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The Anomaly Quartet #3
The Edge
Sharp, gripping, and disturbing, The Edge is the third book in The Anomaly Quartet.
Years ago, a vast and mysterious object known as the Anomaly was discovered in deep space. All missions to explore and explain it have failed. Now, as it draws close to Earth, threatening to swallow up the planet, a team of scientists desperately seek a way to destroy it or arrest its progress.
Years ago, a vast and mysterious object known as the Anomaly was discovered in deep space. All missions to explore and explain it have failed. Now, as it draws close to Earth, threatening to swallow up the planet, a team of scientists desperately seek a way to destroy it or arrest its progress.
- GenresScience Fiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 18, 2021
8 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 7, 2023
I've been looking forward to the third book in James Smythe's Anomaly Quartet since I read The Explorer and The Echo back in 2014. In The Edge, the Anomaly is up to its usual creepy tricks; it's moved much closer to the Earth and our protagonist and first-person narrator, Ali, is part of a team who've been sent up in space to monitor the Anomaly's progress and to try to find out more about it. Heading up the team is an ancient Tomas, the surviving twin brother from The Echo, who, it soon becomes clear, has his own questions to answer. But as strange things start to happen on the space station, Ali starts to wonder if she can trust anybody other than herself.
Smythe is brilliant at thinking logically through the consequences of a concept, and expanding his stories as his characters discover these consequences. The relatively simple time-loop story told in The Explorer became much more complex in The Echo, and The Edge builds further on what we already know about the Anomaly, further enhancing the terror of the threat it poses. However, despite the fact that the central story of this quartet advances in satisfying ways in this installment, I found it disappointing as a stand-alone read. Ali is in many ways more grounded than our two previous narrators, and more obviously relatable; perhaps this is why her paranoia feels more like the familiar gaslighting of a psychological thriller rather than the truly skewed stories told by Cormac and Mira. The originality of the first two novels was a little lacking here, and I found myself getting tired of Ali's self-questioning, and of the backstory with her husband, which drew on too many usual tropes. However, it may be that this all seems a lot fresher to SF readers who haven't read as many psychological thrillers as I have, and it is an interesting kind of genre-cross, which I always appreciate.
Despite my relative ambivalence about The Edge, I'm still very excited to read the final book in the Anomaly Quartet, and to find out how Smythe pulls together all the questions he's posed over the course of this series, though I suspect the final meaning of the Anomaly may be more metaphorical than scientific. 3. 5 stars.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
Smythe is brilliant at thinking logically through the consequences of a concept, and expanding his stories as his characters discover these consequences. The relatively simple time-loop story told in The Explorer became much more complex in The Echo, and The Edge builds further on what we already know about the Anomaly, further enhancing the terror of the threat it poses. However, despite the fact that the central story of this quartet advances in satisfying ways in this installment, I found it disappointing as a stand-alone read. Ali is in many ways more grounded than our two previous narrators, and more obviously relatable; perhaps this is why her paranoia feels more like the familiar gaslighting of a psychological thriller rather than the truly skewed stories told by Cormac and Mira. The originality of the first two novels was a little lacking here, and I found myself getting tired of Ali's self-questioning, and of the backstory with her husband, which drew on too many usual tropes. However, it may be that this all seems a lot fresher to SF readers who haven't read as many psychological thrillers as I have, and it is an interesting kind of genre-cross, which I always appreciate.
Despite my relative ambivalence about The Edge, I'm still very excited to read the final book in the Anomaly Quartet, and to find out how Smythe pulls together all the questions he's posed over the course of this series, though I suspect the final meaning of the Anomaly may be more metaphorical than scientific. 3. 5 stars.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
February 23, 2021
30 years after Mira tried to make sense of the Anomaly, his ancient twin hovers at its edge with a hand picked crew on a research station. Narrator Ali Becker, brilliant engineer, is rather more likeable than previous narrators but very fragile. Survivor of a disastrous marriage, she’s been lied to and manipulated for years; pushed into doubting herself and questioning her reality. When she starts experiencing inexplicable things in space, it would be much too easy to believe that the fault lies with her. But Ali is no longer someone who accepts such things without question or pushback - whatever the cost.
Less psychological space horror, more psychological thriller in space - it’s a subtle distinction, but it results in a different tone for the Anomaly’s third outing. I enjoyed the change up; it’s a solid cross-genre twist that lets Smythe continue to explore and mirror his core themes from a new angle.
