I recently found a list of recommended science fiction and fantasy novels put together by writers and fans, and so this was the first book I read off the list.
It starts off with a mysterious situation, and little by little reveals information, in such a way that you end up turning the pages to get to the bottom of the mysteries that are presented. This book has foundations in biology and science fiction, but it also has influences from Jules Verne, and the chock-full-of-mysteries TV show Lost.
The developments of the plot are largely happening within one character’s head – both in real time and in their memories. I would have liked to have more of the interactions with the group that starts the book, and the organization that sent them, but the focus here tends to be on the main character, who describes herself as anti-social so at least that is consistent. There are plenty of scenes that are creepy, scary and full of tension, and I thought this story would make a pretty good video game.
The ending for me wasn’t quite as satisfactory as I had hoped, but I think the book is the first of a series of three. Maybe this book is a sort of prologue to the next one. I’ll wait a while and if I’m still thinking about the events of the first book maybe I’ll come back to this series.
My next read is The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu. Reading short stories for a while might be a good change of pace!
