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A review by darthsansa
The World Gives Way by Marissa Levien
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
TW: Suicide.
I heard about this book on one of the Book Riot podcasts, either All the Books or SFF Yeah, and I immediately put a hold on it at the library. The whole premise interested me: a generation ship falling apart a few generations after leaving earth, but before reaching its destination. This ship was built to completely give the feel of a "world" with no visible reminders that they are actually on a ship traveling through space. Unfortunately, society on the ship is stratified, just like on earth. Those that cannot afford the price of passage, sell themselves (and their future offspring) into indentured servitude. The book is told from 2 different POV, Tobias grew up in a privileged, although difficult and dark, life. Myrra was born into indentured servitude (slavery). Myrra serves the Carlyle's, an important government official and his wife. She goes on the run with their infant daughter after the couple commit suicide. Tobias is a newbie Security agent tasked with catching her and bringing her back. However, before their demise, the wife shares a secret with Myrra. There is a crack in the ship's hull that cannot be repaired, and the ship will fall apart in a couple months.
Myrra takes the baby, Charlotte, on a road trip through "the world", as she tries to avoid Tobias and Security agents. She is running from being locked up, but she is also the only family Charlotte has left, and she wants to be there for her until the end. She is also searching for a way to find meaning in her life and to make peace with it. The topography and architecture of the ship is very diverse, and Levien describes it beautifully.
I picked up this book due to my interest in SF, and I was not prepared for the meditation on parenting and what makes a good parent. As a parent whose children are older teenagers and preparing to leave the home, I think about this a lot, and my thoughts are bittersweet, to say the least. If I had known there would be this theme, I probably would not have started this book, BUT, I am really glad that I did. I found that although it is sad, it gave me a lot of peace.
I heard about this book on one of the Book Riot podcasts, either All the Books or SFF Yeah, and I immediately put a hold on it at the library. The whole premise interested me: a generation ship falling apart a few generations after leaving earth, but before reaching its destination. This ship was built to completely give the feel of a "world" with no visible reminders that they are actually on a ship traveling through space. Unfortunately, society on the ship is stratified, just like on earth. Those that cannot afford the price of passage, sell themselves (and their future offspring) into indentured servitude. The book is told from 2 different POV, Tobias grew up in a privileged, although difficult and dark, life. Myrra was born into indentured servitude (slavery). Myrra serves the Carlyle's, an important government official and his wife. She goes on the run with their infant daughter after the couple commit suicide. Tobias is a newbie Security agent tasked with catching her and bringing her back. However, before their demise, the wife shares a secret with Myrra. There is a crack in the ship's hull that cannot be repaired, and the ship will fall apart in a couple months.
Myrra takes the baby, Charlotte, on a road trip through "the world", as she tries to avoid Tobias and Security agents. She is running from being locked up, but she is also the only family Charlotte has left, and she wants to be there for her until the end. She is also searching for a way to find meaning in her life and to make peace with it. The topography and architecture of the ship is very diverse, and Levien describes it beautifully.
I picked up this book due to my interest in SF, and I was not prepared for the meditation on parenting and what makes a good parent. As a parent whose children are older teenagers and preparing to leave the home, I think about this a lot, and my thoughts are bittersweet, to say the least. If I had known there would be this theme, I probably would not have started this book, BUT, I am really glad that I did. I found that although it is sad, it gave me a lot of peace.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide