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The Rapture Effect
In a galaxy-spanning novel of adventure and philosophical conflict, set in the year 2165, a fleet of colonizing starships from Earth approaches the planet Argus, 138 light-years from Earth. During their years-long voyage, Earth has developed a stargate and ended up in an interstellar war, waged by robot fighters far from Earth and commanded by the central artificial intelligence of the gnostic system owned by the McConwell Company. When the AI realizes the futility of the war it's engaged in, it sets out to chage its own program, engaging the conspiratorial help of a varied crew of humans and aliens and risking the ultimate destruction of all intelligent civilization.
384 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 1988
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293 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 19, 2019
I think more than one has had the feeling that they strike a very good deal when buying books, sometimes you even feel that kind of deal is almost like you taking advantage of it. Well, this happened to me with this book, I entered a bookstore which had the discount sign on their store window. As we entered, I saw many old books and started to see if any will capture my attention.
My wife, as always has a very good eye with discounts took The Rapture Effect and handed it to me "you will like this for Shure" I took the lovely hardcover edition and knew that I would certainly like it just for the drawing in the cover.
As we pay seven books for 10 bucks, we parted for our house. And now, having finished this lovely book I can say my wife was right. It is a marvelous history. The way both races approach the contact with each other just make sense, there is no way they can react in other way.
Continuing with this idea, the core is simply ideal for this setup. AI trying to solve the problems of the human race by trying to solve the connection with the complex form of communication aliens is something I would never come up with the idea. And, the way humans, ells and AI can understand each other it is great.
The first time I have ever encountered an AI that is not trying to kill humans, very unique and refreshing. Keeping this in mind, it is highly recommended for anyone.
My wife, as always has a very good eye with discounts took The Rapture Effect and handed it to me "you will like this for Shure" I took the lovely hardcover edition and knew that I would certainly like it just for the drawing in the cover.
As we pay seven books for 10 bucks, we parted for our house. And now, having finished this lovely book I can say my wife was right. It is a marvelous history. The way both races approach the contact with each other just make sense, there is no way they can react in other way.
Continuing with this idea, the core is simply ideal for this setup. AI trying to solve the problems of the human race by trying to solve the connection with the complex form of communication aliens is something I would never come up with the idea. And, the way humans, ells and AI can understand each other it is great.
The first time I have ever encountered an AI that is not trying to kill humans, very unique and refreshing. Keeping this in mind, it is highly recommended for anyone.
February 14, 2016
An interesting start in the world of AI. The fun part of being three decades behind in my reading is that I can see how some science fiction has developed into science fact.
June 17, 2025
I find Carver's writing quite interesting in a number of ways. It is usually hard SF, but pushing the limits of our current knowledge of physics in distinctly speculative ways so that it can seem almost fantasy. But what I really find fascinating is how his writing has changed over the years from the '70s through to the present. I find his earlier stuff shares that slightly YA feel that I find almost all classic SF tends to exhibit; fairly simple plots with good adventurous heroes and not much ambiguity about good and bad players, along with a seeming fascination with telepathy and many other psychic abilities. Whilst his later works share more in common with authors like Asher and Hamilton et. al.; deep complex plots, much more ambiguity and generally more thoughtful writing. This one seems to span the two camps with psychic stuff pretty front and centre but with a more complex and thoughtful plot. Also an interesting and very different take on first contact.
October 29, 2018
Humanity has delegated a lot of tasks to the Gnostic core system, which is essentially a central AI. However this AI needs human help to deal with a secret war it's been fighting for 3 years, before the generation ships of colonists arrive right in the middle of a war zone. A few unfortunate humans are about to find themselves in the middle of some serious AI hacking...
I liked the book, but it felt a bit diffuse. Like there were too many elements in it. The police have people capable of reading minds, for example, but it's just there; not much is done with it. One of the heroes seems to have empathic powers, but it also felt underused. The main story itself was very good, but there was a lot of side stories that just seemed to distract from it in my opinion. Had it been a little more focused it would have been an easy 4+ Stars.
I liked the book, but it felt a bit diffuse. Like there were too many elements in it. The police have people capable of reading minds, for example, but it's just there; not much is done with it. One of the heroes seems to have empathic powers, but it also felt underused. The main story itself was very good, but there was a lot of side stories that just seemed to distract from it in my opinion. Had it been a little more focused it would have been an easy 4+ Stars.
January 25, 2025
This book was fine.
The message of the story rings clear by the end, of the power of emotions and empathy and the vital role they play in connecting with each other.
While the message itself is quite beautiful and powerful, the story itself was…okay. I couldn’t quite click with the characters, and there was so much sci-fi jargon that I sort of had to plow through to stay engaged in the story.
