Science Fiction

Bear Head

Bear Head

  • Downloads：1701
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-07-09 07:51:34
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Adrian Tchaikovsky
  • ISBN：1800241569
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Summary

Mars。 The red planet。 A new frontier for humanity， a civilization where humans can live in peace， lord and master of all they survey。

But this isn't Space City from those old science-fiction books。 We live in Hell City， built into and from a huge subcontinent-sized crater。 There's a big silk canopy over it， feeding out atmosphere as we generate it， little by little， until we can breathe the air。

It's a perfect place to live， if you actually want to live on Mars。 I guess at some point I had actually wanted to live on Mars， because here I am。 The money was supposed to be good， and how else was a working Joe like me supposed to get off-planet exactly？ But I remember the videos they showed us – guys， not even in suits， watching robots and bees and Bioforms doing all the work – and they didn't quite get it right。。。

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Reviews

Liutauras ，

This one was as good as first book。 A lot of new ideas and parallels with current political situation。 Very interesting read

Cheryl Sonnier ，

The first Adrian Tchaikovsky novel I read was Dogs of War， and I loved it。 It led me to read Children of Time， then Ironclads and before I knew it I was a fan。 So， when I saw there was a sequel to Dogs of War， I grabbed it and devoured it over a weekend。 The novel's antagonist is a disturbingly familiar narcissist politician， and the whole premise makes me glad that certain people do not have access to the kind of brilliant tech available to those in this novel。 I'm not going to say more - no sp The first Adrian Tchaikovsky novel I read was Dogs of War， and I loved it。 It led me to read Children of Time， then Ironclads and before I knew it I was a fan。 So， when I saw there was a sequel to Dogs of War， I grabbed it and devoured it over a weekend。 The novel's antagonist is a disturbingly familiar narcissist politician， and the whole premise makes me glad that certain people do not have access to the kind of brilliant tech available to those in this novel。 I'm not going to say more - no spoilers - but if you thought Dogs of War was great， this sequel will blow you away。 。。。more

The Man from DelMonte ，

Although not as good as Dogs of War and with a slightly too neat ending， this is still a very good book with lots of great ideas。 The villain of the piece is very Trumpy and the author had some insights into what might allow such an unpleasant individual like that succeed。 Tchaikovsky is a visionary but a bit variable。 When he’s good he’s one of the best。 When he’s not he’s still very readable。

Daria ，

I don't know what to add to info from other reviews。。。 I loved it。 I love this universe。 But I really miss Rex。。。。。 I don't know what to add to info from other reviews。。。 I loved it。 I love this universe。 But I really miss Rex。。。。。 。。。more

Gemma ✨ a bookish blether ，

I loved the first book in this series so much that it was going to be difficult to stand up against it。 But reading Bear Head made me realise that my love for the first was bolstered by my love for Rex and that the sequel could be just as good in very different ways。 Instead of loving a character and enjoying the plot as a secondary element， the sequel takes the concept I was enjoying and brought it to the forefront of the story。 The new point of view character was less lovable （while still bei I loved the first book in this series so much that it was going to be difficult to stand up against it。 But reading Bear Head made me realise that my love for the first was bolstered by my love for Rex and that the sequel could be just as good in very different ways。 Instead of loving a character and enjoying the plot as a secondary element， the sequel takes the concept I was enjoying and brought it to the forefront of the story。 The new point of view character was less lovable （while still being enjoyable to read）， so the plot and the wider concepts had more room to shine。 On Mars， our POV character is a low class worker who resents his life。 He doesn’t have much， doesn’t get paid much at all and there’s barely anything to do between shifts。 He even rents out storage space in his memory for cash。 And then he stumbles into a fight for power that he absolutely doesn’t want any part in。 This felt fun， like an action packed science fiction comedy， but also managed to discuss deeper topics and make me think all without taking a break from the enjoyment。 This was my first books by Tchaikovsky， but I’m absolutely intending on reading everything else he has released。 A stand out series。 。。。more

Jourdan ，

In terms of his earlier book， this felt slightly rushed， but I loved the narrative nonetheless。 The next characters to the story felt fresh and alive considering the surreal environment they were placed in。

