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turnerevil 's review for:
The Book of Strange New Things
by Michel Faber
The overwhelming problem with this novel is the protagonist Peter, painfully serious, jaw droppingly middle class, and judgmental whilst at the same time apologising to his deity. Later we learn about his bad-boy background but I wonder if this back story was grafted on in a re-write to make him more believable, because it really does not fit with the contemporary non-entity we follow. The equally drab, mission base and alien planet, is no doubt meant to fit with the theme but has a hard time making it a story you want to stick with. Later we meet Tartaglione, the AWOL linguist who would have made a much better job of protagonist, I almost would like to read the prequel. The possible explanation for Peter's lack of inquisitiveness, and that of his colleagues, when it comes is consistent but does not really retrieve the story. Bea, the wife writing from home is a much better character and the slowly degrading world at home is well conceived. I spent the long first two thirds of the book waiting for her letters almost as much as Peter.