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theshaggyshepherd's review against another edition
5.0
The Last Gifts of the Universe // by Rory August
Update:
I reread this less than 4 months later already! It still is one of my favorite reads of 2022 so far. I decided to finish out the Indie Accords and Ready Player Read Bingo with this one. After a super busy reading month, it was a comfort to come back to it to slow down my mind.
I’m still blown away that August managed to give so much background story to not only the main character but also another character in such a short book. My biggest struggle with novellas is usually that I don’t trust characters enough after such a short time together but that is not an issue here at all. The characters are believable and lovable, especially PUNKIN.
1st Read:
I picked this book up on a whim because I saw the author post about its pub day, I really liked the cover, and it’s short enough to where I could squeeze it in before my next read. And I’m so glad I did. I loved this book and read almost the entire thing in one day. I actually fell asleep reading it because I stayed up so late and didn’t want to stop. That hasn’t happened in a long time.
I love the narrator and how she muses about things in her life, how we get to see her emotional reactions, the way she handles stress, and her passion for what she does. I also absolutely adore Pumpkin. Oh my god. Who would’ve thought that a space-adventuring cat could be so lovable and fascinating to follow? I think that August did a great job at showcasing each character and their reactions in these scenes. Despite the limited amount of time we get to spend with each of them they don’t seem one-dimensional at all.
I don’t know if there will be more books set in this universe but I sure hope so. I know for a fact that I’ll pick up August’s future books without hesitation next time!
I don’t do comparisons like this often but I think if you liked Project Hail Mary, you’ll really like this one as well.
Update:
I reread this less than 4 months later already! It still is one of my favorite reads of 2022 so far. I decided to finish out the Indie Accords and Ready Player Read Bingo with this one. After a super busy reading month, it was a comfort to come back to it to slow down my mind.
I’m still blown away that August managed to give so much background story to not only the main character but also another character in such a short book. My biggest struggle with novellas is usually that I don’t trust characters enough after such a short time together but that is not an issue here at all. The characters are believable and lovable, especially PUNKIN.
1st Read:
I picked this book up on a whim because I saw the author post about its pub day, I really liked the cover, and it’s short enough to where I could squeeze it in before my next read. And I’m so glad I did. I loved this book and read almost the entire thing in one day. I actually fell asleep reading it because I stayed up so late and didn’t want to stop. That hasn’t happened in a long time.
I love the narrator and how she muses about things in her life, how we get to see her emotional reactions, the way she handles stress, and her passion for what she does. I also absolutely adore Pumpkin. Oh my god. Who would’ve thought that a space-adventuring cat could be so lovable and fascinating to follow? I think that August did a great job at showcasing each character and their reactions in these scenes. Despite the limited amount of time we get to spend with each of them they don’t seem one-dimensional at all.
I don’t know if there will be more books set in this universe but I sure hope so. I know for a fact that I’ll pick up August’s future books without hesitation next time!
I don’t do comparisons like this often but I think if you liked Project Hail Mary, you’ll really like this one as well.
ashish_ras's review against another edition
4.0
Sci-fi with a bit of lit fic
A story that dips its toes into Lit fic between bursts of well-written sci-fi action while the MC deals with death, loss, and grief. And the cat is a real-life saver.
A story that dips its toes into Lit fic between bursts of well-written sci-fi action while the MC deals with death, loss, and grief. And the cat is a real-life saver.
pbandsam's review against another edition
4.0
I started "The last gifts of the Universe" for a challenge, but I quickly continued for the story itself. I found myself immediately intrigued, which is a big deal because this is also my first sci-fi book I've read.
I think what really hooked me though was Pumpkin. Adorable space kitty? Yes please.
This story is about Scout, a space archeologist, on a mission to find out what killed hundreds of other worlds across the galaxy, and hopefully stop it from happening again. But it is also about family and friendship, and love, and loss.
This story was truly so well written, I found the writing style so immersive, at times I felt like I had just watched a scene, rather than read it.
I almost can't believe this is a debut author, as this feels like a seasoned author kind of book.
Truly well done. Thank you for making my first sci-fi fi book an enjoyable experience.
I think what really hooked me though was Pumpkin. Adorable space kitty? Yes please.
This story is about Scout, a space archeologist, on a mission to find out what killed hundreds of other worlds across the galaxy, and hopefully stop it from happening again. But it is also about family and friendship, and love, and loss.
