Ada Palmer's Too Like the Lightning: Bravely Imaginative Literature
It’s taken me way too long to finish Too Like the Lightning, but I’m glad I made the journey.
I have no words.
Literally, none.
All right, maybe a few.
When you pick up a book attempting something profoundly different from everything within its genre, you’re bound to struggle. To question. To disagree. Too Like the Lightning reads like an ancient text precisely because the author intended it so. Every word placed on the page by Ada Palmer is there because she wished it to be; no phrase or punctuation mark or stray comment exists outside of purpose.
Through the written word, Palmer weaves a tale set centuries in the future portrayed and told as if centuries in the past. Through the enigmatic Mycroft Canner, we begin to experience the tumultuous days destined to throw a Utopic Earth into disarray. What will be the cause? Ego? A wildcard, unexpected by all? Pure mathematics? Ignorance?
All are possible. All are not sufficient.
Even in the moments when the story confuses, you feel, as the reader, as if you are intended to be confused. As if the narrative requires you not to understand. For the language of a 25th century tale would be as alien to us as a tale from the 17th or 18th century.
I don’t know if Too Like the Lightning is my favorite book I’ve recently read . . . but it is definitely one that will impact me more than others.
Writing: 10/10. As I said, every word matters.
Plot: 7/10. The plot confuses. Obfuscates. That’s all right.
Character: 8/10. An immense cast of characters, but by the end, you recognize them all. Especially Mycroft, Thisbe, Bridger, Sniper, Mason, and more.
Setting: 9/10. As alien to us as the Enlightenment, once you recognize Palmer’s genius, there’s no turning back.
Overall: 8.5/10. Four stars—but a high four stars. I loved this book, but it was difficult to read. That’s a good thing. I’m excited to explore its future installments. If you’re looking for a SciFi novel beyond anything you’ve read as of late, Too Like the Lightning will exceed all expectations.