powerful story that inspires consideration and thought

The Actual Star by Monica Byrne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow, there is so much to say about this book. It leaves me thinking about all manner of things, and wanting to go back re-read to look for ones I missed. The tale spans 2000 years, following three timelines, each a thousand years apart from the closest. The middle timeline is set about 10 years ago, so is contemporary to our time. Much like "The Girl in the Road", "The Actual Star" introduced me to places, culture and peoples I am not familiar with. Also like tGitR, the writing immediately dives into the deep end and pulls the reader in head first. New terms, languages, technologies, and cultures are encountered from the very beginning, with only hints from context and conversation to help the reader parse the narrative (and a MUCH appreciated glossary!). This is a great technique, which is a lot like William Gibson's narrative style! As each of the three threads progress, we learn of the connections between them, and gain insight into the interrelationships between history, legend, myth, religion, philosophy, politics, sociology, ecology, and so many more aspects of our world. This is a powerful story that inspires consideration and thought about many questions that need be reckoned with as a society and a species. I hope to get a chance to re-read at some point to further unpack and process this powerful story.

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creative and edgy, captivating

The Girl in the Road by Monica Byrne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"The Girl in the Road" is two tales, one of a girl and the other of a young woman, each on their respective personal journey and quest, eventually converging into one. It is set in the near future, mid to late 21st century. The inevitable results of 20th and early 21st century politics, economics, and environmental policy are playing out, and help set the context for this story. The plot is fast moving and the reader is pulled rather abruptly (in the style of William Gibson) into the context and jargon of new technology and worldviews. The protagonists of the story's two threads are painted with fine detail and intimacy giving the reader both cause and person to pull for. The two journeys eventually converge unexpectedly to bridge the gap in culture, experience, time and space, and create a single concluding thread. This story is creative and edgy, and told in a captivating way to fully engage the reader through the final chapter and epilogue. I am excited to have discovered this local author, and will be seeking out her other works, specifically "The Actual Star", which was released recently.

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