Author: Emma Newman
Wow....this book really has a lot going on. Not only is this a great classic sci-fi story, but it also delves into the mental toll the situation takes on the main character, Ren Ghali. At first I had a hard time liking Ren....I found her a bit weak and whiny. But....how would I react to a situation like Ren has endured for more than 20 years? I think I would be weak, whiny and a bit mental myself. I grew to really like Ren as the story progressed. She isn't a fake, flat character, but very very human. She is at times selfish, weak and a liar....but also strong, determined and dealing as best she can. She is definitely conflicted and scared. And she hides her anxiety, fears and inner turmoil from everyone. But she's dealing with a lot -- establishing a colony on another planet, keeping true to a lie, and being constantly afraid the truth will come out. Mental illness is not being weak and whiny. Ren accomplishes amazing things to keep the colony going....all while falling apart inside. Newman portrays the character perfectly. I just had to give Ren time....I had to understand her.
I liked the concept of a colony on an alien world where unwanted items are recycled and 3-d printed into new, more useful things. Colonists being directly wired into a sensor and communications network was a nice touch as well. The main character suffering from an anxiety disorder and doing whatever she can to hide it from the others makes Ren awesomely human. The extent of her mental instability comes out as the story progresses. The author brings out the background story slowly....how Lee Suh-Mi changed gathered followers, brought them to another planet, The Lie and building the colony. The way the tale is told in bits and pieces as Ren remembers kept the suspense going until the very, very end. I did not expect the ending. I had to listen to the last 10 minutes twice and let it sink in a bit.... I love it when a book catches me by surprise. At first I was like WTH? And then....I'm like.....that works. But one cautionary comment: Don't read reviews that spoil things. It will ruin the book. Find the ending yourself after listening through Ren's recollections and experiences.
This is an understated story. The reader will not have the entire picture until the end. Perfect. It's a lot like life.....you don't know everything about yourself until the very, very end. Readers who aren't fans of classic sci-fi might not like this story. It's not an action space thriller with laser gun blasting and giant toothy monsters.....it's a mix of tech, ingenuity, human frailty, a splash of philosophy and more than a bit of psychology. In space. Love it! I can't wait to read the next book! There are three books in the series right now, with a 4th book coming out in February 2019. Each book in the Planetfall series tells the story of the destruction of Earth and struggle for the survival of humanity from the perspective of different characters. Same situation. Different choices. Different stories.
I listened to the audio book version of this story. Narrated by the author, the audio is just over 10 hours long. Newman has a nice, clear voice and gave a great performance. I have hearing loss but was easily able to hear and understand the entire book.
On to book 2!! I have the newest book -- Atlas Alone -- on my review shelf once I finish After Atlas and Before Mars. :)
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