We Are Satellites

4.5 stars

I refuse to categorize this as sci-fi. This is a family drama with the barest hint of a sci-fi element, like the La Croix of genres. I probably should have put this book down as soon as I could tell where things were (or were not) heading, but I wanted to finish it so I could feel justified in leaving an actual rating. The book follows Val and Julie, and their two kids Sophie and David. Society has begun adopting neural implants called Pilots that augment human attention, allegedly letting them multitask better and be more productive. A rift quickly opens up between the "haves" (people with Pilots) and the "have nots" (people without). David is the first person in the family to get a Pilot, followed soon by Julie. Val is staunchly anti-Pilot, and Sophie can't get one for medical reasons. We watch this small family grow up, grow apart, and grow into different aspects of Pilot life--Sophie becomes an activist, David becomes involved in the military (and then washes out with PTSD-like symptoms), and Julie and Val become increasingly irritated with the other's stance on family. And then....the book ends. (view spoiler)[There's some weak mystery about whether the company behind Pilots is up to something shady, but that never goes anywhere. (hide spoiler)] Interspersed with this family's drama are attempts by the author to push a certain narrative. Social media is bad, screen time is bad, military members are knuckle dragging cavemen and college is superior in all ways, ride share programs steal your information and aren't to be trusted, the list goes on and on. It comes off super preachy and not at all organically integrated into the non-story the author is trying to tell. I was super disappointed with this book, and think the premise and summary is misleading. The sci-fi element (the Pilot implants) is barely used beyond being the catalyst for drama, and I was incredibly disappointed at being given a family drama I wasn't signing up for.

Rounded up to 4. A social commentary on the haves vs the have nots, in this case a brain augmentation called a Pilot that facilitates multi-tasking. It takes the idea of scientific/tech augmentations like enhanced vision or hearing to extremes, revealing how the general availability of such an enhancement could easily grow into a must-have item for students and adults. And it also reminds me of Yertle the Turtle and the star-bellied sneeches (vs those without). A cautionary tale told via a fairly regular family who are split on the topic.

A well-written consideration of what might come when brain augmentation technologies start getting pushed out. Good characters, interesting plot. Quiet, thoughtful consideration of ideas. Sarah Pinsker does not disappoint. ---------------- Re-read for SFF club 3/16/22. I'm impressed again at how literate and thoughtful this book is.

This was such a lovely book. It wasn't quite as "science fiction-y" as I was expecting, but it was still a really great read! It had a nice mix of family dynamics, character development, and interesting concepts. I loved the family interactions and being able to see the children grow from little kids to adults. Their growth felt so real and organic. I really felt connected to them and wanted to keep reading to make sure they were all ok! There were times when the story felt a bit slow for my taste, particularly in the beginning when I was still figuring out what was happening. But I cared about the characters so much that I was able to keep going even when the plot moved slower. I am really glad I was able to read this book! It was such an interesting concept and really made me think. If you like books that focus on character development, I would definitely give this one a read! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for t he chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

i picked this up thinking it would be a fun scifi, but i knew from the dedication that it would either be absolutely amazing or utterly offensive. luckily, it’s on the good side. this story is propelled by the futuristic technology of the pilot implant, but it really is a realistic contemporary story about family and — what made this book mean the world to me — health. guided by the pilot, we see how people with different health conditions are completely pushed aside by doctors and society alike; ruining the “equal” access we’re supposed to have to things like work and healthcare and technology that is supposed to be progressive. i was especially scared that this would take the “oh now my chronic illness is magically cured” route, but the author put so much research and respect into this to make it a realistic representation where, surprise, there are still so many conditions that have no cure and that aren’t even getting treatments developed because able-bodied people don’t care enough! literally cannot thank the author enough for giving such amazing and real representation of health issues (and not romanticizing the doctors that only add to them) in a scifi story with a very sweet queer family. for someone who hates stories about family/couple/kid drama …. this was stunning. if you’re comfortable with these content warnings pleasepleaseplease read this. tw (at least all the ones that i remember): seizures, war (like real contemporary war, not spaceship pew pew fighting), substance abuse, overdose

I will never get over how amazing it is to read queer books. I loved this book. The characters came across as so real and the story was beautiful. I love the struggles the family goes through, not just because of the Pilots, but because they are a family made up of humans who sometimes make very big mistakes. It's an incredible book.

Absolutely outstanding. The characters were all so full and real and flawed and interesting and good. The story was seamless, the tech sounds plausible. Just a tour de force book. It's a Hugo nominee for me 100%