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Occupy Me
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A woman with wings that exist in another dimension. A man trapped in his own body by a killer. A briefcase that is a door to hell. A conspiracy that reaches beyond our world. Breathtaking SF from a Clarke Award-winning author.
Tricia Sullivan has written an extraordinary, genre defining novel that begins with the mystery of a woman who barely knows herself and ends with a d ...more
Tricia Sullivan has written an extraordinary, genre defining novel that begins with the mystery of a woman who barely knows herself and ends with a d ...more
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This was a weird book. Part sci-fi, part mystery, and part thriller. The strangest thing of all was that it was the sci-fi elements of the story that let the story down!
The premise was super intriguing. Pearl, an angel, with no memory of how or why she ended up on earth is trying to track down Dr. Kisi Sorle, the man responsible for stranding her on this planet in the first place. He stole something of hers. It looks like an ordinary briefcase, but is in fact a gateway to another dimension. Pea ...more
The premise was super intriguing. Pearl, an angel, with no memory of how or why she ended up on earth is trying to track down Dr. Kisi Sorle, the man responsible for stranding her on this planet in the first place. He stole something of hers. It looks like an ordinary briefcase, but is in fact a gateway to another dimension. Pea ...more
Bats**t crazy SF involving an angel, international financial shenanigans, possession by a malevolent entity, international malfeasance by an oil company and a surprise pterosaur.
There's no plot summary I could give that wouldn't spoil the hell out of this, and the basic setup just doesn't make much sense anyway. This book is a puzzle-box and at least half the fun in trying to work out how it all comes together, who all these people are and what they're trying to do. It's a very ambitious story a ...more
There's no plot summary I could give that wouldn't spoil the hell out of this, and the basic setup just doesn't make much sense anyway. This book is a puzzle-box and at least half the fun in trying to work out how it all comes together, who all these people are and what they're trying to do. It's a very ambitious story a ...more
I thought this book was going to be one I could not finish, but I persisted in the hope I might begin to enjoy it more. For me, this is one of those novels that had huge potential to be fantastic but the execution let it down badly. I found reading this book hurt my brain and that's not what you want when reading a book for pleasure.
The plot felt very disjointed and I struggled for a lot of the book to have a clear grasp on what was really going on, in addition to that the characters all seemed ...more
The plot felt very disjointed and I struggled for a lot of the book to have a clear grasp on what was really going on, in addition to that the characters all seemed ...more
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/11/05/...
Occupy Me was probably one of the chanciest books I have ever attempted to read, knowing full well from the blurb and countless reviews how strange and bizarre it would be. I’ve made it no secret that I don’t always do well with “weird” books. But still, I decided to give it a try because I was in the mood for something a little outside of the box, and I was also curious to see what the science fiction literary awards ci ...more
Occupy Me was probably one of the chanciest books I have ever attempted to read, knowing full well from the blurb and countless reviews how strange and bizarre it would be. I’ve made it no secret that I don’t always do well with “weird” books. But still, I decided to give it a try because I was in the mood for something a little outside of the box, and I was also curious to see what the science fiction literary awards ci ...more
This book has three narrators: one each in first, second, and third person. They are Pearl, Dr Sorle, and Alison the veterinarian respectively. Second person is not a favorite of mine but it ends up getting explained later on and the explanation makes this really work.
Pearl is an angel, complete with wings, who gets pulled over from her home world, a place she calls HD - the Higher Dimensions. She has no memory of this world and spends the book trying to get her "launcher" back so that she can g ...more
Pearl is an angel, complete with wings, who gets pulled over from her home world, a place she calls HD - the Higher Dimensions. She has no memory of this world and spends the book trying to get her "launcher" back so that she can g ...more
Pearl is an angel, a being with wings that only exist in another dimension. She works for the Resistance–a mysterious organisation that promotes the spread of kindness among humans. As she returns from one of her missions, she recognises a passenger: he’s the man who stranded her here, away from her home. Dr. Sorle, meanwhile, has another problem: he has a passenger, one who regularly hijacks his body, and now, under the influence of that invisible rider, he’s stolen a briefcase that may or may
...more
This was a complex, challenging sci-fi read with some interesting ideas and I really quite liked the characters. The lead Pearl is female, but is muscular and has wings when she defaults to her ‘angelic’ form. Other times she can constrict herself and hide the wings from view, appearing human in appearance. The book opens with her being unsure of who she really is, where she came from or what her purpose in life is. She knows however she has been robbed of a component of herself and needs it bac ...more
A brilliantly mind-warping, fast-paced science fiction thriller starring, among others, a powerful angel, a fifty-ish Scottish veterinarian who also does cross-stitch, a massive carnivorous quetzlcoatlus, a briefcase containing other dimensions, and a doctor whose timeline has been split by blood and oil. It's all so gripping and so much FUN - and so funny, too, at times! - that I couldn't stop reading. It's not my usual kind of read, but I loved it.
...more
If I had to categorise Occupy Me it would be as speculative fiction about a secret and unseen war. Or about secret and unseen dimensions; also, time-travel and non-linear causality. Or perhaps as an exploration of selflessness through conflict. Or maybe a mystery thriller where the mystery stretches human comprehension.
Actually, I’d rather not try and categorise this book. I’d rather you went out and got a copy, and read it for yourself.
The cast is as diverse as you can get: a being who may be a ...more
Actually, I’d rather not try and categorise this book. I’d rather you went out and got a copy, and read it for yourself.
The cast is as diverse as you can get: a being who may be a ...more
DNF @30%
This is SO BORING. There is no reprieve in sight. The audiobook narration doesn't help, either. ...more
This is SO BORING. There is no reprieve in sight. The audiobook narration doesn't help, either. ...more
DNF at 50%.
I just stopped halfway through the book after giving it my full attention for an hour at the library, and asked myself, do I care what's going to happen next? How did I even start reading this? And decided that it was too.... I don't know, strange. There's a special angel (like, not a regular angel) called Pearl (there didn't seem to be any reason why this name was chosen, frankly I find it sickly sweet), a briefcase with a blackhole in it, strange men and demons... it just feels lik ...more
I just stopped halfway through the book after giving it my full attention for an hour at the library, and asked myself, do I care what's going to happen next? How did I even start reading this? And decided that it was too.... I don't know, strange. There's a special angel (like, not a regular angel) called Pearl (there didn't seem to be any reason why this name was chosen, frankly I find it sickly sweet), a briefcase with a blackhole in it, strange men and demons... it just feels lik ...more
Reviewed on my blog - Books by Proxy
2.5 Stars
This book was received from Netgalley in return for an honest review
As soon as I finished Occupy Me, the latest novel from sci-fi author Tricia Sullivan, I knew that I would have a hard time writing a review for it. At its best, Occupy Me is a beautiful, twisted and chaotic novel which sings with wonderful prose and an obvious depth of skill and imagination. At its worse, however, it is confusing, utterly strange and left me at times thinking ‘what wa ...more
2.5 Stars
This book was received from Netgalley in return for an honest review
As soon as I finished Occupy Me, the latest novel from sci-fi author Tricia Sullivan, I knew that I would have a hard time writing a review for it. At its best, Occupy Me is a beautiful, twisted and chaotic novel which sings with wonderful prose and an obvious depth of skill and imagination. At its worse, however, it is confusing, utterly strange and left me at times thinking ‘what wa ...more
Nuts. Absolutely, nuts. The most surreal sci-fi book I've ever read. So obscure, I can't even attempt to describe it. Reading this was like trying to watch 'The East' and several episodes of 'Sense8' at once. Whilst on acid. I enjoyed it, but I did feel a bit sick afterwards. Make of that what you will!
...more
I always enjoy that moment of trepidation that arrives whenever I’m reading an author’s work for the very first time. I’ve not read any of Tricia Sullivan’s other novels, so this was new territory for me.