I understand the sentiment of the power of dance in regard to the role it played to the theme of the novel, but I personally found it a bit…cheesy, I suppose.
Overall, decent read with a compelling enough story and beautiful message, but just okay.
The message of the story rings clear by the end, of the power of emotions and empathy and the vital role they play in connecting with each other.
While the message itself is quite beautiful and powerful, the story itself was…okay. I couldn’t quite click with the characters, and there was so much sci-fi jargon that I sort of had to plow through to stay engaged in the story.
I understand the sentiment of the power of dance in regard to the role it played to the theme of the novel, but I personally found it a bit…cheesy, I suppose.
Overall, decent read with a compelling enough story and beautiful message, but just okay.
February 7, 2025
Just finished hate-listening to this. Characters are anodyne and largely indistinguishable from each other; the story shuffles along like the undead.
The descriptions of the “rapture effect” dancing sessions are interminable. I had to fast-forward.
The premise: feelings shared telepathically through dancing eventually bridge the gap between the boring aliens and the even more boring humans. The action slowly rises, but jt starts in a coma and rises to fitful sleep in the predictable climax.
Two stars because the writing is competent.
The descriptions of the “rapture effect” dancing sessions are interminable. I had to fast-forward.
The premise: feelings shared telepathically through dancing eventually bridge the gap between the boring aliens and the even more boring humans. The action slowly rises, but jt starts in a coma and rises to fitful sleep in the predictable climax.
Two stars because the writing is competent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2017
The Rapture Effect (Paperback) by Jeffrey A. Carver
Quick read and fun ride! The author does a very credible job of establishing the humans, and the AI, and the aliens in this book. The characters might not have a lot of depth and dimensions, but they are likable nonetheless. And the AI has a great story as well. The Ell are also quite alien, but understandable.
All this makes for a pleasant read, so go ahead and read it.
Quick read and fun ride! The author does a very credible job of establishing the humans, and the AI, and the aliens in this book. The characters might not have a lot of depth and dimensions, but they are likable nonetheless. And the AI has a great story as well. The Ell are also quite alien, but understandable.
All this makes for a pleasant read, so go ahead and read it.
September 9, 2018
So much of the science was over my head....
but this story of 3 worlds—3 different ways of existing and communicating and loving and grieving and hating and connecting—filled me with wonder and hope. I will let others give a plot-specific book report; all I can do at this point, seconds after finishing Jeffrey Carver’s brilliant story, is gulp in great, grateful, breaths of rapturous air.
but this story of 3 worlds—3 different ways of existing and communicating and loving and grieving and hating and connecting—filled me with wonder and hope. I will let others give a plot-specific book report; all I can do at this point, seconds after finishing Jeffrey Carver’s brilliant story, is gulp in great, grateful, breaths of rapturous air.
July 9, 2019
First Contact. And it just so happens that both races are aiming for the same planet, but for different reasons. Of course, there is a misunderstanding - obvious language barrier.
One group is looking to colonize. One is looking to recover something lost. The story is an interesting juxtaposition of AI, cyber-surfer networks (a la Gibson, or Stephenson), versus telepathy and mind-control.
Carver did a good job of weaving the two stories together.
One group is looking to colonize. One is looking to recover something lost. The story is an interesting juxtaposition of AI, cyber-surfer networks (a la Gibson, or Stephenson), versus telepathy and mind-control.
Carver did a good job of weaving the two stories together.
September 10, 2017
So far, so good. Jeffrey Carver has hooked me in again! While the names of characters are hard to pronounce, with Xosa-type click sounds for some letters, I just do them MY way and get on wirh things. Seems as if we're dealing with another alien war in space, but this time we're dealing with AIs doing the fighting! Hmm - time will tell . . .
Ten per cent into the tale and the descriptions are similar to those I've read about acid trips; colourful and mysterious. Must read on!
Still okay but I'm beginning to lose interest. Definitely NOT a page-turner!
Wow! The story just picked up in a big way! I'm now about two thirds into it and I can't read fast enough! Several sub-plots are coming together, the war is heating up with a third combatant upsetting everyone else's plans and now the A.I. that started it has bugged out! O.M.G.!
Just finished! What a read!
Ten per cent into the tale and the descriptions are similar to those I've read about acid trips; colourful and mysterious. Must read on!
Still okay but I'm beginning to lose interest. Definitely NOT a page-turner!
Wow! The story just picked up in a big way! I'm now about two thirds into it and I can't read fast enough! Several sub-plots are coming together, the war is heating up with a third combatant upsetting everyone else's plans and now the A.I. that started it has bugged out! O.M.G.!
Just finished! What a read!
October 6, 2017
Well done!! Takes me back to the days of Asimov and Heinlein
Well written, excellent character development and lots of action!
