Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

Author: Nicholas Binge
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Released: April 25, 2023
Received: Own (Aardvark)

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Book Summary:

People took notice when an enormous mountain appeared in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Granted – not everyone took notice. The governments of the world worked pretty hard to keep the news quiet. But the higher-ups of the world noticed, and they sent scientists to explore.

Harold Tunmore is one such scientist. He’s climbing to the top of the mountain alongside some of the world’s greatest minds. But even the luckiest of them will find their lives permanently changed. Most would argue that it wasn’t for the better.

My Review:

Uh. Wow. If there’s one thing I can say about Ascension, it will make you think. It certainly lives up to that speculative science fiction promise! In truth, I struggled to stay connected to this book, even while being curious about the premise.

On the surface, this book sounds fantastic. A sudden appearance of a large feature on the planet? Mountain climbing? Potential aliens? Scientists doing all the things? Yes, please. I think it just tried to do too much at once. It sometimes felt disjointed, and some of that was intentional. But it made it even harder to stay invested in the story.

I found myself the most emotionally invested when the book delved into Harold’s past. Yeah, the past – not the present mystery. Go figure, right? Speaking of, this entire novel is technically told through letters written by Harold. It helps to explain some of the disjointed nature of the story and gives the author a creative way to play with the narrative.

For the most part, I think that part probably worked out. I just wish the characters could have felt a bit more human in the process, you know? I won’t delve into this book’s big bad or major reveal. I think everyone will have strong opinions about it, one way or the other.

Highlights:

• Speculative Science Fiction
• Thriller Elements
• Mountain Climbing Shenanigans
• Time Dilations

Trigger Warnings:

• Suicide
• Murder
• Graphic Injuries
• Mental Health

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