Memories remain foggy about events preceding the disaster. Gravity suddenly reversed, in a swath encircling the globe. Two-thirds of the world’s population fell victim to the cataclysm that followed, as flora, fauna, and loose debris were catapulted into the heavens.
Five hundred years later, the survivors of the inversion event have reclaimed much of what was lost, but the world is a very different place. Some live in the floating cities of the swath. Others remain earthbound on either side of the swath. The divergent factions blame each other, walking a fine line between cooperation and outright declarations of war. Through it all, questions remain about the origin of the swath and its mysterious purpose.
As a child, Valtteri Knox stumbled across the threshold between normal and reverse gravity. He was flung into the sky, and had the misfortune of being saved by the Aerish. Valtteri was an outsider, of no caste and no worth, but it was decided he should be raised by the navy and groomed as a tool to infiltrate the earthbound.
As an adult, on his first mission, Valtteri is completely unprepared for what he encounters. He understood what it meant to be a pariah, but no one told him he was also Iridogen, one of those rare individuals with a genetic trait mentioned in fragments of pre-inversion history.
He’s determined to find answers, and expose a plot that could start a global war, but first he’ll need to find a way to survive in a world that doesn’t trust him.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Generations after a gravity event reshuffled the face of the planet, conflict between new nations arises. An earthbounder raised by the Aerish sets out on an expedition across the gravity area known as the swath. The plot is linear, following Valtteri on his adventure to find his home and uncovering an inventive sci-fi world as he goes. The primary plot arc is Valterri’s journey and the book ends at a launching point to a continuing series with a larger political arc.
Prose: The book features strong worldbuilding with detailed descriptive writing that depicts exciting and unnatural vistas and effectively illustrates the political structures of the setting. The point of view moves between a few characters but is largely tied to the protagonist. Dialogue reads natural and contributes to the efficacy of the world-building.
Originality: The book is refreshingly inventive. The central conceit is unique and the plot and exposition effectively and inextricably tie to it in a manner that feels organic. This is an extraordinary work of science fiction worldbuilding.
Character/Execution: The protagonist exists between two cultures in a radically changed Earth. The narration effectively aligns the reader with Valterri, enticing them to explore a mysterious world while following his journey. Side characters fit nicely within the world, any many are unique and interesting in their own right.
Blurb: Inventive and exciting, this is an extraordinary work of science fiction worldbuilding.
Date Submitted: August 22, 2023