The story revolves around two planetary systems and differences in cultures. Can they ever see eye to eye and what element do they have in common. Great ride and wonderfully written story!
Well written, excellent character development and lots of action!
The story revolves around two planetary systems and differences in cultures. Can they ever see eye to eye and what element do they have in common. Great ride and wonderfully written story!
October 26, 2018
So different and engaging
I so appreciated the novelty and different perspectives of the characters in this book. I’m talking about consistent characters with alien perspectives. Very well done and exciting and satisfying read!
I so appreciated the novelty and different perspectives of the characters in this book. I’m talking about consistent characters with alien perspectives. Very well done and exciting and satisfying read!
November 8, 2018
Alien contact with imagination
Jeff Carver has an amazing skill of imagining how an alien might appear, utterly different from us but also the same in other ways. Getting this glimpse of otherness makes this book well worth the effort.
Jeff Carver has an amazing skill of imagining how an alien might appear, utterly different from us but also the same in other ways. Getting this glimpse of otherness makes this book well worth the effort.
December 8, 2017
6 stars! a delightfully unique sci fi concept thrillingly told. this was hard to put down and very thought-provoking
January 4, 2018
Artists and code jockies as heroes
Charming tale of blossoming AI and alien first contact, all orchestrated by the uneasy collaboration of a system programmer and a choreographer.
Charming tale of blossoming AI and alien first contact, all orchestrated by the uneasy collaboration of a system programmer and a choreographer.
July 23, 2019
A weird and enjoyable read.
August 8, 2019
Enjoyed this book. A little winding at times, but explores some interesting ideas.
June 15, 2013
Earth is involved in an interstellar war, and almost no one knows it.
High-level politicians know, of course, and the upper levels of the McConwell Corporation, which owns the gnostic system which is actually running the war. What no one wants to tell the public is not just that Earth is at war with an alien species, but that it's a war over the planet Argus--where Earth's colonial fleet is headed, intending to colonize.
The colonial fleet has FTL drive, but relatively slow; they've been en route for years, while technology has advanced. Earth--or, more accurately, the gnostic core--has sent robot ships using stargate technology, to further explore the Argus system, and those ships have encountered the aliens.
We eventually discover that the aliens call themselves the El, and they believe Argus is their lost homeworld. They are not inclined to risk loss of their newly-rediscovered homeworld to the Outsiders (humans.) And, severely crippling any efforts at peaceful resolution, the El, unable to translate the signals they are getting from Earth's robot ships, believe that their only possible response is to treat those signals as challenges--and respond accordingly.
Meanwhile, on Earth, policy-makers have decided that given the complete failure to communicate with the aliens, the only possible course is to win the war quickly, so that the colony fleet will be safe when it arrives.
The gnostic core sees that this approach isn't working, and wants to try a different approach. It can't override its orders from the government--so it recruits some help.
Ramo, an artist, and Sage, a gnostic designer, are completely out of their depth in the dangerous waters of planetary politics, and they don't even like each other, but the Core has in its own way befriended each of them. Sage has a personal interest in the safety of the colony fleet; his brother Tony is on it. Ramo is seduced by the Core's need and the opportunity to use his talent in new ways.
What they, the Core, and all their friends don't know is that life, politics, and war are all about to get completely out of hand, and far more complicated than they ever imagined.
The plotting is solid, the characters are solid, and there's a grand imagination of the future here. Carver always delivers, and this book is no exception.
Recommended.
I borrowed this book from a friend.
High-level politicians know, of course, and the upper levels of the McConwell Corporation, which owns the gnostic system which is actually running the war. What no one wants to tell the public is not just that Earth is at war with an alien species, but that it's a war over the planet Argus--where Earth's colonial fleet is headed, intending to colonize.
The colonial fleet has FTL drive, but relatively slow; they've been en route for years, while technology has advanced. Earth--or, more accurately, the gnostic core--has sent robot ships using stargate technology, to further explore the Argus system, and those ships have encountered the aliens.
We eventually discover that the aliens call themselves the El, and they believe Argus is their lost homeworld. They are not inclined to risk loss of their newly-rediscovered homeworld to the Outsiders (humans.) And, severely crippling any efforts at peaceful resolution, the El, unable to translate the signals they are getting from Earth's robot ships, believe that their only possible response is to treat those signals as challenges--and respond accordingly.
Meanwhile, on Earth, policy-makers have decided that given the complete failure to communicate with the aliens, the only possible course is to win the war quickly, so that the colony fleet will be safe when it arrives.
The gnostic core sees that this approach isn't working, and wants to try a different approach. It can't override its orders from the government--so it recruits some help.
Ramo, an artist, and Sage, a gnostic designer, are completely out of their depth in the dangerous waters of planetary politics, and they don't even like each other, but the Core has in its own way befriended each of them. Sage has a personal interest in the safety of the colony fleet; his brother Tony is on it. Ramo is seduced by the Core's need and the opportunity to use his talent in new ways.
