The Long Cosmos

July 11, 2016
In this conclusion to the Long Earth series (following 2015's The Long Utopia), set in 2070, Baxter (Ultima) and the late Pratchett (The Shepherd's Crown) take their decades-spanning tale of an infinite chain of parallel Earths to the next level as a mysterious signal from the far reaches of the galaxy urges humans to "join us." While the ultra-intelligent subset of humans known as the Next build a continent-sized supercomputer on a distant Earth to further decipher the message, the famous explorer Joshua Valiente takes a sabbatical far from home, which leads him to an eye-opening encounter with nomadic trolls. Eventually Joshua joins the crew of humankind's inaugural interstellar mission and discovers just what lies at the heart of the galaxy. The story starts off slowly, but it quickly picks up speed as the mystery deepens and the myriad threads come together. There's a definite sense of mortality, but also a sense of wonder as the characters embrace the vast unknown in what might be considered the perfect allegory for Pratchett's final years. It's a wholly satisfying conclusion to the series, though vast amounts of potential remain in the concept. Agent: Christopher Schelling, Selectric Artists Literary and Talent Management.

Narrator Michael Fenton Stevens delivers this final book in the Lost Earth series with a feeling of familiarity. The phenomenon of "stepping between parallel earths" is now in its sixtieth year. As the galaxy continues to broadcast its message--"JOIN US"--the intrepid travelers continue their explorations and contemplations of the meaning of life. Although this series is not imbued with the level of irony and dry humor of Pratchett's renowned Discworld series, Stevens doesn't neglect the flashes of humor that are present as he portrays the fine-tuned relationships between the characters. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine