Writing News
Before I get into this issue’s book review, I’ve made some changes to my plans for A Star Apart. That book will still be the first novel in the Alloyed series, but I’m starting the series with a story collection. Becoming Alloyed tells stories of how the human-quantum, chimeric biotechnology came to be. Once that backgrounder is out, A Star Apart will soon follow.
Whalefall Review
Daniel Kraus, who co-wrote The Shape of Water, has a new novel: Whalefall. It’s one of the best accessible literary hard SF books I’ve ever read. But first, let me define “accessible literary.”
Accessible literary novels are engaging, tell great stories, and have brilliant prose. Sourdough by Robin Sloan and Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty are two of my favorites. Whalefall joined that exclusive list in December 2023.
Whalefall is an intriguing father-son story from the get-go. Jay Gardiner is not the son Mitt Gardner wanted. It’s also an action story with a thriller’s fast-paced engagement. Best of all, it’s the hardest of hard science fiction.
It’s the detail that makes this novel so delicious. Scuba diving science weaves throughout and does so in an easy to understand way. Every dive-related chapter title is a number followed by three letters: PSI. Starting at three thousand pounds per square inch, these titles become a relentless and non-negotiable countdown to vacuum. The sperm whale science is even more detailed and fascinating. In Acknowledgments, Kraus discusses his research, the hours he spent talking and working with whale biologists, the still unanswered questions, and the controversial theories. The results shine in this beautiful novel.
Kraus’ accessible literary skills are everywhere evident. When Jay dons all his diving gear, the thick neoprene suit, buoyancy compensator, fifteen pounds of weights, and fifty-pound tank, Kraus turns the gear into metaphor. Of course, the gear is literally heavy and frightfully constrictive, but it is also Jay’s childhood trauma.
I loved reading Whalefall, and I expect to reread it several times to learn from a master. If you like whales, the ocean, diving, or any combination, Whalefall will delight. My website has a page dedicated to this marvelous novel.