Read in: August 2022
Edition and format: Digital ARC as part of a book tour organized by Escapist Tours
First published: July 2020
Humanity has colonized the far reaches of the Solar system, and robots are incredibly more numerous than humans. They perform various tasks too perilous for the fragile human frame with precision and follow orders to the letter. The most powerful global player in the system is the Kardashev Corporation, whose inventions have paved the way for the progress of civilization. Having harnessed the energy of the entire Earth and made interstellar travel a part of everyday life, the head of the Kardashev Corporation has his sights set on something no human has dared to dream of before. Alton Neal wants to harvest the entire energy of the Sun and transport it anywhere in the system. Is humanity ready to exist as a civilization on the next level, and are Neal’s intentions purely altruistic?
On a mining station in the asteroid belt, young Imogen “Chim” Esper sees her robot Quince as a friend, not as a machine that runs errands and takes over her dad’s shift at work. The various modifications she has performed on him over the years make him stand out among the robots mass-produced by Kardashev. Chim has a unique gift for coding and technology that could land her in a lot of trouble if it were noticed by the Corporation. When her father is involved in an accident during what was supposed to be a routine spacewalk, Chim’s instincts tell her to challenge the cold, clinical way in which the Corporation handles the incident.
Meanwhile, some of the world’s leaders are not happy with Neal’s plans. Things escalate and the entire system is on the brink of a revolution. Chim finds herself in the middle of the conflict and realizes she has the power to make a difference. She certainly has the Corporation’s attention.
The ideas presented in the story are truly captivating and the explanations of how the science is supposed to work are easy to follow. The spaceships, action scenes, and space battles are really cool and described well. The book explores some interesting questions typical of good sci-fi, such as the limits of human expansion and technological advances, and the line between man and machine. Alton Neal’s thirst for profit and power are intertwined with a desire to push human civilization beyond what is thought possible without even discussing it with his fellow humans. The reaction of some of the world leaders to Neal’s actions is realistic and touching, and this is one of the core concepts at the warm heart of this story.
It was a little unusual to see a heroine who accepts the challenge immediately. Even though she shows vulnerability and self-doubt at times, Chim seems incredibly brave and resourceful for someone so young.
Velda and Quince are the most fascinating characters, and their banter is a delight to read. They also seem to be the most fleshed-out of all. Velda’s toughness and sassiness combined with her kindness are very endearing, and Quince is a great exploration of a non-human character. There is a lot of found-family warmth in the dynamics between Chim, Quince, and Velda. Chancellor Okeke is another standout, a character whose bravery and poise are touching. Alton Neal is an interesting villain, whose backstory would be worth exploring in more detail. It would have been nice to meet more characters who are just ordinary people and get more worldbuilding through their experiences. Additionally, the descriptions of the New Scientists and their outpost are not exceptionally detailed – Chim does not seem to learn a lot about them before aligning herself with their cause, and the passages describing them are not very extensive.
However, Mercury’s Shadow opens the Kardashev Cycle series, so there is a lot more to learn in the next book(s), including Chim’s backstory and family secrets. Book 1 also ends with an intriguing and promising twist that opens up lots of room to explore more themes in depth.
My Murmuring Pages 