Hardcover, 656 pages
Published Sept. 27, 2021 by Scribner.
Kinda science fiction, kinda not? A really well designed story with compelling characters that loops around on itself. Once it gets going it's hard to put down
(3 stars = I liked it)
Three time periods are braided together by an ancient Greek tale: 15th century Constantinople, the modern day, and a space-faring future. Elaborate but tenuous. On their own each story has potential, but together they don't quite make a whole. Like Cloud Atlas but less enthralling.
Reading time 7 days, 89 pages/day
#BookReview #Books #Bookstodon #BookWyrm #HistoricalFiction #SciFi
It's a long novel but it didn't feel like it was wasting words. It's a few stories told at once about different people living in different places at different times. One thing that links the stories is none of the main characters are satisfied with the hand they were dealt in life, and the stories explore how they deal with that. Some threads (Constantinople) engaged me sooner than others (Argos), but by the end I was interested in everything, and it all came together in a satisfying way.
There also was some queer representation in the novel, and I like that sort of thing.
What a book ! There is much to say and yet it is hard to give a coherent summary of what unfolds in this story. The narration is fluid and I was able to swallow this massive book in little time, and yet, NOTHING in this story is written at random. Much like the Diogene theater piece, this book conveys hope and wisdom.
Excellent book. A fabulous range of seemingly random threads all wonderfully joined together by the end. Romance, war, science fiction, history, small town family life, it's all here.
