We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Not all Sci-fi books are BIG idea, massive-world-building enterprises, clearly researched and diagrammed to the infinite detail, to sustain disbelief over multiple volumes (I’m talking to you: Foundation, and The Expanse, and Three Body Problem, and Quicksilver, and anything by Alastair Reynolds). This one doesn’t take itself seriously, AND YET is a rollicking read, full of laugh-out-loud moments, and then chin-scratching “hmm” moments. Reminiscent of Ender’s Game and Hitchhiker’s Guide in tone and action.
CMIO’s take? If you get the chance to “freeze” your head after a massive accident, AND someone offers you the chance to be the brains behind a Von Neumann probe that can self-replicate and explore the universe? Do it.
Seriously, it is not necessarily good to have a team of “yes-men” to rubber-stamp your actions; instead, a team of those with common strategic goals, with varied expertise and opinions (see: Wisdom of Crowds by Surowiecki) that is most likely to succeed.
