Reviews

The Infinite Miles by Hannah Fergesen

dina_s's review

3.5

I really liked it. Would love to revisit it sometime with more focus than I had now 

kxleyb's review

adventurous emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

waitingforthesecondstar's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

I think the biggest mistake this book made was in its author note, which was at the front of the story, and reads, "My hope is that, in imagining an alternate version of our world, I have given you permission as an observer of an exotic dimension to imagine other differences too. To see yourself there, in spaces you perhaps have been denied entry to here." Reading that, I was expecting a more inclusive, expansive world in the book. However, what we actually got was essentially an exact replica, still instilled with racism, homophobia, sexism, and other prejudices and violence. So, I'm not entirely sure what other world we're supposed to be imagining.

This book was incredibly confusing, even for a time travel story, and I don't feel like it actually took us anywhere. Much like the characters themselves, the plot circled back around time and again, offering points in the present to resolve what was in the past. The concept was exciting and some of the scenes were well-written. Beyond that, this was not a pleasant experience.

bluebirdsongs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

chloeamcmahon's review

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

katie_the_killa's review

adventurous tense medium-paced

3.5

rpych2's review against another edition

3.0

Time travel stories are definitely one of my favorite sub-genres, and I’m a huge Doctor Who fan. But with that being said, it’s basically an episode of Doctor Who fan-fiction, though that’s not necessarily bad. The story was a lot of fun for the most part, but I do think that the main characters were a bit gloomy for a lot of the story. And unfortunately, the ending didn’t resolve what I think was the main plot point of the story, which was Harper and Peggy’s friendship.

But I did think the story of Harper traveling with Miles to try and stop a hive mind who’s infected her friend was really interesting. And I liked the 1971 storylines and how they connected to the present and the rest of the story.

Not a bad story by any means, and I did like it. I unfortunately just didn’t love it.

hazelfizz's review

4.0

So I do in fact read a fair amount of fluff and/or garbage so you know I had mediocre expectations going in. "What if Ziggy Stardust was the Doctor though"?! C'mon.

But this was surprisingly good: well shaped, and nobody complained about the circular Ashbless of a couple things. There was character development (haha) and all.

But. There is a strange thing near the end that I didn't understand diagetically. Structure wise for the thematic growth of folks, sure. In context of the overwrought preface. Sure.

brightbeautifulthings's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Three years ago, Harper’s best friend, Peggy, went missing. Peggy had been acting strangely before that, more distant and secretive, culminating in the worst fight they’d ever had. Now, Harper can’t seem to move on, having quit school to work in a diner and watch re-runs of Infinite Odyssey. Then, on the anniversary of her disappearance, Peggy suddenly returns and demands that Harper take her to the Argonaut, the time and space traveling star of their favorite show. When the Argonaut himself shows up and strands Harper in 1971, she realizes that Infinite Odyssey may be more reality than fiction, and she’s going to need all her knowledge of it to defeat The Incarnate, an insidious alien parasite that has Peggy in its thrall and intends to spread throughout the universe. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Blackstone Publishing. Trigger warnings: death, sexism (countered), severe injury, violence, brainwashing, self-loathing.

My freaking heart. I requested this despite not being much of a sci-fi person (or much of a Doctor Who fan) because I couldn’t resist the words “queer space fantasy,” and I’m so glad I did. It was everything I was hoping for and more, and I found myself sinking right away into this slightly alternate Earth where we have Miles Moonraker instead of David Bowie and Infinite Odyssey instead of Doctor Who. There’s a little bit of several beloved science fiction fandoms included here, from Doctor Who and Back to the Future (1985) to Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), and The Infinite Miles feels like a love letter to all of them.

The mechanics of time/space travel and paradoxes aren’t so complicated as to put off the casual sci-fi reader (re: me), and I never felt bogged down in the details of Fergesen’s world-building. She gives us just enough to make us feel at home in her slightly alternate Earth and to make the story plausible when it’s needed. On the whole, I’d say it’s more of a character novel, and I loved the relationships between Harper, Peggy, Miles, and of course Argo, the starship with a soul and a mind of her own (who, incidentally, is my favorite character). Harper and Peggy’s childhood friendship and their shared love for Infinite Odyssey is the heart of the novel, the need to save her the thing that drives all of Harper’s actions. It emphasizes how fandoms help to create bonds and even, to some extent, shape reality.

The Incarnate is a formidable villain, more sentient and relatable than the Blob or Pod People but with a similar drive to feed and a lack of empathy. I like the direction Fergesen takes for a solution to what, at times, looks like an insurmountable problem. There are also healthy doses of queer representation, critiques of 1970s sexism, and lessons in self-love. The ending made me cry but in a cathartic way, and while there are some bittersweet overtones, it ultimately felt right. I’ll be looking for a copy for my shelf for future rereads (and look at that cover! 😍).

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

ryn_k's review

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5