This story was truly so well written, I found the writing style so immersive, at times I felt like I had just watched a scene, rather than read it.
I almost can't believe this is a debut author, as this feels like a seasoned author kind of book.
Truly well done. Thank you for making my first sci-fi fi book an enjoyable experience.
thewulverslibrary's review against another edition
3.0
The Last Gifts of the Universe by Rory August is the story of the Home worlds and their technological achievement that led them to the stars. There, they found a graveyard of dead civilisations and ruins of unknown origin. Home knows that they are the last civilisation of the universe and whatever came for the others will come for them next. Archivist Scout is tasked with scouring these dead worlds for technology - anything that might be useful to survival. During an excavation, Scout unearths something unbelievable: a message from a alien who witnessed everything thousands of years ago.
This is a fun, humorous story that August has written and they have crafted a space adventure like no other. There is heartbreak and sorry but also moments of hope and pulsating euphoria. This was an enjoyable piece of science fiction that was noticeably endearing and uplifting. There is a relatable fear of being the only humans in the cosmos and August has definitely brought out the goods to showcase this.
The story itself was easy to read and the prose was fantastic. As an author, August has brought out their strong points with humour and character. My only issue was that I felt this was a repeated trope that became predictable the more we went on.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a fun, humorous story that August has written and they have crafted a space adventure like no other. There is heartbreak and sorry but also moments of hope and pulsating euphoria. This was an enjoyable piece of science fiction that was noticeably endearing and uplifting. There is a relatable fear of being the only humans in the cosmos and August has definitely brought out the goods to showcase this.
The story itself was easy to read and the prose was fantastic. As an author, August has brought out their strong points with humour and character. My only issue was that I felt this was a repeated trope that became predictable the more we went on.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
zoeelizabethk's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Last Gifts of the Universe was at times sweet, reflective, tense, and mysterious as we follow two brothers and their cat as they investigate what has happened to their world. There's a secondary story going on that I really loved and was invested in. Ultimately I wasn't as invested in the main story and would have preferred the second story to be a larger part. I do recommend The Last Gifts if you're looking for a short sci-fi that explores the meaning of life and what it means to be human.
queenmackenzie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
This was on my radar because it won last year’s SPSFC and I can’t resist a mystery in space, so it being SciFi Month I thought I’d pick it up. It was a lovely story, written really well with a lovely little cast of characters. It’s told from the point of view of Scout, an Archivist who travels through space with their tech expert brother Kieran and their cat Pumpkin in search of the remnants of dead civilisations. Though they have never found much before, at the start of the story they stumble upon a message from Blyreena, the leader of the Stelhari race, who claims to have knowledge of the being that is snuffing out planets across the stars. Before Scout can secure the information, however, two Verity Co. employees show up and steal it. Their company does the same thing the Archivists do, but it privatises the information and charges a fortune for it, even when it could save lives. However, Scout and Kieran had succeeded in downloading enough information to know where the next cache was saved, and thus begins a race for information from dead planet to dead planet.
I would label The Last Gifts of the Universe as cosy sci-fi, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack an emotional punch. As Scout uncovers more of Blyreena’s story we get to witness her life and love story, and see her take her last stand against the end of all she knows. At the same time, Scout is dealing with the grief of losing their mother, and the frustration towards Kieran and the Verity Co. people, who don’t seem to care that they might be able to save their people with Blyreena’s information. There isn’t a lot of action, other than the scouting missions on the planets’ surfaces, which include a few encounters with the very creepy Remnants. Mostly, this story is one of reflections and journeying, a bit like Becky Chambers’ books. We get Scouts reflections on their life, and Blyreena’s on hers, and the parallels made for some emotional moments.
The one thing I struggled with while reading this book was the fact that the Stelhari civilisation and culture was basically the same as human society, with university, careers, rent, restaurants, etc. It was basically humanity with slightly different anatomy. I also struggled to believe that Scout was the only one who really cared about finding the information left behind by the Stelhari – neither their brother nor the Verity Co. team seemed that concerned about having stumbled onto the reason for so many alien races having died, with their own people potentially next. But other than that it was a really lovely story, with some really lovely prose, and how could I say no to a space cat called Pumpkin?
llmacrae's review against another edition
5.0
Holy shit.