Pearl, an angel who lives amongst us, is an intriguing creation. Innocent in many respects, but world weary in many others, her view of humanity shifts on a minute by minute basis. There is an unaffected air of otherworldliness that makes Pearl consistently fascinating character. She is captivat ...more
Pearl, an angel who lives amongst us, is an intriguing creation. Innocent in many respects, but world weary in many others, her view of humanity shifts on a minute by minute basis. There is an unaffected air of otherworldliness that makes Pearl consistently fascinating character. She is captivat ...more
Apr 16, 2017
CinnamonWolf
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
women-authors
You know that feeling when you pick up a sci-fi book and it's the same old story all over again? No such feelings here. It picks up speed right in the beginning and not even 30 pages in I found myself saying "What. The fuck. Just happened." together with the main character.
The birds. I still don't know what it was that made my pleasure neurons tingle reading about them. It was beautiful. It was new. I could *feel* it. That's usually what makes it or breaks it for me in a book.
I'll admit, it does ...more
The birds. I still don't know what it was that made my pleasure neurons tingle reading about them. It was beautiful. It was new. I could *feel* it. That's usually what makes it or breaks it for me in a book.
I'll admit, it does ...more
A brilliant read! Full review to come.
The characters were interesting. The plot was okay for three quarters and then the last quarters was terrible
Not for the faint hearted. Does it make sense? For the most part, if you stick with it. Is it entertaining? You betcha. As long as you find batshit crazy entertaining. But it’s certainly original. In the hands of a lesser writer this could have been a mess, but it’s actually quite remarkable. Lots of fun.
3,0 stars. Interesting. A bit weird at times, but I liked the writing style and especially the main characters. I feel we don’t get to read from perspectives like these often. For anyone interested in sci-fi, with a bit of humor and higher dimensions added to the mix, I would say pick it up!
“I leaned into HD. My body folded like a paper airplane and I went down as a shaft, shedding importune photons like confetti. He got closer and closer. Every beat of my heart was dedicated to this one thing. Fly like an arrow. Fly. Every breath. Every impulse to muscle and every thought. My teeth sang in the wind.” (p.25)
Tricia Sullivan won the Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1999 for her novel Dreaming in Smoke. She has written nine SF and three Fantasy books, but I’d wager you haven’t heard of her. ...more
Tricia Sullivan won the Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1999 for her novel Dreaming in Smoke. She has written nine SF and three Fantasy books, but I’d wager you haven’t heard of her. ...more
2017 ARTHUR C CLARKE AWARD SHORTLIST BOOK 3
An angel with wings in another dimension, working for 'The Resistance', an order who gently nudge humanity towards kindness, loses a briefcase which is a portal to another dimension and forgets who she is. The briefcase has been stolen by a man possessing the body of another man, the latter being forced to do things against his will. There's some gubbins about a race of birdpeople, dinosaurs popping up from other realms and all sorts of other batshit cr ...more
An angel with wings in another dimension, working for 'The Resistance', an order who gently nudge humanity towards kindness, loses a briefcase which is a portal to another dimension and forgets who she is. The briefcase has been stolen by a man possessing the body of another man, the latter being forced to do things against his will. There's some gubbins about a race of birdpeople, dinosaurs popping up from other realms and all sorts of other batshit cr ...more
This is an interesting book with some impressive qualities, but it seems reluctant to share them. I found it a hard book to warm to, it just feels cold and distant. The book flips between first, second, and third person perspectives which makes it hard to find the voice of the book and slows the pace considerably. As things progress it does become easier, but ultimately it took too long to draw me in.
There's some interesting ideas in the book though. Corporate corruption, causality, time and spa ...more
There's some interesting ideas in the book though. Corporate corruption, causality, time and spa ...more
Jan 03, 2021
Geoffrey Dow
added it
I don't even know what is happening to me anymore. In my heart is some perfect harmony, some sweetness where every interaction flows against the gradient, conning death, laughing at entropy, tricking decay out of its wages. It isn't an image, it's a feeling, a configuration of moments and so-called weak interactions, a fullness. Something wants to burst out of the ruination. Out of futility, out of crushed hope, out of that broken place where nothing can ever help. No superglue to repair this te...more
I don't get it.
