As a reader you are not sure what to trust, and definitely OS seems to be hiding information from the two spacefarers. Is OS working for these two astronauts or against them? You question everything from the first page of the book until the very end. It is a book about humanity, moral ambiguity, social responsibility, personal sacrifice, and what humans are willing to do to ensure the survival of the human race. This is very much a book about human connection. About two spacefarers, from warring countries, learning to trust each other and slowly falling in love. It is a star crossed romance, but I will not say more on the subject of why, because it would give to much of the mystery of the book away. I loved all the science laced throughout the book, pushing the boundaries of what we know now (since this takes place in a future time, when technology is far more advanced). It was also interesting to learn about these two main countries on Earth, which have been in a cold war for decades. Fédération is in Ambrose's mind more open minded and accepting of all people. Spacefarers are men, women, non-binary, intersex. Whereas, in Dimokratia spacefarers can only be men, they seem to be a more misogynistic society. But, both of their upbringings are useful to ensuring their flight is successful. As well, they both help each other to overcome parts of themselves that hold them back. Ambrose was at times a little grating, and he is the character whose mind you are always in. He is sometimes over the top, pushy, emotional, and just needy. Although, he is alone on a spaceship with no other life but a man he believes is his enemy, so I can cut him a little slack for his sometimes annoying behaviour. He is also spliced from the genes of Alexander the Great and his mother, who is the head of the Cusk Corporation (the most advanced Corporation on Earth). So he exhibits many leadership qualities, but can also be soft, caring, emotionally supportive, and his understanding of the need for survival is a driving force in some of the friction between himself and Kodiak. Kodiak is a very brooding character, sometimes coming off as one dimensional, a prop for Ambrose. But at others times he can be both a foil for Ambrose or a comfort. He moves against their best interests, or he works against OS who he trusts very little. He is the first to confront what seems wrong and jumps into situations without thinking of the consequences. Throughout the novel, he begins to understand himself, his relationship with Ambrose, and the need to continue on, even in the face of imminent demise. He is strong, caring, and smart (even when he does not think he is). The third character in the novel is OS, the ships Operating System, with the voice skin of Ambrose's mother. The fact it is his mother's voice makes this so much more personal and almost appalling. You have to continuously wonder why OS is the way it is, what its main function must be. Why does it hide information, or does it simply not know the information? It seems almost faulty logic to have not thought out all eventualities before launching this mission, for relying the way they do on Ambrose and Kodiak to blindly obey. But, it also adds to the drama, the suspense, to have a robot both trying to keep you alive, but also solely focused on mission success, with or without Ambrose and Kodiak. It's such an integral and terrifying relationship, the boys need this system to live, but what if it does not want them to? Together these spacefarers must traverse the expanse of space, with several unknown outcomes, no contact with mission control, something dark lurking within the parameters of OS, and their feelings for each other developing into something all encompassing. Is Minerva dead, will they ever make it to Titan, why does everything on the ship seem so broken down after such a short period of time? This book was a strange, fantastic trip. Quick, but deeply emotional. If you are looking for something quirky, thrilling, and full of humanity, look no further.
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