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A review by ros_lanta
Plutoshine by Lucy Kissick
3.75
I discovered after reading Plutoshine that the author is a nuclear scientist with a PhD in planetary geochemistry, and honestly this was not a surprise to me. Plutoshine is hard science fiction, meaning (for anyone who isn't aware) that it features a lot of scientific explanation which is integral to the plot. Generally I was able to follow the explanations - I have definitely picked up a few points of science I didn't understand before reading the book - but there were a couple of places where it lost me.
That said, for hard sci-fi this is a very character centric story. For me the main pull of the novel, which kept me turning the pages, was the growing relationship between terraformer Lucien and Nou, a child who has not spoken since a mysterious traumatic incident. He teaches her sign language, and I felt very emotional reading it.
I do think there were some issues with the writing in this book. When I look back now on the plot, the basic summary of it seems strong, but the execution was at times lacking. This extends to some of the character work - I understood and appreciated what Kissick intended with the character of Edmund, but I think he would have been a stronger character with some writing and editing. This is I believe the author's debut novel, so perhaps he writing will improve in subsequent works.
Overall I enjoyed, but didn't love, this novel - but what I did love was the relationship between Lucien and Nou and I think that will stick with me.
That said, for hard sci-fi this is a very character centric story. For me the main pull of the novel, which kept me turning the pages, was the growing relationship between terraformer Lucien and Nou, a child who has not spoken since a mysterious traumatic incident. He teaches her sign language, and I felt very emotional reading it.
I do think there were some issues with the writing in this book. When I look back now on the plot, the basic summary of it seems strong, but the execution was at times lacking. This extends to some of the character work - I understood and appreciated what Kissick intended with the character of Edmund, but I think he would have been a stronger character with some writing and editing. This is I believe the author's debut novel, so perhaps he writing will improve in subsequent works.
Overall I enjoyed, but didn't love, this novel - but what I did love was the relationship between Lucien and Nou and I think that will stick with me.