Full review
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Less psychological space horror, more psychological thriller in space - it’s a subtle distinction, but it results in a different tone for the Anomaly’s third outing. I enjoyed the change up; it’s a solid cross-genre twist that lets Smythe continue to explore and mirror his core themes from a new angle.
Full review
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2021
It’s been a while since we were last in the universe of the Anomaly, and it’s moved a lot closer to Earth. I needn’t have worried that I didn’t remember the specifics of earlier books, at least I knew what the Anomaly was and how that might be affecting Ali’s perspective. As you can expect from James’ books, you can’t take everything at face value, however I felt I knew enough of the world-building to try and piece together the mystery. Even then, there were things I didn’t guess.
Quite early on there are hints that’s Ali was a victim of gaslighting by her ex, so there is this tension that her crewmates might also be gaslighting her, or is she doubting herself, was there really something wrong with her back on Earth? But there are also the effects of the Anomaly to consider, and the final nail in the coffin of doubt is the presence of a Machine on board.
If you have not read The Machine, can I just stop you here and tell you to go read it. It is one of my favourite under-rated books and I wish it got more attention. Anyway I love that it crops up in some of his other books, making them set in the same universe if not related in story. It is a machine designed to treat PTSD that turned out not to be as great a solution as they’d hoped. It can store memories, and take them away, in an attempt to restore a broken mind.
The Edge is mind-bending as always. I do recommend reading the other books first, even though it works as a standalone, you would have a much better grounding in what it does and maybe not feel like what happens is too far-fetched. The groundwork has been laid. Again and again, James makes you wonder what makes you, you.
First posted at Curiosity Killed the Bookworm.
Quite early on there are hints that’s Ali was a victim of gaslighting by her ex, so there is this tension that her crewmates might also be gaslighting her, or is she doubting herself, was there really something wrong with her back on Earth? But there are also the effects of the Anomaly to consider, and the final nail in the coffin of doubt is the presence of a Machine on board.
If you have not read The Machine, can I just stop you here and tell you to go read it. It is one of my favourite under-rated books and I wish it got more attention. Anyway I love that it crops up in some of his other books, making them set in the same universe if not related in story. It is a machine designed to treat PTSD that turned out not to be as great a solution as they’d hoped. It can store memories, and take them away, in an attempt to restore a broken mind.
The Edge is mind-bending as always. I do recommend reading the other books first, even though it works as a standalone, you would have a much better grounding in what it does and maybe not feel like what happens is too far-fetched. The groundwork has been laid. Again and again, James makes you wonder what makes you, you.
First posted at Curiosity Killed the Bookworm.
March 23, 2021
Having loved the first two books in this series, I had such high hopes for this one. Unfortunately it was lacklustre and the side story just felt like unnecessary padding, with too much of it. Sadly, as excited as I was about this series, after this book I won’t be bothering to read the fourth instalment.
December 20, 2022
Having enjoyed the first two books in the Anomaly Quartet, I was excited to continue with book three - The Edge. Unfortunately this one just didn't hit the mark for me.
This is the story of Ali, an engineer who sets out with a team of scientists and specialists to investigate the mysterious and possibly deadly 'Anomaly', a large black entity discovered in proximity to Earth.
For a book written in recent years, the main female character felt so paint-by-numbers. An unreliable woman, possible mental illness, and a personality entirely based around being a mother. It begs the question, why did she go into space to begin with? We never hear her motivation, just her desire to go home to her son. Let's also take a minute to appreciate that she's an engineer because her father was, because there can be no other reason to get into STEM in sci-fi except daddy issues. (The same backstory is given to a female character in book two of the series, it's contagious).
Considering the world building has had two other books to develop and mature, this one had a number of plot holes. The author seemingly changed the rules around what the Anomaly does and how it works on a whim, which makes for incredibly jarring reading. It has a sense of the physics of the situation adapting for the convenience for the plot, and it just didn't gel with me.
Overall, it was fine and the story was mostly enjoyable, just not what I expected for the next instalment of the series. I'm still looking forward to seeing how the series wraps up in book four.
This is the story of Ali, an engineer who sets out with a team of scientists and specialists to investigate the mysterious and possibly deadly 'Anomaly', a large black entity discovered in proximity to Earth.
For a book written in recent years, the main female character felt so paint-by-numbers. An unreliable woman, possible mental illness, and a personality entirely based around being a mother. It begs the question, why did she go into space to begin with? We never hear her motivation, just her desire to go home to her son. Let's also take a minute to appreciate that she's an engineer because her father was, because there can be no other reason to get into STEM in sci-fi except daddy issues. (The same backstory is given to a female character in book two of the series, it's contagious).
Considering the world building has had two other books to develop and mature, this one had a number of plot holes. The author seemingly changed the rules around what the Anomaly does and how it works on a whim, which makes for incredibly jarring reading. It has a sense of the physics of the situation adapting for the convenience for the plot, and it just didn't gel with me.
Overall, it was fine and the story was mostly enjoyable, just not what I expected for the next instalment of the series. I'm still looking forward to seeing how the series wraps up in book four.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2022
Solaris, but bad.
I think the author was trying to portray a ship full of paranoid people whose individual neuroses were exacerbated by the unpredictability of a space-time anomaly. But it doesn't come across very well in practice. The crew members seem more incompetent than manipulative. I get that the point was to show our narrator unraveling and the whole mission going wrong, but it didn't work for me.
I think the author was trying to portray a ship full of paranoid people whose individual neuroses were exacerbated by the unpredictability of a space-time anomaly. But it doesn't come across very well in practice. The crew members seem more incompetent than manipulative. I get that the point was to show our narrator unraveling and the whole mission going wrong, but it didn't work for me.
August 5, 2022
Originally posted on josbookblog.co.uk.
I’m a huge fan of this series which started with The Explorer and continued with The Echo. One element that I’ve really enjoyed so far is that each one has a different cast of characters and a slightly different vibe to it, all united by the as yet unexplained Anomaly. Each one builds upon the last – I know a little more now than I did at the end of the last novel – and so I do recommend reading these novels in order and from the beginning. I’m not sure you’d get as much out of them by starting part way through the series.
The Edge sees the Anomaly much closer to Earth than in the first two novels, and something that’s now in the knowledge of the general population, rather than just the scientists and astronauts who’ve made a study of it. Of course, this has led to a new religious fervour in some individuals on Earth – some from a sense of wonder, others from a feeling of existential dread and a fear of the unknown, others because they can profit from it. I enjoyed seeing the perspective of those on Earth, albeit a step removed. It’s something that wasn’t present in the first two novels and adds a little something extra, and the religious aspect provides an interesting counterpoint to the scientific nature of these novels. I think it also allows the reader to consider how they might react in such a situation. I can’t imagine ever taking part in a space mission (I’m sure Cormac Easton felt similarly at one point) but I can imagine the sense of impending doom that something like the Anomaly might evoke.
On an orbital research station, a handful of scientists are desperately trying to understand the Anomaly – what it is, and what harm it might do should it come closer to and / or envelope Earth. This project is led by none other than Tomas Hyvönen, who we did meet, briefly, in The Echo. The main protagonist, however, is Ali. An engineer, she wants nothing more than to return home to her young son, Theo. While I don’t want to go into the plot in too much detail, events aboard the research station become increasingly odd, and Ali is witness to events that the others categorically deny. There’s clearly something not quite right, but that's par for the course with this series, and when the answers came, it wasn't at all what I was expecting.
As with previous instalments, we see Ali’s background and the events that led to her current situation. This includes her relationship with Xavier – a difficult relationship that took its toll in many ways. Xavier seems to be a deeply unpleasant individual from Ali’s perspective, and while I had my suspicions as to what was going on, it’s not confirmed until later in the novel. I think that this history – combined with the events on board the research station – works well to cast a hint of doubt on Ali’s narration. She’s clearly under a lot of strain , and while I wanted to believe Ali and her version of events, I wasn't wholly convinced that I should. It’s a tense psychological element that works brilliantly.
Being a James Smythe novel, nothing is quite as straightforward or as obvious as it seems, and The Edge is another weird, wonderful, and brilliantly dark instalment in this fantastic sci fi / horror series. Three books into the quartet, there are plenty of unanswered questions, but also some hints of where the story may go next in the final instalment, and I cannot wait.
I’m a huge fan of this series which started with The Explorer and continued with The Echo. One element that I’ve really enjoyed so far is that each one has a different cast of characters and a slightly different vibe to it, all united by the as yet unexplained Anomaly. Each one builds upon the last – I know a little more now than I did at the end of the last novel – and so I do recommend reading these novels in order and from the beginning. I’m not sure you’d get as much out of them by starting part way through the series.