Leijten ，

Great as one can expect from Tchaikovsky。

Matt ，

I enjoyed this book though I found it a bit strange。 There is this idea that you can upload your personality to a computer。 Then it continues as you， but your original body also continues。 How would you know that it isn't just a robot trying to impersonate you。 Your new copy would know it was you， it might feel like you close your eyes and open them but your body is weird/changed。I feel like the guy Springer works for is Donald Trump。 I couldn't really get that picture out of my head。 I enjoyed this book though I found it a bit strange。 There is this idea that you can upload your personality to a computer。 Then it continues as you， but your original body also continues。 How would you know that it isn't just a robot trying to impersonate you。 Your new copy would know it was you， it might feel like you close your eyes and open them but your body is weird/changed。I feel like the guy Springer works for is Donald Trump。 I couldn't really get that picture out of my head。 。。。more

Kea Zhang ，

3。5

Michal Elefant ，

Mr。 Tchaikovsky is now one of my all-time favorite authors。 He has such a way with words that I basically see his books as movies in my head in real time as I'm reading。 This book made me realize this and I'm about to delve into more of his works。 Would recommend。 Mr。 Tchaikovsky is now one of my all-time favorite authors。 He has such a way with words that I basically see his books as movies in my head in real time as I'm reading。 This book made me realize this and I'm about to delve into more of his works。 Would recommend。 。。。more

Steve ，

Techno thriller， with a sentiment bear invading the consciousness of a mars based worker。 Pretty good

Devdas ，

The sequel to Dogs of War， and a brilliant followup。 The book follows Honey the bear on an adventure to Mars， with a dash of moral philosophy。

Ellen ，

This is an interesting sequel to Dogs of War， and has some very disturbing elements。 It has you cheering on the Good Dogs （yes this needs capitals）， but also wanting to find out more about Murder and Marmalade （characters）， as well as many others we meeting in passing。It is tense， twisting and troubled。 This is an interesting sequel to Dogs of War， and has some very disturbing elements。 It has you cheering on the Good Dogs （yes this needs capitals）， but also wanting to find out more about Murder and Marmalade （characters）， as well as many others we meeting in passing。It is tense， twisting and troubled。 。。。more

Joe ，

Not so good as the first one， but still interesting。Oh and it contains a complete nightmare scenario for anyone who lived through 2016->2020！

John Derek ，

Brilliant follow up to Dogs of War。

Hannah Chivers ，

Makes Dogs of War worthwhile

Will Jacks ，

Didn’t enjoy this one as much as Dogs of War。But I have to say， it was a mish mash of everything you would never expect in SF。 I said something similar about Dogs of War， but the style and approach are so original and fresh。 Cyborg bears on Mars， but with non-disclosure agreements and quasi-fascism。 I just found that there wasn’t a lot of imagination when it came to the surroundings on Mars， just the description of Hell city in the first chapter。Easily his best comedy， but felt distressingly rea Didn’t enjoy this one as much as Dogs of War。But I have to say， it was a mish mash of everything you would never expect in SF。 I said something similar about Dogs of War， but the style and approach are so original and fresh。 Cyborg bears on Mars， but with non-disclosure agreements and quasi-fascism。 I just found that there wasn’t a lot of imagination when it came to the surroundings on Mars， just the description of Hell city in the first chapter。Easily his best comedy， but felt distressingly realistic。 。。。more

Aaron Anderson ，

This was ok。 The politics were a bit depressing， which is why I think I feel like giving it only 3 stars。

Caroline ，

Boom！ And he’s done it again。 I was sceptical he could do better than Dogs of War， but my expectations were promptly exceeded。

Kindle ，

A Brilliant thought provoking ，fast paced novel using contemporary themes in the refreshingly original way that you come to expect from Adrian Tchaikovsky 。It is a wild west adventure set on Mars involving genetic engineering， cyber attacks and AI which also highlights animal  and  human right issues 。  The trouble begins on Earth where a megalomaniac  presidential candidate ， believing that all truth is what he says it is， becomes obsessed with destroying all opposition to his plans 。。。。which u A Brilliant thought provoking ，fast paced novel using contemporary themes in the refreshingly original way that you come to expect from Adrian Tchaikovsky 。It is a wild west adventure set on Mars involving genetic engineering， cyber attacks and AI which also highlights animal  and  human right issues 。  The trouble begins on Earth where a megalomaniac  presidential candidate ， believing that all truth is what he says it is， becomes obsessed with destroying all opposition to his plans 。。。。which unfortunately includes our heroine。  A Genetically Engineered Bear called Honey is our heroine。 She is campaigning to prevent  the subjugation of her kind through the process of collaring which eradicates。 all free will。The author reintroduces some established characters from his previous Dogs of War novel but also brings in new blood who have no choice in becoming reluctant heroes to。preserve their very existence 。Overall， an engrossing read of ambition， egotistical manipulation， heroic sacrifice and ultimate redemption。 The book’s observations wryly reflects our own world and is hilarious in parts and heartbreaking in others。 A great read  。。。more

