story that theme also applied heavily on the humans interaction with the AI/androids around them. as the story continued on it was obvious how every discovery and need to learn more about different species, whether it be androids, octopi, or even human criminals they are all treated the same by society, exploited for their benefit.
this book was very compelling to read, as someone who does not typically read sci-fi i found it to be a bit hard to follow at times, the story was best enjoyed for me by following along with the audiobook while physically reading. there are multiple perspectives that just start without saying whose perspective it is which didn’t help my confusion.
overall, i think this is a great read for any sci-fi fan, this book is clearly very well researched and you’ll walk having read a touching story about being human while also learning about octopi and the complexities of interspecies communication.

I was really interested in this book based on the cover and description but execution of the ideas seemed to fall flat for me. Overreaching, maybe. I like the characters and the cyberpunk-y kind of setting and there are great thoughts and ideas but they didn't seem to be fully formed, like maybe the author was overwhelmed and didn't know how to fully flesh them out. This definitely felt like a first novel and even though it wasn't a DNF for me, there were several times where it was close. There are many people that gave this rave reviews and if their thoughts on books align with yours, perhaps this is a book that you'll enjoy.

I'm catching up on reviews so... Thank you to NetGalley and MCD for access to this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to the publishers for the ARC. It was a good book with a great premise-first contact with a species only this time it was here in earth’s oceans. The AI aspect acted as a secondary plot line as well as a major character. I enjoyed it.

The story was okay; very weird with a lot of stuff going on. It was somewhat difficult to piece together all the characters and storylines at times and I kept wondering why the author was focusing on some of the threads, but I guess it all tied up at the end...? I liked the underlying message.

This book reminded me of the movie Blade Runner. Not in content, but both stories are built on an amazingly imaginative and thoroughly drawn futuristic setting; both engage with fascinating questions of humanity and ethics; and on a narrative level, both are, unfortunately, pretty dull.

I would recommend this book for people who prefer their science fiction to be ideas-based rather than plot- or character-driven. (Some people are like that! No shame!)

This was all over the map for me. At times I was confused. At times, a little disinterested. Sometimes very intrigued. Strong messages here about humanity, prejudice and the various ways we’re destroying our world.

A scientist is brought to an island for a secretive project to determine whether a group of octopuses have evolved to create their own language and culture. But corporate greed and human indifference threatens the project and also all of humanity. Two terrifying questions loom over the research facility even as it comes under attack from: Even if they can prove these octopuses are sentient, what will humans do about it? And, perhaps even more importantly, what will the octopuses do about the humans? A first contact in the sea story that is an absolute must read for sci-fi fans and anyone with an interest in marine biology.

This is one of the very best books I read in 2023. I loved the different characters, the different forms of intelligence that were explored here, and the unexpected elements that were woven together so skillfully. I wouldn't call it an easy read, but it was a great read!

A beautiful, fascinating story. Action, adventure, mystery, kept me completely engaged.

Different points of view: the researchers studying the octopus colony, the captured slaves working on a fishing ship, the hacker and corporate espionage. A lot going on, but it was easy to follow the different story lines and watch them slowly collide.

This is not my typical read but I thoroughly enjoyed it I found the story and octopus-angle fascinating.

DNFed at around 45%.

The cover and the premise were intriguing. Killer octopus? Sign me in! However, the writing style did not click with me, and the story was moving at such a slow pace that even though a tried multiple times to continue, I had to finally give up. If I had the audiobook I maybe could have pushed through, but in ebook formant, not for now. Besides, the characters were not adding anything interesting, they seemed to be there just to show us different parts of the world, but halfway through the book I did not feel like I knew them at all.

Why are octopus stories so trendy these days? Lol. I love a good underwater sci-fi, but I can't hang with this book. I don't know why. Just isn't grabbing me. DNF.

I'm honestly not sure how to review this strange book. I love octopuses and I generally love weird narratives but, I can't quite figure out if I love or don't love this book. Nonetheless, still a worthwhile read.

I read my first underwater science fiction book in high school when I read Robin Cook's book Sphere. This book had the same vibe and I thoroughly enjoyed the science behind the story. I thought that the characters were very well developed especially Evrim, the worlds most developed AI that has been deemed outlawed in most countries for fear of his absolute intelligence that surpasses most human beings. I think that the relationship he developed with Ha was fascinating.
Octopuses have always been amazing creatures and to have them be the focus of this near-future story was especially exciting. Imagine the possibilities of developing a way to communicate with a creature that has apparently been going through evolution at a much faster rate than anyone ever suspected?! A culture? Tool developing? Seriously mind blowing! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and though it appears this is a stand alone book, there are definitely ways another book to this story could be written. I for one would like to see where this evolution goes.

The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler is a genre blend of science fiction & thriller.
I enjoyed this book and the premise, "Humankind discovers intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture, and sets off a high-stakes global competition to dominate the future." Having just seen My Octopus Teacher this story came at just the right time.
Engaging and thought provoking I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #Farrar,Straus,&Giroux, and Ray Nayler for the ARC of #TheMountainintheSea.

The premise of this book was intriguing to me, as I'd just finished The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery and more stories about octopuses sounded great! Especially one that delves into speculative fiction about sentience and communication. Parts of this book were a bit confusing to start with as it jumped around from character to character. But it was a good read and thought-provoking.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book for an honest review.

This book is full of big ideas (So many big ideas) So much is going on, modern present day problems, future problems. Darkness and perhaps even some light.
Great for a book club or an afternoon discussion over a drink on your porch.
I want to go into detail but I don't want to take away from your experience.

Very interesting and thoughtful book, absolutely loved the premise! Thought the characters could use a bit more depth and it definitely did not feel like a thriller. Overall, very enjoyable and intriguing book.

A species of octopus has not only developed language and a civilization, but a way to pass on its knowledge. A corporation controls the island where the new species lives. It sends the marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen to the island (where she has been before) to do research. There, she encounters the world’s only android and a mysterious security guard.

This book has a confusing structure, but it deals with very interesting questions: what is consciousness, what does it mean to be human, what do humans owe other forms of life, etc. I certainly did not understand everything that was going on in this book, but I enjoyed it.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.