The Outside

Starred review from April 15, 2019
Cosmic horror, grad school politics, and neuroatypicality meet in Hoffmann’s gripping debut, a 28th-century technotheocratic space thriller that blossoms with hope. The Shien Reactor is autistic physicist Yasira Shien’s crowning achievement: power for the first human-built space station in a universe where soul-collecting AI gods hoard any technology more advanced than vacuum tubes. When the reactor’s reality-destabilizing failure hints at interference from Yasira’s vanished graduate supervisor, Dr. Evianna Talirr, she is forcibly recruited by Akavi Averis, a prickly inquisitor serving Nemesis, god of heretics, to bring Dr. Talirr to justice. But tracking Dr. Talirr into the physics-defying Outside risks Yasira’s sanity—and forces her to decide for herself which “abnormal” lives are worth living. Hoffmann confidently layers morality and disability rights into a breezily told adventure that bursts with sheer fun. Yasira’s autistic qualities benefit her without being treated like superpowers, and her grumpy sincerity convinces readers that, even in the direst circumstances, the gently “hacked-together” future is worth saving. This beautifully smart, uncynical space opera will charm fans of Charles Stross and Lois McMaster Bujold. Agent: Hannah Bowman, Liza Dawson Associates.

Nancy Wu captures the essence of Yasira Shien from this audiobook's opening scenes. Shien is an autistic math and physics prodigy who has designed a new generation reactor to power a space station in the 28th century. Wu employs neutral accents for humans, especially for Shien and her mentor, who is also autistic (as is the author). In contrast, Wu uses light accents for the post-human angels of the AI who control the galaxy and other subtle distinctions to show their authority. She keeps a lively pace, even during passages of world-building, seeming to enjoy the drama and her engagement with the characters. This audiobook is the author's debut novel and is the first installment of a planned trilogy. It has been nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award. J.E.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine