I honestly don't think I can put into words how much I loved this book, but I'm going to give it my best shot. Reviewing this book is even more complicated by not being able to talk about anything that happens in it without ruining the reading experience. It is truly a book best read without any spoilers because experiencing the plot for the first time was a total mindf*ck. I thought I knew what this book was about going into it, but I was completely unprepared for what actually happened.
The book started out exactly as described in the synopsis. However, right away I could tell something was not quite right because of the strange formatting and early hints. The book does not have chapters, but it has multiple parts that vary in length. The first part is the longest, and it is a slow burn mystery coupled with an exploration of the relationship between the two boys. The pace of the rest of the book increases significantly after the first part, and I was so thrown by the end of the first section that I had to put the book down for a bit before continuing. The ending of the book felt a bit rushed, but I also loved how the story ended. I just wished there was more of it.
One of the main themes of this book is the importance of intimacy to feel human. This story does an excellent job of exploring this idea because it strips everything down to only two people surrounded by infinite nothingness. Seeing the progression of the relationship between Kodiak and Ambrose was a beautiful reminder of how important connection to other people is for our sanity. It was also an excellent example of how people who are very different can come together and find understanding even if they are raised to be enemies. One of my favorite quotes from the book highlights this theme of intimacy very well:
Intimacy is the only shield against insanity. Intimacy, not knowledge. Intimacy, not power. (page 142)
Existential crisis and the necessity of meaning in one's life is also a major component of this novel. The story explores the effect on an individual's psyche whenever they lose their main purpose in life. It also examines how people raised in two different cultures can respond to this loss in distinct ways. Overall, the narrative is filled with existential dread. If you don't have at least one existential crisis while reading this book, then you aren't human. 😉 It just does such a great job of reducing the complex human experience down to its barest essentials and making you question whether there truly is a reason for all of it.
That was how life on Earth worked, too. People did a lot of tasks and tried to keep death as far away as possible. (page 236)
This book has become my top read so far of 2021. The story was so unexpectedly profound in its relationship-building, philosophy, and plot twists that I'm left thinking about it days after finishing it. I could say so much more, but that would ruin the book. So, go read it instead! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars and cannot recommend it enough, especially for lovers of science fiction.
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From the Publisher
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| The Darkness Outside Us | The Brightness Between Us | Queer Ducks (and Other Animals) | Charming Young Man | |
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| Price | $10.89 | $18.59 | $6.40 | $11.74 |
| YA books from bestselling author and two-time National Book Award finalist Eliot Schrefer | A mind-bending sci-fi mystery and tender love story about two boys aboard a spaceship sent on a rescue mission. A Stonewall Honor Award winner! | The sequel to The Darkness Outside Us, an ambitious and high-stakes genre bending love story told in two storylines set thousands of years apart! | This groundbreaking illustrated nonfiction title is a well-researched and teen-friendly exploration of the gamut of queer behaviors observed in animals. | An exuberant historical coming-of-age novel about a rising star French pianist navigating his way into high society as he explores his sexuality. Perfect for fans of Last Night at the Telegraph Club and The Gentleman’s Gide to Vice and Virtue. |
About the author
a surprisingly thrilling space odyssey
The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer was not at all what I expected. I had assumed it was a YA gay romance in a sci-fi setting, and what I got was a legitimate science fiction novel that happens to have young protagonists with some romantic elements.The story opens with 17-year-old prodigy Ambrose, waking from a coma with no recollection of the launch that is hurling him to a settlement in another planet to rescue his sister. His only companions are another young man Kodiak from an enemy country, the spaceship’s all knowing AI, and a helper robot. What happens next is a mystery as they attempt to navigate their confusing mission, a thriller as everything is not as it seems, and a romance as the two boys get to know one another and see past their differences.The Darkness Outside Us is a surprisingly thrilling and engaging space odyssey that takes unexpected turns, gives tender heartfelt moments, and delivers a fresh take on a science fiction romance.
Top reviews from other countries
Felipe Araujo ( Embaixador dos livros )
História linda!
Reviewed in Brazil on April 10, 2024