Dave ，

I picked this up in a book shop last week and had no idea that it’s part two of a series until I was half way through it。 And you know， it doesn’t matter at all。 Excellent book。 Great characters。 Really nicely written。 Clearly a book written during the disastrous Trump regime in the USA as the main villain is clearly a Trumpian kind of guy。 Im going to have to go get the first one now and read it like it’s a prequel。

Lee Prescott ，

The sequel to Dogs of War sees most of the same ensemble 30 years later battling a future villian so obviously based on Donald Trump that I was surprised my fingers didn't glow fake-tan orange after each page turn。 The plot is even more preposterous than the 1st book but for this one there were too many inconsistencies to fully disengage the brain and freewheel with it。 Not bad - 2。5 stars for this one。 The sequel to Dogs of War sees most of the same ensemble 30 years later battling a future villian so obviously based on Donald Trump that I was surprised my fingers didn't glow fake-tan orange after each page turn。 The plot is even more preposterous than the 1st book but for this one there were too many inconsistencies to fully disengage the brain and freewheel with it。 Not bad - 2。5 stars for this one。 。。。more

Mr Mike Hardwick ，

A bear necessity to be read。This is book two， you need to read/listen to Dogs of War first。Both are excellent， giving an expanding world view that is getting all to close to the present with the moral and ethical questions it raises but viewed from a new angle。

Ellen ，

Sequel to Dogs of War， but much more vested in revealing the political campaign and tactics of a completely corrupted and soulless politician at a time when countries are living bimodically modified animals and people with changing moral codes。 Not what I expected！

Tabish Khan ，

I really enjoyed the world built by Tchaikovsky in Dogs of War and the ethical questions it raised about bio-engineered animals （known as bioforms in the novel）。 Though I did wonder how the sequel would play out given most of the enjoyment is in the world building。 Thankfully the author builds on this world by taking it in a new direction， where humans can now be bioformed - case in point the lead character who has double eyelids and lungs that mean he can breathe on Mars where he's part of a te I really enjoyed the world built by Tchaikovsky in Dogs of War and the ethical questions it raised about bio-engineered animals （known as bioforms in the novel）。 Though I did wonder how the sequel would play out given most of the enjoyment is in the world building。 Thankfully the author builds on this world by taking it in a new direction， where humans can now be bioformed - case in point the lead character who has double eyelids and lungs that mean he can breathe on Mars where he's part of a team getting it ready for colonisation。What's innovative is that he shows this new world with existing patriarchal and capitalist structures in place， so we see this technology being used for physical and sexual slavery by those in power。 Of the four books I've read by Tchaikovsky this is his most political so far and he tackles it really well。 The weakest part of his writing is always the human characters and the protagonist Jimmy is a hard one to like but thankfully once the story picks up pace we don't have to worry about that too much。 I own a few more books by this author and I'll be pushing those all up my list to read soon。 。。。more

Jeremy David Taylor ，

Best analysis of Donald Trump in fact or fiction I’ve readIt starts steadily， grows enjoyably then has a satisfactory epilogue so can’t fault the story telling craftsmanship。 Also it has the most plausible explanation of the Donald J Trump political phenomena in either fact or fiction。

