Customer Reviews

Polymorph

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Polymorph" tells about Lee, a person with incredible powers of Shapeshifting in near-future New York. When I first heard about this book, I was eager to get it. In fact, it was really not easy to hunt it down, but eventually I managed to get my hands on a copy of the book.
Imagine: a person who can change his/her appearance, who can even change their sex. This sounds like a potential amazing novel! However, the story was absolutely silly. It seems the only "use" for this power the author could think of, was for some strange and lame erotic stories! I find it very boring, and ultimately got very disappointed.

But just to give an honest review of the book: the protagonist of the book, Lee, lives a pretty boring life until she encounters another Polymorph - Bonito, who has evil aspirations of power. Lee must find out how to protect herself, and if possible, destroy Bonito!
The book really had so much potential, pity the plot was so unimaginative, and apparently mainly served to bring to print some of the sexual fantasies of the author. To summarize: bad and boring - Check out 'Axiomatic' of Greg Egan, as I could see there some of the elements of this book, written in a much better way.

I found this story quite interesting right up to the intense conclusion which left me a bit cold. I can best compare the feeling to finding one of those large jars that you might discover on the back shelf of an antiques store, filled with a murky liquid and with something not quite right floating in it. An intriguing curiosity but I don't want to get too close!

The characterization was well done. I loved Sam, the deaf super-hacker friend of the hero Freddie. The polymorph, Lee, was very well done and quite believable (within the necessary and somewhat strained suspension of disbelief). I had a problem with Freddie who was well written but was subjected to so many assaults on his friendship and understanding that he must have been superhumanly cool and compasionate.

And now to protagonist Lee, antagonist and devil Bonito, and polymorphism. I've enjoyed other shape changing novels, such as those by Czerneda, but this one gave "genuine" insite into the nature of (Westerfield's) polymorphic beings, and the development of their bizarre abilities. He dwells at some length on their insight into human anatomy and mannerisms, gained in various ways, necessary to convincingly emulate another human.

I guess that I was hoping for a simpler, more uplifting ending, but taking it for what it was I will certainly recommend this book to those seeking insight into yet another extraordinary possibility in the range of beings that might exist.

A great book that makes you think about gender and identity. The plot was a bit weak in parts, but the characters were extremely interesting. Highly recommended.

To be perfectly honest, after reading a couple of chapters of "Polymorph", I wasn't sure I that was going to enjoy this book, because I intially found the protagonist's life-style so trite and unappealing. As she begins to search for the other polymorph, I became a little more interested, but still wasn't really blown away by it all. That is, until the last two chapters. The way this book ends is so chilling and so subtly subversive that it redeems practically all that has gone on before. I highly recommend it, just for the unexpectedly viscious little twist at the end.

While an intriguing idea, I thought that the character development was a bit thin. For the most part, the story survives on the interesting morphing ability of Lee. Overall, characters seemed barely motivated. Lee, the main character, gets her identity stolen. Big deal - she can be anybody she wants. Lee claims to be upset because the villian, Bonito, won't tell her about other polymorphs - not really an insurmountable problem. Even Bonito has no real objective goal, only trying to get close to the "King of America." In my opinion, the author has an interesting idea then was stretched thin coming up with a full-length story. But, if you like twisted sex, some drugs, with a bit of vague hacking thrown in, this book's for you.

Westerfeld is definitely a talent to watch for. This novel is sleek, sexy, intelligent and thought provoking. It was a joy to read; fast paced and filled with characters of depth and quirks galore. Highly Recommended.

The author uses fantastic imagery to provide the reader with a world of graphic, descriptive sexualtiy and gender-bender chameleon talents of the main character.
The plot appeals to many diverse interests, ie. cyber-punks, shape-changer fans, and fans that wish they could also cross all ethnic/gender/cultural lines.

What an amazing read! POLYMORPH is definitely one of the slickest, sexiest books I've read in a long time. There's a lot more here than you'd expect from your typical cybernovel -- Lee is a fascinating, complex, richly-drawn character, and Manhattan's downtown scene is so fully sketched that it almost qualifies for character status itself. Westerfeld is constantly questioning identity and community, and he plays with the reader's preconceptions of sex and sexuality and gender in very real (and disturbing) ways. Plus, it's a great story -- with some of the hottest sex scenes in recent memory. I had a *wonderful* weekend with this book, and recommend it without qualification. Put me down for his next one.

POLYMORPH provides a thrilling, thought-provoking narrative on the nature of self, a most welcome adjunct to the current debate on the ethics of cloning humans. The fear of human cloning stems from the belief that DNA is all--"Genes are us". However, Westerfeld's polymorphs, through their ability to change both physique and physiology, emphasize the contribution of environment, especially culture, to identity.

And what happens if you can be copied and replaced?

Two polymorphs, two hackers, a software mogul (the man Bill Gates would like to be), and his glorious girlfriend battle it out in the clubs, streets, artworld and corporate offices of a futuristic but quite feasible New York. Westerfeld's New York is wired--caffeine, adrenaline, amphetamines and morphine flow through the characters. It's also computer wired--identities can be created, lost and found in cyberspace, which the hackers manipulate much as the polymorphs manipulate their physical form.

Westerfeld's racing, racy prose will keep you turning the pages eager for more. There's a twisted car chase that must be one of the scariest literary car events since Ballard's CRASH. And, POLYMORPH gets to the crotch of the issue of gender--both men and women will find some amazing strategies to improve their sex lives! If you're looking for brains, brawn, and beauty - POLYMORPH has it all!

This was an entertaining and fast paced book about a shape-shifter who uses his/her abilities to go club-hopping until s/he meets another polymorph who uses her/his powers for more insidious purposes. Westerfield will undoubtably be compared to William Gibson due to subject matter and writing style. Those who have read Gibson may recognize the setup which seems to be taken from his and Robert Shirley's short story "The Belonging Kind" (available in Gibson's collection, BURNING CHROME.) The aspects of being able to change genders, races and even body parts is explored in almost every way one can think of from impersonation to sexual uses. After reading this book, I don't think I'll look at any stranger in club the same ways again.