When I saw this book was released earlier this year, I was happy for another indie author to be published. Shared links where I could. But otherwise, I paid it very little attention.
After all, it was sci-fi.
And I like fantasy.
Give me dragons please and thank you. That’s my jam.
But after trying the superb Iron Truth, and having already bought The Last Gifts of The Universe to support a fellow author, I opened it one evening on a whim and started reading. “Unputdownable” is a word that’s often bandied around, but I’ve never meant it as much as I do with this book.
I’m deciding I rather like sci-fi. And I rather like finding new jams.
With that out of the way: My goodness me, I LOVE this book!
I love everything about this book. It is SO well-written, with an incredibly strong voice that grabbed me from the very first page. Brilliant characters, world-building, plot, pacing, mystery and intrigue. But the thing it does even better than all of those already brilliant things?
EMOTION.
Joy. Sadness. Fear. Anger. Frustration. Every single emotion was dialled up to eleven and I felt so many feelings reading this. All of the feelings. I cried literal tears and my other half was worried something terrible had happened to me and asked what was wrong.
I became legitimately upset when I had to sleep because I had to stop reading this. Legitimately upset when I realised there was no more left to read.
It’s just brilliant on all fronts.
Two siblings (and their cat!) are on a sort of archeological study, moving across space and visiting long-dead planets. Mostly they're retrieving and cataloguing data, technology, anything useful they can find. Our principle cast is: Scout (POV). Kieran (Scout’s brother). Pumpkin (Their cat).
The book takes you on a journey spanning the stars and the ages (and my god, Ovlan), and shines a light on all those deeply personal, emotional stories we have. How we’re connected (despite our differences). It's about life. Fear. Dreams. Hopes. Love.
People trying to do their best (I love that). People messing up. Consequences. Trust. Final words. All of it.
It sounds cheesy when I write it like that, but the book shows the right amount of reverence, humour, nihilism, that it all feels so meaningful. The humour lands. The tension feels real. The relief is palpable.
The Remnants, in particular, are terrifying.
Oh, and Pumpkin is the MVP!
For such a short book, it packs one incredible punch.
Although this comes across as an overall light-hearted read - and it is for the most part - the emotions are so strong, the descriptions vivid, and the feelings extremely real, that it kind of transcends that. It becomes something so much more, so meaningful. How it touches on grief and loss is so magical it might as well be fantasy.
I don’t know what precise flavour of jam - I mean sci-fi - this is. Cosy? Mystery? Whatever it is, I'm here for it, and I would love more.
I know I’m rambling and I apologise. This is a deeply emotional book that I loved from the first word until the last, and so my review is equally gushing and emotional and raw and a bit all over the place.
I highlighted a number of passages that resonated with me - either for how well they were written, the humour, the human connection, how meaningful it felt, or just because I rather liked it. Here are some of my favourites:
“You float in space, okay? You fall on planets.”
“We turn one long, lazy bend, and I swear to all that is good in the universe there is a noise ahead. A clatter. I do not like clatters on dead planets.”
“I pause. Pumpkin pauses. We get along on our suspicious spirits alone.”
“Pumpkin meows and walks right against my ankles, trailing a few centimetres behind so he has the head start on any escape rush towards the exit.”
“It’s so easy, when things don’t go as we’ve planned, to think that we’re a failure. To think that things will never get better.”
And, of course: “This is one.”
I highlighted plenty more of the book, but I don’t want to give away more, especially without context. I highly, HIGHLY recommend you read this and discover them for yourself!
When I saw this book was released earlier this year, I was happy for another indie author to be published. Shared links where I could. But otherwise, I paid it very little attention.
After all, it was sci-fi.
And I like fantasy.
Give me dragons please and thank you. That’s my jam.
But after trying the superb Iron Truth, and having already bought The Last Gifts of The Universe to support a fellow author, I opened it one evening on a whim and started reading. “Unputdownable” is a word that’s often bandied around, but I’ve never meant it as much as I do with this book.
I’m deciding I rather like sci-fi. And I rather like finding new jams.
With that out of the way: My goodness me, I LOVE this book!
I love everything about this book. It is SO well-written, with an incredibly strong voice that grabbed me from the very first page. Brilliant characters, world-building, plot, pacing, mystery and intrigue. But the thing it does even better than all of those already brilliant things?
EMOTION.