Dezső Módos ，

I have started to read the book with such an enthusiasm when I have seen that it plays in the same universe as Dogs of War。 I really loved that book。 That said this one is below Dogs of War by a large margin。 I loved how Honey and Jimmy interacting。 The drug addict and the academic bear are so different characters that their interactions in Jimmy's head are really fun and invoke smiles when you read them。 The world of Mars is fascinating and alien at once。 We can see how the real aliens， modifie I have started to read the book with such an enthusiasm when I have seen that it plays in the same universe as Dogs of War。 I really loved that book。 That said this one is below Dogs of War by a large margin。 I loved how Honey and Jimmy interacting。 The drug addict and the academic bear are so different characters that their interactions in Jimmy's head are really fun and invoke smiles when you read them。 The world of Mars is fascinating and alien at once。 We can see how the real aliens， modified humans， live and work there through Jimmy's eyes。The biggest flop of the story is Trump， I want to say Thompson。 He is not a really menacing villain。 He acts like a child who just want things。 He is stupid and the author tries to make us belive that he influences everyone around him。 It did not worked for me。 Such a stupid man can not play the metagame for social status。 Trump is much more clever then him。 Tchaikovsky tries to make a statement about the dangers of authoritarian leaders。 HovewerThompson is not a believable villain Tchaikovsky fails archiving this goal。So if you like Dogs of War and the hard scifi questions what is human， intelligence， personality then it worth a read。 Even that Thompson missed the mark。 Oh and it has the prisoner dilemma in it。 。。。more

Aleksandra ，

I never thought that Dogs of War would get or even need a sequel。 I loved it completely as a stand-alone， so rare today。 So I was afraid to pick this book up， dreading disappointment。 And yet。。。 Tschaikovsky once more shines as a great author using his professional knowledge of zoology and psychology， lightly used once again in a sci-fi thriller novel， as， well， in every single one of his books。 And， yet he is still not boring me。Not at all subtle， the book is filled with everyday prejudice and I never thought that Dogs of War would get or even need a sequel。 I loved it completely as a stand-alone， so rare today。 So I was afraid to pick this book up， dreading disappointment。 And yet。。。 Tschaikovsky once more shines as a great author using his professional knowledge of zoology and psychology， lightly used once again in a sci-fi thriller novel， as， well， in every single one of his books。 And， yet he is still not boring me。Not at all subtle， the book is filled with everyday prejudice and privilege narrated through Honey （yes， the same highly intelligent Bioform）， Jimmy （a modified human on Mars， drug-addicted sort-of-comedy relief really）， and Carole Springer （ a collared woman in service to the evil narcissistic egocentric maniac）。 Very odd and funny way of talking about the class differences， the privileged and their the games and meta-games， of the big players of the world， of the builders and the lawmakers and the image- and opinion- creators versus the poor， the yielded， the controlled。。。It left me thinking， is this book just a clear observation of today's society and culture and dreaming of yet another utopia？ Objective perception that rounds all my anger for the world， or a subjective point of view that somehow matches my own？ Or even a prophetic view of the future， still somehow optimistic in these craze infected times？I am happy that such a small， light and funny， book yet full of meaning and rich narrative， occupied my time for a couple of weeks。 And once again， I can't wait for the next Tchaikovsky masterpiece。 。。。more

Sally Hirst ，

I had read Dogs of War （just because I'd vaguely heard of it） not so long ago and this picks up from there， though you could read this without having read the other first。 I had also read Children of Time and that was even cleverer and on a bigger scale， but this was the third where he made a clever idea into a compelling and completely unpredictable narrative。 Children of Time was about cultures and civilisations and who / how those might or might not prevail。 Dogs of War was about AI and other I had read Dogs of War （just because I'd vaguely heard of it） not so long ago and this picks up from there， though you could read this without having read the other first。 I had also read Children of Time and that was even cleverer and on a bigger scale， but this was the third where he made a clever idea into a compelling and completely unpredictable narrative。 Children of Time was about cultures and civilisations and who / how those might or might not prevail。 Dogs of War was about AI and othering / race and this one was about politics， power and Trump and I suspect if I had known that （and not just bought it because I saw his name and the other two were good enough for me to just buy directly on that） I might have avoided it， but actually it was very cleverly done。 Perhaps some of the points were rammed home a little heavily， but they were for the most part very convincing， the characters were likeable and it rocked along in page turning style。 。。。more

Alex Godkin ，

Good read just not as good as Dogs of WarAfter the amazing Dogs of War I was excited to read this book but it just didn’t grip me like Dogs of War did。 I found myself drifting off through some of the passages as the story just wasn’t as engaging。 Disappointing but hard to beat the first book I suppose。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Bear Head

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Bear Head&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Bear Head&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0