Review by Zachary Forbes
November 16th, 2024
These posts are just our opinions of the books we read, and don't yet reflect the decision of our judging team or the progression of the book in the SFINCS competition.
Summary:
In the year 2036, a strange, apparently alien signal arrives on Earth. It takes years to discover the patterns contained within it, or if there even is a pattern contained within it. But over decades and generations, the scientific pursuit of finding the meaning within this signal shapes the destiny of humankind.
What does it mean?
Where does it come from?
Will we ever see the source for ourselves?
The Good:
The structure of this story was pretty cool. I enjoyed jumping generations, with each chapter taking place decades apart. We as the reader get to see how the current characters view/remember past people and events. And a couple of times, we actually get to see the new generation interact with an older, more wisened version of a character from a past chapter. I would go more into this, but I would risk some heavy spoilers, so I will simply say I enjoyed it.
The overall tone of the story, which is helped by its structure, feels strangely cozy. It progresses as an optimistic crescendo in the advancement of human civilization. But it also doesn't dwell on the technical aspects. It seems Sanderson is more interested in the humanity behind these endeavors and what sets our species up for gradual success. Even in the face of certain failures, there is a trust that comes with these time jumps that tells us time (and life) will still march on.
The ending is appropriately satisfying, and caps off these feelings quite well. The whole story comes full circle and sends us off feeling like we've been on this century-spanning journey in real time.
The Bad:
I wouldn't call it 'bad', necessarily, as I certainly appreciate the emotionally human direction Sanderson took, but don't expect a ton of technical description. That simply isn't what this novella is about, nor do I believe it would've had much time for such things.
Still, the world does feel strangely similar three hundred years in the future. Maybe we will maintain ourselves culturally and creatively to this extent. Impossible to know, and something I wouldn't dock points for.
This novella is not interested in telling us how humanity colonized the asteroid belt, it's interested in telling us why. And that's okay with me.
Overall:
After the Syzygy is a very pleasant novella.
It provides us with a series of snapshots at different moments in time, maintaining a hope for our species kindled by one specific goal. If you want an easy, satisfying sci-fi read, look no further.
Be sure to tune in to our Twitter/X @ZachForbesBro for new blog posts about the novellas we read for the SFINCS competition! And click through to our website if you want to see other projects my brother and I have been working on!
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