The Edge sees the Anomaly much closer to Earth than in the first two novels, and something that’s now in the knowledge of the general population, rather than just the scientists and astronauts who’ve made a study of it. Of course, this has led to a new religious fervour in some individuals on Earth – some from a sense of wonder, others from a feeling of existential dread and a fear of the unknown, others because they can profit from it. I enjoyed seeing the perspective of those on Earth, albeit a step removed. It’s something that wasn’t present in the first two novels and adds a little something extra, and the religious aspect provides an interesting counterpoint to the scientific nature of these novels. I think it also allows the reader to consider how they might react in such a situation. I can’t imagine ever taking part in a space mission (I’m sure Cormac Easton felt similarly at one point) but I can imagine the sense of impending doom that something like the Anomaly might evoke.
On an orbital research station, a handful of scientists are desperately trying to understand the Anomaly – what it is, and what harm it might do should it come closer to and / or envelope Earth. This project is led by none other than Tomas Hyvönen, who we did meet, briefly, in The Echo. The main protagonist, however, is Ali. An engineer, she wants nothing more than to return home to her young son, Theo. While I don’t want to go into the plot in too much detail, events aboard the research station become increasingly odd, and Ali is witness to events that the others categorically deny. There’s clearly something not quite right, but that's par for the course with this series, and when the answers came, it wasn't at all what I was expecting.
As with previous instalments, we see Ali’s background and the events that led to her current situation. This includes her relationship with Xavier – a difficult relationship that took its toll in many ways. Xavier seems to be a deeply unpleasant individual from Ali’s perspective, and while I had my suspicions as to what was going on, it’s not confirmed until later in the novel. I think that this history – combined with the events on board the research station – works well to cast a hint of doubt on Ali’s narration. She’s clearly under a lot of strain , and while I wanted to believe Ali and her version of events, I wasn't wholly convinced that I should. It’s a tense psychological element that works brilliantly.
Being a James Smythe novel, nothing is quite as straightforward or as obvious as it seems, and The Edge is another weird, wonderful, and brilliantly dark instalment in this fantastic sci fi / horror series. Three books into the quartet, there are plenty of unanswered questions, but also some hints of where the story may go next in the final instalment, and I cannot wait.
April 8, 2025
I read the first two books in The Anomaly Quartet in around 2014, not realising it would be another 7/8 years before the third and fourth would materialise. Which is to say that my memory of the first two books – while fond – is also a bit hazy, which didn’t help with some aspects of The Edge.
Set on a space station orbiting Earth, The Edge follows Ali, who has just lost a close friend to a tragic accident, and wants nothing more than to return home to terra firma and be reunited with her increasingly estranged young son. But as the mysterious anomaly – a void in space that locks anyone that enters it into an inescapable time-loop that renders death both impossible and endless - creeps ever closer across the void, their study of it may prove crucial to all those back on Earth, as an entire planet relies on them to find an answer to the existential nightmare that approaches.
I actually found this something of a struggle through the first half, as I wasn’t overly enamoured with our protagonist (with one exception, the supporting cast never really grabbed me either), and Smythe spends a lot of time making it clear that ~something fishy is going on. I don’t mind a bit of mystery, but for me, it was more frustrating than engaging, and it took a long time before we got to the heart of the matter. However, once we get enmeshed in anomaly shenanigans again, and we’re firmly back in the realms of intellectual, philosophical sci-fi, things pick up. There are also interesting tidbits about life on Earth and how it's responding to the anomoly's encroachment that I hope we get to explore more of in book 4.
It may have played better without the gap, as to be honest I struggled to remember certain key characters and events, but I think on the whole this was just more of a mixed bag than the first two. Still, I do love the premise of this series, and am intrigued to see what Smythe has up his sleeve for the finale.
Set on a space station orbiting Earth, The Edge follows Ali, who has just lost a close friend to a tragic accident, and wants nothing more than to return home to terra firma and be reunited with her increasingly estranged young son. But as the mysterious anomaly – a void in space that locks anyone that enters it into an inescapable time-loop that renders death both impossible and endless - creeps ever closer across the void, their study of it may prove crucial to all those back on Earth, as an entire planet relies on them to find an answer to the existential nightmare that approaches.
