Thomcat
4/7/2023
The blurb is time travel, but that is only hinted at until the midpoint. The glitch and life as a simulation are the main points, completely unexpected - my recent reads seem to be clustering around this point. Computer, end program -- ah well, on with the review.
The author's descriptive passages are wonderful. Descriptions of Vancouver Island, the stark beauty of Moon colonies, and even the ever-similar hotels of the book tour. I liked the characters, all fairly different. The author is probably the most realistic, but hey, write what you know :)
One of the most interesting things is Mandel's future - it seems very similar to our present. People work, no amazing new tech; the world is mundane. Well, on the moon also, but the sky glitch is totally believable. I would have hoped we would learn from pandemics, but having lived through one, I can see why not :(
I love the ending, the closure of the story. I'm okay with the minimal version of time travel here - it serves the plot well. I will definitely have to go back and read The Glass Hotel, which shares a location with this novel. Overall rating, 4½ stars out of 5.