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The Subtle Art of Folding Space
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26The Subtle Art of Folding Space, is the exhilarating debut science fiction novel from Nebula and Hugo Award-winning author John Chu channels unhinged physics, generational trauma, and the comfort of really good dim sum. This isn't your usual jaunt through quantum physics.
Ellie’s universe, and this one, is falling apart. Her ailing mother is in a coma; her sister, Chris, accuses her of being insufficiently Chinese between assassination attempts; and a shadowy cabal of engineers is trying to hijack the skunkworks, the machinery that keeps the physics of each universe working the way it’s supposed to.
Daniel, Ellie's cousin, has found an illicit device in the skunkworks—one that keeps Ellie's comatose mother alive while also creating destabilizing bugs in the physics of this universe. It's not a good day.
If she can confront her mother’s legacy and overcome her family’s generational trauma, she just might find a way to preserve the skunkworks and reconcile with her sister…but digging into her family’s past is thornier than it seems, and the secrets she uncovers will force Ellie to choose between her family and the universe itself.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Ellie’s universe, and this one, is falling apart. Her ailing mother is in a coma; her sister, Chris, accuses her of being insufficiently Chinese between assassination attempts; and a shadowy cabal of engineers is trying to hijack the skunkworks, the machinery that keeps the physics of each universe working the way it’s supposed to.
Daniel, Ellie's cousin, has found an illicit device in the skunkworks—one that keeps Ellie's comatose mother alive while also creating destabilizing bugs in the physics of this universe. It's not a good day.
If she can confront her mother’s legacy and overcome her family’s generational trauma, she just might find a way to preserve the skunkworks and reconcile with her sister…but digging into her family’s past is thornier than it seems, and the secrets she uncovers will force Ellie to choose between her family and the universe itself.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 7, 2026
1353 people want to read
About the author
John Chu
70 books95 followersJohn Chu is a microprocessor architect by day, a writer by night. His fiction has appeared or is forthcoming at Boston Review, Bloody Fabulous, Asimov's Science Fiction, Apex Magazine and Tor.com. His story "The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere" won the 2014 Hugo Award for Best Short Story.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Want to read
May 8, 2025I'm not that much of an avid scifi reader, but OMG that cover. I love it.
May 24, 2025
Not enough SciFi contends with how hard people work to keep everything from falling out of the sky. Chu steps up to that challenge with a spirited exploration 'behind the scenes' of how fragile our world is (and the maintenance it requires). It bends physics and genres alike. It's a book we need right now. I know people are going to be giddy for this one.
September 30, 2025
WARNING: This book will make you hungry, and also maybe a little confused but mostly hungry!
Ellie is a maintainer, responsible for preserving the delicate infrastructure that enforces the rules of her universe. Unfortunately, rival forces are at work, her mother is dying, and her sister is...a complicated individual. When her cousin Daniel finds a particularly unusual discrepancy, Ellie's issues with her family take on a new danger, and all that's at stake is the structure of the universe.
It's always been a little weird to me how often fiction glorifies sibling relationships, particularly between sisters, so I find myself drawn to the few books that feature siblings at their most ruthless (Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake comes to mind). Chris being super messed up makes their dynamic more interesting, because yes Chris is the person who knows Ellie best but that also enables her to hurt Ellie the worst. Daniel, Belt, and Adhi were all delightful, super colorful characters as well. It's basically impossible to review to book without specifically shouting out the world-building, most of which definitely went over my head but it's just gorgeous and really unique feeling.
I'm all for books just boldly doing something wildly different, but it's a big plus that this book happens to also be really good and succeeds in what it's doing (though what exactly that is, I couldn't tell you)!
Thank you to John Chu and Tor Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Pre-review: Another gift from Tor, you guys are the loml <3333
Ellie is a maintainer, responsible for preserving the delicate infrastructure that enforces the rules of her universe. Unfortunately, rival forces are at work, her mother is dying, and her sister is...a complicated individual. When her cousin Daniel finds a particularly unusual discrepancy, Ellie's issues with her family take on a new danger, and all that's at stake is the structure of the universe.
It's always been a little weird to me how often fiction glorifies sibling relationships, particularly between sisters, so I find myself drawn to the few books that feature siblings at their most ruthless (Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake comes to mind). Chris being super messed up makes their dynamic more interesting, because yes Chris is the person who knows Ellie best but that also enables her to hurt Ellie the worst. Daniel, Belt, and Adhi were all delightful, super colorful characters as well. It's basically impossible to review to book without specifically shouting out the world-building, most of which definitely went over my head but it's just gorgeous and really unique feeling.
I'm all for books just boldly doing something wildly different, but it's a big plus that this book happens to also be really good and succeeds in what it's doing (though what exactly that is, I couldn't tell you)!
Thank you to John Chu and Tor Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Pre-review: Another gift from Tor, you guys are the loml <3333
Want to read
June 19, 2025Jo Walton gives this TBP April 2026 book pretty high marks here. I've liked his shorts along these lines, so I'll plan to read this one when the library gets a copy, about a year from now.
Her review is at https://reactormag.com/jo-waltons-rea...
Her review is at https://reactormag.com/jo-waltons-rea...
Want to read
May 7, 2025science fiction on unhinged physics and generational trauma… yes
October 12, 2025
3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC!
I’ll be honest, parts of this book were difficult for me to read. The writing was dry & some of the world building was difficult for me to understand. I was also having a hard time with the POV but once I finally adjusted, I started to enjoy the story. I thought the relationship between Ellie & Chris was very realistic, & the author did a good job showcasing what it’s like to care for an ailing parent. I felt myself relating to Ellie & how she felt desperate to help to take some of the weight off her sister’s shoulders. I also really liked Daniel & the brotherly role he played for Ellie.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC!
I’ll be honest, parts of this book were difficult for me to read. The writing was dry & some of the world building was difficult for me to understand. I was also having a hard time with the POV but once I finally adjusted, I started to enjoy the story. I thought the relationship between Ellie & Chris was very realistic, & the author did a good job showcasing what it’s like to care for an ailing parent. I felt myself relating to Ellie & how she felt desperate to help to take some of the weight off her sister’s shoulders. I also really liked Daniel & the brotherly role he played for Ellie.
tbr-medium-priority
May 22, 2025this is so far out of my comfort zone but something about it is calling to me (probably the gorgeous cover, let's be real)
Want to read
May 22, 20252026?!!!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews