Book Report Corner
by Rachel R.
A mysterious American-style diner appears in an English field, as do a collection of strange objects. These are all linked to a substance that causes a person’s desires, linked to their most nostalgic memories, to manifest. Unfortunately for everyone, this particular nostalgia is fatal—and spreading. Rao, who can discern truth from lies, and Adam, his partner (in espionage, though they both wish it were otherwise) are sent to investigate. The novel flashes back and forth between the investigation and their traumatic backstories.
Usually, when we refer to a book as “reading like fanfic,” we don’t mean it in a complimentary sense. When I say that this book reads like fanfic, I mean that it does what really good fanfic does in exploring the interstitial spaces between adventures, relishing in the transformation of subtext to text, with uncommonly strong character work for what is essentially military sci-fi. The worldbuilding and character backstory feel deeply lived in, as if the story itself is a cathartic coda to a TV show I have been watching for years in hopes of resolution. It’s a book that inspires discussion and meta-analysis and fanaticism.
Ultimately, the authors take everything I like—a strong core sci-fi metaphor, spy hijinks, disaster gays, body horror—and stuff it into an entertaining and weirdly poignant read. I deeply resented the fact that I had to go to work in between reading this. I love Rao a normal amount. I swear I’m fine. Please read this so that I don’t have to rave about it by myself.
