Top Read: Illuminae
The planet of Kerenza rests on the outskirts of the galaxy, far from the organized society labeled the “Core”. A mining colony, illegal, yet peaceful and rich with a thriving population. However, all that changes with the appearance of the company Beitech, their goal to eliminate the population and ultimately take over Kerenza. The illegal ores mined by Kerenza are in high demand, and Beitech has determined that in order to make a profit, they need a planet of their own to mine it. Fortunately, their plan goes terribly awry, and rather than eliminating all the witnesses, they are left with three ships, Alexander, Hypatia, and Copernicus, escaping Kerenza. The evacuation is organized and hastily down, resulting in families being split up and overall confusion as to whether someone you know is on the ship with you, or dead at Beitech’s hands. The escape ships head for Heimdall station, a wormhole that could lead them to the “core” and to freedom. In hot pursuit is the Beitech dreadnought, Lincoln, headed by enemies searching for blood. As they make their way through the galaxy they face multiple additional problems including; a mutating virus, unknowingly present among the citizens; and a rogue AI system, meant to protect them, but seemingly doing the opposite. What ensues is a hard-fought battle for life and freedom, intertwined with young romance and the realization that everything in your life can change with the drop of a hat.
In the novel Illuminae, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, characters Kady Grant and her former boyfriend, Ezra Mason, begin as fairly one-dimensional characters. The archetypal “scorned women” and “the ex”. However, as the book progresses, these characters slowly shed their hard exterior as readers learn to love them. Throughout the book, they heal old wounds and grow closer together in the face of impending destruction. Kady, as an expert hacker, uses her abilities to hack through the data and discover the truth. Ezra, on the other hand, uses his skills in the field, as a fighter pilot against Beitech’s fleets. These archetypal characters do break free of their molds and show multiple layers to their personalities, but it still gives a slightly cliche vibe.
However, although the characters may be cliche, the storytelling methods are anything but typical. Rather than a simple literary format, the book is presented through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more. The media demonstrated in the book create a fascinating and mesmerizing visual story that pairs perfectly with what you are reading. It is quite witty, and allows the reader, like a detective, to determine what actually happened through the evidence. For me, it was fairly easy to understand, however, I have heard that, for some people, the visuals made the story slightly too confusing to follow. The visuals are well made and convincing enough to look real, and in some places, can be quite emotional. Others have also said that the format used makes it impersonal, or unemotional because everything is coming from IM’s or Interviews. Again, however, I disagree. The format, though extrapersonal, was not impersonal. Currently, we represent so much of our personal selves online, through text messages, social media posts, or emails, that I think that it can be personal, because reading something that someone wrote privately can often be a huge reflection on who they are as a person.
FInally, a review of the book by Beth Revis, bestselling author of Across the Universe, states, “This is one of those rare books that will truly keep your heart pounding and the pages turning as you peel back the layers-and hope that the characters you love survive.” This statement could not be more true. The unique format, the beautiful design, and intense plot result in a book that you just can’t put down. Undeniably, the storyline is quite cliche; former lovers forced together through unthinkable circumstances, who fall back in love through the process. However, the ideas and storytelling techniques are so unique that the book is plainly enrapturing. This book is recommended to anyone who is a fan of Science Fiction(e.g. Star Trek, Ender’s Game), Dystopia(e.g. Maze Runner), or YA Romance(e.g. The Mortal Instruments, A Court of Thorns and Roses).
Synopsis:
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.
