Void Star by Zachary Mason

At an unspecified time in the near future, the oceans have risen, implanted chips make infinite memory a possibility and anti-aging clinics offer eternal youth for top dollar. At the same time, poverty, corruption and war continue to rumble on relentlessly. Through this tangled maze of technology and intrigue, the lives of three disparate characters are drawn inexorably together.

Sound complex? It is. Zachary Mason is an undoubtedly gifted writer; his prose is superbly written and tightly constructed, comprising the building blocks of an astoundingly expansive universe. However, the constant flitting between character viewpoints makes for a disorientating experience in itself, while the emergence of complex themes (such as the exploration of memory and alternative planes of existence) further serves to discombobulate. Though packed with action almost from start to finish, it’s often hard to ascertain exactly what the hell is going on.

All of this combines to leave the reader struggling to gain a foothold in the novel. While certain characters certainly have potential for development and emotional attachment, others are underexplored or neglected altogether, making for a somewhat 2D impression of the Void Star world. Hardened fans of sci-fi might revel in the absolute immersion of Mason’s creation, but for the rest of us, it’s overwhelming in its density, underwhelming in its payoff.