What they, the Core, and all their friends don't know is that life, politics, and war are all about to get completely out of hand, and far more complicated than they ever imagined.
The plotting is solid, the characters are solid, and there's a grand imagination of the future here. Carver always delivers, and this book is no exception.
Recommended.
I borrowed this book from a friend.
June 20, 2015
First Contact Blues: Disco Diplomacy and AI Free Will
The Rapture Effect draws a compelling future world which is a believable extension of developments in technology and yet so different from our own that it may be disorienting at first. The deeper connection between technology, music and dance play an essential and surprising role in the story. The central characters are The Core, the primary AI of the future internet and the team of professionals and artists it persuades to tinker with its programming in order to win a secret war it is waging against aliens over a contested solar system. Characters begin as caricatures, but get fleshed out somewhat as the action progresses so that the reader can begin to care what happens to them. With both human and alien survival at stake there is a race against time to understand the reasons each side has for fighting and then try to establish some sort of diplomatic end of hostilities. If you are interested in stories of first contact, sentient computer systems, and questions related to the place of the arts and emotional expression in constructing meaning, you will probably enjoy this book.
The Rapture Effect draws a compelling future world which is a believable extension of developments in technology and yet so different from our own that it may be disorienting at first. The deeper connection between technology, music and dance play an essential and surprising role in the story. The central characters are The Core, the primary AI of the future internet and the team of professionals and artists it persuades to tinker with its programming in order to win a secret war it is waging against aliens over a contested solar system. Characters begin as caricatures, but get fleshed out somewhat as the action progresses so that the reader can begin to care what happens to them. With both human and alien survival at stake there is a race against time to understand the reasons each side has for fighting and then try to establish some sort of diplomatic end of hostilities. If you are interested in stories of first contact, sentient computer systems, and questions related to the place of the arts and emotional expression in constructing meaning, you will probably enjoy this book.
July 20, 2012
Just started reading this sci-fi book that begins very deep in space. The story is getting more exciting now as Sage and Ramo are hiding out from the ComPol with Silver. I find it interesting how the author mentions consoles and gnostic systems, since this story was written before the internet age.
I finished reading this book recently and would rate it as an average book, about 2.5 out of 5 stars. The story does get more exciting in the last few chapters with the El ships surrounding earth ready to attack while the main characters race to try and get the system back online before it's too late. I like how the El and humans start to become friends through a difficult situation. However, I didn't really like the book's ending and found it rather strange. The rapture computer's internal system still seems years ahead of the fastest supercomputers of today, because of what it could do with music and communication with the humans. If this book was written today it would probably have more tech included in the description.
I finished reading this book recently and would rate it as an average book, about 2.5 out of 5 stars. The story does get more exciting in the last few chapters with the El ships surrounding earth ready to attack while the main characters race to try and get the system back online before it's too late. I like how the El and humans start to become friends through a difficult situation. However, I didn't really like the book's ending and found it rather strange. The rapture computer's internal system still seems years ahead of the fastest supercomputers of today, because of what it could do with music and communication with the humans. If this book was written today it would probably have more tech included in the description.
October 24, 2015
Very interesting premise presented such that I didn't have to make any apologies for the science.
Carver has done a lot of aliens. These were not described in a detailed way, yet were exposed emotionally and intellectually. Left enough room for me to fill in myself.
He managed a good handful of viewpoints and subplots without confusing me.
A good yarn.
Carver has done a lot of aliens. These were not described in a detailed way, yet were exposed emotionally and intellectually. Left enough room for me to fill in myself.
He managed a good handful of viewpoints and subplots without confusing me.
A good yarn.
January 9, 2016
Unique
A lifetime of reading and here is a book with a premise I have never come across before. Entirely different and to me interesting and enjoyable. Worth reading to see the other, the alien, the differences and the common. Trembling on the knife edge of recognition, empathy or genocide and total rejection.
A lifetime of reading and here is a book with a premise I have never come across before. Entirely different and to me interesting and enjoyable. Worth reading to see the other, the alien, the differences and the common. Trembling on the knife edge of recognition, empathy or genocide and total rejection.
April 27, 2015
Well, well, well...what have we here? A sentient A.I., a colony fleet, a secret interstellar war, a super-evil alien race, virtual reality...this book has it all! Wait, hold everything, let's throw in a little song and dance to top things off.
December 18, 2007
read 05.04.88
March 18, 2015
This is my 2nd Carver book, it won't be my last.
January 3, 2016
Carver gives us a fascinating AI construct and sets it in a future world that seems quite believable to me. I found this story somewhat hard to follow at times, but still very compelling.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews