A genetically resurrected vampire —an extinct, predatory subspecies of human with superhuman processing power but a lethal allergy to right angles (the "crucifix glitch").
A "Synthesist" who had half his brain removed to stop seizures, leaving him a highly analytical observer who lacks traditional empathy. Blindsight by Peter Watts.epub
The book is notoriously "dense." If you find the jargon heavy at first, stick with it—the payoff in the final third is frequently described by readers on Reddit as life-changing. Named after a real neurological condition where people
Named after a real neurological condition where people can "see" and react to objects without being consciously aware of them, the book explores if the entire universe works this way. Why It's a Must-Read In response, humanity sends the starship Theseus to
The crew encounters alien entities that are vastly more intelligent and faster than humans but appear to have no self-awareness or "inner life".
The story begins in 2082 when 65,000 alien probes simultaneously surround Earth, photograph it in a flash of fire, and then vanish. In response, humanity sends the starship Theseus to the edge of the solar system to find out who—or what—is watching.
Peter Watts has made the book available for free under a Creative Commons license on his official site, though you can also find it at retailers like Barnes & Noble .