Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by shilohskye
Far Flung by Utunu
5.0
You might enjoy this book if you like:
-Gay, furry literature
-Charming characters
-A relatively low-stress story
-Interesting sci-fi powers
-A book that's as deep as you want it to be
-giving people hugs with your brain
I said in my 2023 review of Utunu's first novel, Rafts, that the more I thought about the book the more I came to appreciate it. Well, that seems to be a trend with Utunu's books. Far Flung is another heartfelt story that I appreciate more and more every time my mind wanders back to it. Its characters are charming and intimate, its worldbuilding is focused and interesting, and the uplifting themes explored in Rafts are expanded upon to great effect. I loved it, and I think it's well worth your time. Here's my review:
I'll admit, I had some concerns about Far Flung before it came out. While I was pretty confident this was going to be a decent book, the sci-fi setting and psionic powers seemed likely to be a far departure from the idyllic and grounded little island in Rafts. Even the cover seems to imply an action-packed story, and while that action-packed story wouldn't be unwelcome, I hoped that it wouldn't drown out the writing style and themes Utunu is known for. I am very happy to say that it did not.
For all the action-adventure that the cover implies, Far Flung is actually a surprisingly gentle book. Psionic powers aside, it is first and foremost about the loving relationship between its three main characters: Bori, Tuther, and Samna. Anyone who enjoys close, wholesome relationships in their stories is in for a treat. Much of the story is spent watching these three "friends" enjoy each other's company. Their banter, intimacy, and consideration for one another builds up the reader's love for them. That might be a letdown for readers who were expecting a more exciting tale. They might even feel a bit misled by the cover. But readers who enjoy the nuances of quieter tales will feel right at home here.
That's not to say the story isn't engaging. For one thing, the world building is focused and appropriate for the scope of the story, only zooming in on the most engaging concepts and events and not sweating the small stuff. Detailed explanations of how things work or why things are done a certain way in this universe are mostly omitted. After all, the story is primarily concerned with its characters, and so only the aspects which affect their lives tend to be shown off. I think this strikes the right balance. It's refreshing for readers like me to see worldbuilding not get out of hand. However, I can see it being a bit of a letdown for readers who prefer being able to really delve into the intricacies of a story's universe.
The biggest boon to the book's engagement, however, is right on the book's back cover. One of the smartest things Utunu does here is describing the impending conflict right there. As the back of the book says, a shuttle is coming to take the psionically-gifted Bori away from his friends. Thus from the very first moment in the book, you are anticipating this turn in the plot, waiting for that shoe to drop. The more you come to love the characters, the more you begin to share the dread that this shuttle's arrival evokes in them. That anticipation helps to keep the reader engaged, allowing more time to be spent building up these characters and getting the reader emotionally invested in them. It's a clever device; without it, the first part of the book might have felt boring or pointless, but it hangs over the story instead, a pending and inevitable threat to the characters that becomes more worrisome the more you fall in love with them. For readers who don't typically become emotionally invested in characters, it might not be enough to keep you engaged, but it certainly made me want to see what was going to happen once that shuttle arrived.
Because the characters in this book really are very likable. You don't want anything bad to happen to them. Their relationship is built up over a period of time that most authors wouldn't dare to stretch out for so long. It's necessary here, because there is just so much to discover with these three. Bori is a psionic who is weighed down by the obligations his powers will one day require of him. Tuther is another psionic who wants to keep his powers hidden so people don't define him by his abilities. Meanwhile, Samna is powerless and wishes for the psychic intimacy that Samna and Bori's powers allow them. Clearly, these three character have their own distinct desires that create interesting dynamics between them, but they are united in a shared desire to continue living a happy life together. The way their individual desires play into that shared one is a highlight of the book, further bolstered by how uncompromising they are toward anything that would threaten their idyllic life together. They'll do anything to make sure that the safety they find in each other stays intact, and that makes for some really endearing moments.
That uncompromising nature is also super engaging for readers who enjoy analyzing a book's themes, because it presents an interesting dilemma that carries over from Rafts. In Rafts, the characters struggle at times with the guilt of staying in paradise, abandoning their obligations to their people in order to live a loving life together. The character's obligations in Rafts, however, would not lead to the fall of their society if they choose not to fulfill them. In Far Flung, their small colonies are in fact on the brink, and Bori's powers could be essential to keeping everything from falling apart. So, this book basically asks the same question from Rafts, but in a much more consequential way: Is it okay for a person to abandon what's expected of them for the sake of a loving, peaceful life, even when that abandonment may cause suffering? I think readers will enjoy how this question is and is not approached in the story. I can't wait to see how it's further developed in the sequel(s).
The book is as deep as you want it to be, which is one of my favorite qualities for any book to have. As a result, I think it appeals to a wider general audience without sacrificing the depth that would otherwise make it more niche. There's a good chance you'll like this book if you explore it to your heart's content. I certainly did, and I think it's another essential furry read for 2024. Utunu knocked it out of the park once again.
-Gay, furry literature
-Charming characters
-A relatively low-stress story
-Interesting sci-fi powers
-A book that's as deep as you want it to be
-giving people hugs with your brain
I said in my 2023 review of Utunu's first novel, Rafts, that the more I thought about the book the more I came to appreciate it. Well, that seems to be a trend with Utunu's books. Far Flung is another heartfelt story that I appreciate more and more every time my mind wanders back to it. Its characters are charming and intimate, its worldbuilding is focused and interesting, and the uplifting themes explored in Rafts are expanded upon to great effect. I loved it, and I think it's well worth your time. Here's my review:
I'll admit, I had some concerns about Far Flung before it came out. While I was pretty confident this was going to be a decent book, the sci-fi setting and psionic powers seemed likely to be a far departure from the idyllic and grounded little island in Rafts. Even the cover seems to imply an action-packed story, and while that action-packed story wouldn't be unwelcome, I hoped that it wouldn't drown out the writing style and themes Utunu is known for. I am very happy to say that it did not.
For all the action-adventure that the cover implies, Far Flung is actually a surprisingly gentle book. Psionic powers aside, it is first and foremost about the loving relationship between its three main characters: Bori, Tuther, and Samna. Anyone who enjoys close, wholesome relationships in their stories is in for a treat. Much of the story is spent watching these three "friends" enjoy each other's company. Their banter, intimacy, and consideration for one another builds up the reader's love for them. That might be a letdown for readers who were expecting a more exciting tale. They might even feel a bit misled by the cover. But readers who enjoy the nuances of quieter tales will feel right at home here.
That's not to say the story isn't engaging. For one thing, the world building is focused and appropriate for the scope of the story, only zooming in on the most engaging concepts and events and not sweating the small stuff. Detailed explanations of how things work or why things are done a certain way in this universe are mostly omitted. After all, the story is primarily concerned with its characters, and so only the aspects which affect their lives tend to be shown off. I think this strikes the right balance. It's refreshing for readers like me to see worldbuilding not get out of hand. However, I can see it being a bit of a letdown for readers who prefer being able to really delve into the intricacies of a story's universe.
The biggest boon to the book's engagement, however, is right on the book's back cover. One of the smartest things Utunu does here is describing the impending conflict right there. As the back of the book says, a shuttle is coming to take the psionically-gifted Bori away from his friends. Thus from the very first moment in the book, you are anticipating this turn in the plot, waiting for that shoe to drop. The more you come to love the characters, the more you begin to share the dread that this shuttle's arrival evokes in them. That anticipation helps to keep the reader engaged, allowing more time to be spent building up these characters and getting the reader emotionally invested in them. It's a clever device; without it, the first part of the book might have felt boring or pointless, but it hangs over the story instead, a pending and inevitable threat to the characters that becomes more worrisome the more you fall in love with them. For readers who don't typically become emotionally invested in characters, it might not be enough to keep you engaged, but it certainly made me want to see what was going to happen once that shuttle arrived.
Because the characters in this book really are very likable. You don't want anything bad to happen to them. Their relationship is built up over a period of time that most authors wouldn't dare to stretch out for so long. It's necessary here, because there is just so much to discover with these three. Bori is a psionic who is weighed down by the obligations his powers will one day require of him. Tuther is another psionic who wants to keep his powers hidden so people don't define him by his abilities. Meanwhile, Samna is powerless and wishes for the psychic intimacy that Samna and Bori's powers allow them. Clearly, these three character have their own distinct desires that create interesting dynamics between them, but they are united in a shared desire to continue living a happy life together. The way their individual desires play into that shared one is a highlight of the book, further bolstered by how uncompromising they are toward anything that would threaten their idyllic life together. They'll do anything to make sure that the safety they find in each other stays intact, and that makes for some really endearing moments.
That uncompromising nature is also super engaging for readers who enjoy analyzing a book's themes, because it presents an interesting dilemma that carries over from Rafts. In Rafts, the characters struggle at times with the guilt of staying in paradise, abandoning their obligations to their people in order to live a loving life together. The character's obligations in Rafts, however, would not lead to the fall of their society if they choose not to fulfill them. In Far Flung, their small colonies are in fact on the brink, and Bori's powers could be essential to keeping everything from falling apart. So, this book basically asks the same question from Rafts, but in a much more consequential way: Is it okay for a person to abandon what's expected of them for the sake of a loving, peaceful life, even when that abandonment may cause suffering? I think readers will enjoy how this question is and is not approached in the story. I can't wait to see how it's further developed in the sequel(s).
The book is as deep as you want it to be, which is one of my favorite qualities for any book to have. As a result, I think it appeals to a wider general audience without sacrificing the depth that would otherwise make it more niche. There's a good chance you'll like this book if you explore it to your heart's content. I certainly did, and I think it's another essential furry read for 2024. Utunu knocked it out of the park once again.