Reading
The Strange: book review
Author: Nathan Ballingrud
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Western
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: March 2023
Rating: 
The Strange is definitely… strange. A science fiction space western set in New Galveston on Mars, it is adventurous and imaginative, but I think it was slightly lacking in the Sci-Fi parts. Here is the blurb:
“Anabelle Crisp is fourteen when the Silence arrives, severing all communication between Earth and her new home on Mars. One evening, while she and her father are closing their diner in the colony of New Galveston, they are robbed at gunpoint.
Among the stolen items is a recording of her absent mother’s voice. Driven by righteous fury and desperation to lift her father’s broken spirits, Anabelle sets out to confront the thieves and bring back the sole vestige of her mother. Accompanied by her loyal robot, an outcast pilot and a hardened outlaw, Anabelle must travel through derelict mining towns where a mineral called the Strange has transformed its residents in bizarre ways, across the Martian desert and to the shadowy Peabody Crater where she will discover that New Galveston, once a safe haven, is nothing more than a guttering candle in a dark world.”
So yes, the protagonist is Anabelle Crisp, a 14-year-old girl who bosses around grown-up men and women, and though I liked her determination and bravery, her naivety and childlike behaviour made the whole gang seem rather unrealistic. I mean, she is very young, so of course her spirit would still be very rebellious, but why did she have to gang up with grown-up men and why did they just blindly follow her orders? I just couldn’t believe that such a bond, a relationship like theirs, could be real.
Despite this downside, it is an enjoyable little read and combines elements of horror (it has one of the most chilling scenes I have read in a book) with fantasy. I also liked the beautiful and evocative descriptions of Mars. I wish there were more of them, more of the way they lived on Mars. How exactly did they colonise it, what were the challenges and the differences compared to life on Earth? The worldbuilding was good, so was the plot, but I would have found them to be way more interesting if they included a bit more of Mars, of that otherworldly element. Nevertheless, there are still great adventures, some fantastic scenery descriptions, haunted dunes and space western scenes unravelling in your mind while reading. Your imagination will thank you for reading this book!
All in all, it is definitely a coming-of-age story, as Anabelle has had to deal with some pretty difficult situations, adding to them a move to Mars at such a young age! She continues to experience the hardships of adult life, and tries her best not to have a meltdown or a nervous breakdown. As with each and every one of us, who’s ever been through the tumultuous teenage years of their lives, we can see that she’s annoying at times, and she’s vulnerable at others, she’s stubborn but also considerate, she has moments of immense fear but also of extreme bravery. She’s trying to navigate all the challenges life throws at her while surviving on Mars. If we just keep in mind that she’s a teenager who’s been through stuff that most kids haven’t even imagined, I think we can cut her some slack and forgive her all the moments when she’s not acting appropriately for her fragile age—she’s had no choice but to grow up quickly!
There are some really interesting characters. I slowly became fond of the drunken pilot, Joe. He has a love-hate relationship with Anabelle, and you’re never completely sure how you feel towards him. The Kitchen Engine/Dishwasher, Watson, is one of the most adorable robots, you can’t not love him, and his loyalty is heartbreaking! Sally Milkwood is Anabelle’s enemy, and it’s interesting to see how their relationship evolved. I thought the author did a great job with the character development throughout the entire story, which was difficult to achieve, given that it is just 315 pages long.
You can decide for yourself, but I definitely recommend this book, if you’re looking for a fresh perspective on Sci-Fi adventures!
In case you need me… #owlbeereading!
