I’m actually loathe to review this masterpiece, for fear of not giving it its due credit. Combining science-fiction with highly developed philosophy, the book is a very sophisticated read, without being difficult to understand.

This is due to Dan Simmon’s profound skill in capturing the imagination with description and concepts that tantalize and enrapture the reader’s mind, whilst being positioned sparsely enough to maintain flow and continuity.

Indeed, this is an issue that can be drawn upon. Many writers choose to embed as much of their philosophical musings as possible, trying to include as much detail in their brain-child as possible, for fear of somehow excluding any ‘irreplaceable’ ideas.

This is what Dan Simmons has mastered: the art of selecting only the concepts that most lend themselves to the novel. His writing is beautiful in its simplicity, sustaining an enviably well-written plot, whilst including a wonderful amalgamation of philosophical musings.

Indeed, what truly sustains the reader’s interest in the novel is the characters and their backgrounds. Rather than including lengthy, frustrating background information that the reader is forced to read, for fear of becoming confused in the later chapters, the story of each character is included as a small saga, some of which are truly heartbreaking or fascinating. A personal recommendation has to be given to the priest’s tale: “The man who cried God”, and the scholar’s tale: “The River Lethe’s Taste is Bitter”.

Each character is wonderfully designed to be, put simply, alive. The characters think and act as individuals, each with their own importance to the novel, each involved in intricate relationships with the other characters.

I am loathe to reveal any of the plot, for fear of ruining what has truly been a gripping read. Therefore, i simply say that the storyline is sublimely written, maintaining perfect pace and full of cunning character and time transitions. The science-fiction element is not overly complicated, and the novel is a brilliant read, regardless of the reader’s preferred genre of writing.

9.7/10 “Truly, this is Dan Simmon’s greatest work.”