Joy. Sadness. Fear. Anger. Frustration. Every single emotion was dialled up to eleven and I felt so many feelings reading this. All of the feelings. I cried literal tears and my other half was worried something terrible had happened to me and asked what was wrong.
I became legitimately upset when I had to sleep because I had to stop reading this. Legitimately upset when I realised there was no more left to read.
It’s just brilliant on all fronts.
Two siblings (and their cat!) are on a sort of archeological study, moving across space and visiting long-dead planets. Mostly they're retrieving and cataloguing data, technology, anything useful they can find. Our principle cast is: Scout (POV). Kieran (Scout’s brother). Pumpkin (Their cat).
The book takes you on a journey spanning the stars and the ages (and my god, Ovlan), and shines a light on all those deeply personal, emotional stories we have. How we’re connected (despite our differences). It's about life. Fear. Dreams. Hopes. Love.
People trying to do their best (I love that). People messing up. Consequences. Trust. Final words. All of it.
It sounds cheesy when I write it like that, but the book shows the right amount of reverence, humour, nihilism, that it all feels so meaningful. The humour lands. The tension feels real. The relief is palpable.
The Remnants, in particular, are terrifying.
Oh, and Pumpkin is the MVP!
For such a short book, it packs one incredible punch.
Although this comes across as an overall light-hearted read - and it is for the most part - the emotions are so strong, the descriptions vivid, and the feelings extremely real, that it kind of transcends that. It becomes something so much more, so meaningful. How it touches on grief and loss is so magical it might as well be fantasy.
I don’t know what precise flavour of jam - I mean sci-fi - this is. Cosy? Mystery? Whatever it is, I'm here for it, and I would love more.
I know I’m rambling and I apologise. This is a deeply emotional book that I loved from the first word until the last, and so my review is equally gushing and emotional and raw and a bit all over the place.
I highlighted a number of passages that resonated with me - either for how well they were written, the humour, the human connection, how meaningful it felt, or just because I rather liked it. Here are some of my favourites:
“You float in space, okay? You fall on planets.”
“We turn one long, lazy bend, and I swear to all that is good in the universe there is a noise ahead. A clatter. I do not like clatters on dead planets.”
“I pause. Pumpkin pauses. We get along on our suspicious spirits alone.”
“Pumpkin meows and walks right against my ankles, trailing a few centimetres behind so he has the head start on any escape rush towards the exit.”
“It’s so easy, when things don’t go as we’ve planned, to think that we’re a failure. To think that things will never get better.”
And, of course: “This is one.”
I highlighted plenty more of the book, but I don’t want to give away more, especially without context. I highly, HIGHLY recommend you read this and discover them for yourself!
chante's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
jerusar's review against another edition
4.0
This was really good. Funny, witty, and also quite deep and a little sad. This took me by surprise to be honest. I loved that the author did not spend 100 extra pages describing all the things that happened inbetween scenes… don’t get me wrong I love an epic fantasy but in this story it was not needed and really appreciated that they left all the nonsense out. Pumpkin was awesome..
graff_fuller's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.5
This started out a little clunky. I was unsure of what I had just picked up. It was a book that seemed out of its depth. It felt more like a contemporary novel, but then flung into space (in the future).
Then, as the pages past...I either got used to the style of the writing, or the writing improved.
It was a cozy read at the beginning. For me, though, I know that space is ALWAYS dangerous. Two men, and a cat...out in space. What could go wrong. Well? Everything could and will go wrong, especially in their line of work. They are exploring DEAD worlds, looking for the answer to WHY they are dead. Also, the Remnants are there (something you'll learn about within the story).
It then became panic filled, for the danger seemed SO real and I felt for the characters.
What I thought this book was about and what it became within the reading...was different. BUT, that's okay.
I'm glad that I read it.
Then, as the pages past...I either got used to the style of the writing, or the writing improved.
It was a cozy read at the beginning. For me, though, I know that space is ALWAYS dangerous. Two men, and a cat...out in space. What could go wrong. Well? Everything could and will go wrong, especially in their line of work. They are exploring DEAD worlds, looking for the answer to WHY they are dead. Also, the Remnants are there (something you'll learn about within the story).
It then became panic filled, for the danger seemed SO real and I felt for the characters.
What I thought this book was about and what it became within the reading...was different. BUT, that's okay.
I'm glad that I read it.