What the hell did I just read? I mean, I'm all for weird, I quite like weird. But this was not the weird for me. I could have dealt with that. It wouldn't have been so bad.... except.... for all those frigging perspective changes. First to second to third and back again, only ever a few pages at a time in one perspective. Nup. Couldn't stand it.
But that's ok. If you're up for experimental stuff, give it ago. But only if you can get your friends to read it also. It's a book best ...more
What the hell did I just read? I mean, I'm all for weird, I quite like weird. But this was not the weird for me. I could have dealt with that. It wouldn't have been so bad.... except.... for all those frigging perspective changes. First to second to third and back again, only ever a few pages at a time in one perspective. Nup. Couldn't stand it.
But that's ok. If you're up for experimental stuff, give it ago. But only if you can get your friends to read it also. It's a book best ...more
I love how weird Tricia Sullivan is, and I love how many chances her books take. Some of them work, and some of them don't, but the result is always far past what I could have imagined on my own.
Things that I didn't get: unfortunately, the climax of the book was very muddy and could have used some more editing. That kind of let down the emotional resolution of the story and was supes frustrating.
Things I loved: multiple POVs, multiple queer and POC characters, that bit where Alison is trying to ...more
Things that I didn't get: unfortunately, the climax of the book was very muddy and could have used some more editing. That kind of let down the emotional resolution of the story and was supes frustrating.
Things I loved: multiple POVs, multiple queer and POC characters, that bit where Alison is trying to ...more
Apr 29, 2017
Stig Edvartsen
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sci-fi,
female-author
Loved the premise but the execution failed to grab me.
The book is hard to follow and the plotting seems a bit half-hearted. The Allison POV is well done, the Pearl ones confusing and the rest lack depth. At least that was my take-away.
Hum okay, I have to think about this one a bit but I'm not mad at it, I quite liked the ending and overall even if it didn't make sense, I oddly enjoyed the book.
...more
Ambitious idea, didn't grab me. It needs reading over a short space of time, and I wasn't in a position to give it that level of attention.
...more
One of those books that I'm sure I'd think is brilliant if I only knew what it was going on about.
...more
This is terribly written.
Dialogue is clunky and stilted.
Bad sci-fi is so much worse than mediocre examples of other genres. Half arsed ideas everywhere, and a very loosely held together 'story'.
Grand suggestions at narrative that go absolutely nowhere.
Do not bother with this trash. ...more
Dialogue is clunky and stilted.
Bad sci-fi is so much worse than mediocre examples of other genres. Half arsed ideas everywhere, and a very loosely held together 'story'.
Grand suggestions at narrative that go absolutely nowhere.
Do not bother with this trash. ...more
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Tricia Sullivan (born July 7, 1968 in New Jersey, U.S.) is a science fiction writer. She has also written fantasy under the pseudonym Valery Leith.
She moved to the United Kingdom in 1995. In 1999 she won the Arthur C. Clarke Award for her novel Dreaming in Smoke. Her novel Maul was also shortlisted for the same award in 2004.
Sullivan has studied music and karate. Her partner is the martial artist ...more
She moved to the United Kingdom in 1995. In 1999 she won the Arthur C. Clarke Award for her novel Dreaming in Smoke. Her novel Maul was also shortlisted for the same award in 2004.
Sullivan has studied music and karate. Her partner is the martial artist ...more
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“I went into isometrics training and looked at that. And she's pushing against the immovable. That has a lot of meaning for me. That you have to push against the immovable. You have to push. Even if you haven't got a prayer of moving it. Because even if you don't move it, you'll change yourself. You'll change something. Something will break open. That's where my heart is on that one.”
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