Gnomon by Nick Harkaway
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic. Superb. Deep, creative, complex, and above all, fascinating.

Let's put it this way: if you've read Stephenson's Fall; or, Dodge in Hell, you'll know what kind of novel this is, sans Milton, but rather more psychological, interesting, while being just as creative.

In short, this is the kind of novel that GETS me on a subconscious level, exploring personas and narratives on a self-aware Greek journey that is, at once, a modern thriller, a psychologically and philosophically dense mirror, and a hard-SF delve into the mind and AI Godhood.

Gnomon, is, in its root, a knowledge of yourself. But what if that's the purpose of the Hunter? And in this rich novel, nothing is very obvious. It's a mystery and an artistic expression and a serious piece of literature.

When I think of SF being Literature, I don't mean the modern kind of LitSF that's three parts whining about the human condition, one part SF trope, and one part pastiche. I mean deep, wild, creative SF interwoven beautifully with a complex tale, with great great characters, and a heavy-ass punch in the gut that makes a person say, "OWWWWWW, that's gonna leave a mark for years."

Fortunately, THIS novel is the latter.

It's truly good and overflowing with great ideas, story, and surprise, being true SF and a serious look at our minds, our direction, and the richness of our lives.

So, look within, or look within this book. It's a real gem. If you like the best of Stephenson, you'll love this.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.

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