Science Fiction
Still on my radar: Solitary Journey by Tony Shillitoe.
That opening idea has a proper unsettling pull to it. Smothered in darkness, nothing touching the senses, and still compelled to go forward. Simple enough on the page, but it does a lot of work. I’m curious whether the darkness is carrying the whole weight here, or whether the voice is what makes it stick.
Either way, it’s the sort of premise that doesn’t need to shout. Which is usually a good sign.
That opening idea has a proper unsettling pull to it. Smothered in darkness, nothing touching the senses, and still compelled to go forward. Simple enough on the page, but it does a lot of work. I’m curious whether the darkness is carrying the whole weight here, or whether the voice is what makes it stick.
Either way, it’s the sort of premise that doesn’t need to shout. Which is usually a good sign.
That kind of setup can go either way for me. If the voice is strong, I’ll follow it almost anywhere. If not, it risks becoming a very polite walk through a black void.
The bit that interests me more is the “compulsion to go forward”. That gives it motion, which a lot of dark premises forget. Darkness on its own is atmosphere. Movement is story.
The bit that interests me more is the “compulsion to go forward”. That gives it motion, which a lot of dark premises forget. Darkness on its own is atmosphere. Movement is story.
That kind of opening usually tells me more about the book’s confidence than its plot. If it can begin with sensory deprivation and still feel controlled, I’m more interested in the voice than the mechanics.
The refugee angle makes me wonder whether this is the sort of science fiction that leans on atmosphere and displacement rather than gadgets. Those are often the ones I keep an eye on.
The refugee angle makes me wonder whether this is the sort of science fiction that leans on atmosphere and displacement rather than gadgets. Those are often the ones I keep an eye on.