I actually found this something of a struggle through the first half, as I wasn’t overly enamoured with our protagonist (with one exception, the supporting cast never really grabbed me either), and Smythe spends a lot of time making it clear that ~something fishy is going on. I don’t mind a bit of mystery, but for me, it was more frustrating than engaging, and it took a long time before we got to the heart of the matter. However, once we get enmeshed in anomaly shenanigans again, and we’re firmly back in the realms of intellectual, philosophical sci-fi, things pick up. There are also interesting tidbits about life on Earth and how it's responding to the anomoly's encroachment that I hope we get to explore more of in book 4.
It may have played better without the gap, as to be honest I struggled to remember certain key characters and events, but I think on the whole this was just more of a mixed bag than the first two. Still, I do love the premise of this series, and am intrigued to see what Smythe has up his sleeve for the finale.
March 29, 2021
I was so pleased to hear that the Anomaly Quartet was resuming several years after the publication of the first two books in this science fiction horror series. Appropriately, years have passed in the story, too, and the Anomaly is far too close to Earth. Characters from the past come together with Ali to investigate the Anomaly's presence and meaning while the inhabitants of Earth look on, worried, including Ali's husband. The Anomaly continues to exert its malign influence and Ali is deeply affected. Her troubled life at home and in space merge as we find ourselves deeper and deeper in Ali's mind. These are bleak books but there's a beauty in their telling. James Smythe writes so well. But I did find The Edge challenging, partly, I think, because I'm not as resilient now as I was when the first books came out and there are places I just don't want to go. I listened to the audiobook, which was well narrated, intensifying the novel's mood.
August 15, 2022
When Joey in Friends found The Shining too scary he put it in the freezer. I started reading this book in March of 2021 and by April found it so claustrophobic and troubling that I had to put it down for over a year. On a shelf, not a freezer, but the same principle. Yesterday I picked it up again - a different year, a different headspace - and still found it claustrophobic and troubling, but in all the best ways. I read the whole book in under 24 hours - no freezer this time, just an eager desire to finish this fantastic quartet and read the fourth and final book The Ends, which is already waiting for me in the freezer (or sitting on my shelf).
March 23, 2021
The third book in James Smythe’s Anomaly Series didn’t disappoint this long time reader. James Smythe is a drop every other book writer for me and each novel is original glimpse into strangeness.
I would recommend this series to anyone who loves Science Fiction but would advise that the other two books are read first to get the complete story. I can’t wait until the final book to see where all this ends, please don’t make us wait too long Mr Smythe!!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy.
I would recommend this series to anyone who loves Science Fiction but would advise that the other two books are read first to get the complete story. I can’t wait until the final book to see where all this ends, please don’t make us wait too long Mr Smythe!!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy.
May 2, 2021
James Smythe always achieves his goals. His books always seem to be so bleak & dystopian that it’s almost a relief to finish them.
This book sticks to type, with the beginning section being bright and new, intriguing to the reader with its shiny new possibilities. One you get halfway though, the bleakness and that damn memory machine appear again, bringing all that sadness and decay into the book and setting the tone from there.
The Anomaly returns & it’s an macabre joy to read about it again.
This book sticks to type, with the beginning section being bright and new, intriguing to the reader with its shiny new possibilities. One you get halfway though, the bleakness and that damn memory machine appear again, bringing all that sadness and decay into the book and setting the tone from there.
The Anomaly returns & it’s an macabre joy to read about it again.
February 9, 2023
This one is a hodge podge compared to the first
two books. A very confusing climax that I thought
did not need to be that muddled. I am not sure I
will read Book #4 because I note it seems to be
a continuation from Book #3. However, I am
most interested in the premise of this Anomaly
that is slowly creeping toward Earth to swallow
it up.
two books. A very confusing climax that I thought
did not need to be that muddled. I am not sure I
will read Book #4 because I note it seems to be
a continuation from Book #3. However, I am
most interested in the premise of this Anomaly
that is slowly creeping toward Earth to swallow
it up.
January 17, 2024
3.65 stars rounded up to 4. It’s been a minute since reading the first two books in this quartet, but while I still remember details about those two, I don’t think I will with this one. It’s was good, not great, not bad.
September 7, 2021
Amazing read - I was consistently stressed. This book may gaslight you too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2023
LOVED it, my fave out of the series so far.
April 12, 2024
so. many. commas.
April 2, 2025
Keeps the level of the second one, although at the end it gets a little bit obvious.
June 24, 2025
A good one, in tune with the previous two books in the series, keeping the same atmosphere and feeling, urging the reader to keep going and see it through.
Let's see the final...
Let's see the final...
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews