I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Atlas Alone by Emma Newman Series: Planetfall #4
Published by Ace Books on April 16 2019
Genres: Adult, Science fiction
Pages: 320
Format: Finished paperback
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: A mesmerizing and dangerous thriller where reality and fantasy merge.
Emma Newman’s Planetfall series has been a wild ride, but if I’m reading the ending correctly, that ride isn’t over yet. This is the first book in the series that actually feels like a sequel. The events start a few months after the shocking ending of After Atlas, so even though I’ve always said that each book in this series can be read as a standalone in any order, Atlas Alone is the exception to that rule. If you haven’t yet read After Atlas, I would not pick this up until you do. And please beware of minor spoilers if you haven’t read After Atlas!
It’s been six months since the Atlas 2 started its journey, fleeing a dying Earth and headed toward a planet colonized years ago by Suh-Mi, a messiah-like figure who envisioned a holy place where people could live self-sustaining lives in harmony with god and each other. On board are some 10,000 people, including gamer Dee and her two friends Travis and Carl. Dee has been suffering from depression, due to the cataclysmic event back on Earth and has abandoned her usual interactions with her friends in mersives, highly addictive games that make the user feel as if they are playing the game in real life. She’s also been wondering about the chain of command on the ship. No one seems to know who’s in charge, and Dee’s inquisitive nature won’t let her rest until she finds out more information.
One day Dee is approached by Carl’s father, Gabriel Moreno, about a possible job on board, analyzing mersive data. Dee jumps at the chance, since she knows she’ll be given access to classified files, and therefore can start her own investigation about the other people on the ship. As soon as she’s granted access, she starts poking around in the personnel profiles. But her inquiries draw the attention of someone, an unidentified person who pops up on a secret chat box and invites her to participate in a game he’s designed. Dee reluctantly accepts, and is drawn into a world that looks and feels eerily similar to the real world of her childhood back on Earth.
But when she emerges from the game and discovers that a man she killed in the mersive is on board the ship and has actually died while she was playing the game, Dee knows that she has a big mystery to solve. Was this man connected to the events on Earth? How could something like this have happened? And even more worrisome, was Dee responsible for his death?
Things get even more tangled when Carl decides to investigate the death, and Dee has to hide the fact that she might be involved.
Four books in, I’m finally starting to see how all the pieces are starting to fit together. Newman’s stories have jumped around from the colony established on a faraway planet, to life on Earth, to space and back again, in a meandering but ultimately purposeful way. The story’s scope is huge, and I’ve always thought that this is a world with endless story possibilities and characters to focus on. But despite this scope, each book feels very focused and tight, and Atlas Alone follows a similar format, focusing on one main character and her struggle to seek justice and solve a mystery that could impact thousands of people.
I loved the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped on a ship for twenty years, as it speeds towards another planet, and the fact that Dee has uncovered some terrifying secrets and is compelled to take action. On a spaceship there’s nowhere to go, except into the infinite world of mersives, and I thought Newman did a great job of going back and forth between the mersives and “meatspace,” as real life is called. And even though we don’t spend much time with them, I loved seeing Carl and Travis again. Carl (called “Carlos”) was the main character in After Atlas, a talented detective who gets to use his skills in this story as well.
I enjoyed the sections where Dee is in the virtual game space the most, especially her emotional trip back in time as she’s dragged into a mersive that forces her to face some terrible events from her childhood. The chapters inside the mersives were some of my favorites, although some parts were shockingly violent and hard to read. But we get to see a bit of Dee’s life as a slave, her days living in a “nest,” virtually homeless and starving. Dee is forced to confront people from her past, and this section was so well written and detailed and ultimately ended up being my favorite section in the book. Throughout the experience, she is wondering why this mystery person is doing this to her, dragging her through the past like this, but it isn’t until nearly the end that we find out who and why.
The story falters a bit for me near the end when Dee comes out of a mersive, blazing with anger and ready serve up justice to those responsible for the atrocities on Earth. She does some things that seemed out of character, and the final few chapters felt rushed, as though Newman were simply trying to get to the end so that she could reveal her big twist.
Newman seems to favor shocking, cliffhanger endings, and Atlas Alone is no exception. I had thought this might be the final book in the series, but after the ending there is no way she can leave us hanging, especially since the ending itself is rather depressing. The series overall has themes of making the world a better place and the downtrodden citizens of society rising up to topple the oppressors, so in my mind I’m hoping for an upbeat, optimistic resolution to the story. I’ve always thought of the Colony as a place of peace and serenity, and I do hope the Atlas 2 eventually makes it to the planet, because I have got to know what happens next!
This is an excellent series, and I love the way the author is slowly revealing her master plan. Newman’s ideas are fascinating, and the emotional depth and resonance of her characters is one reason I keep reading this series. I do hope there will be at least a few more books, because I still have so many questions that need to be answered.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
Wonderful review. I read Planetfall last year, and enjoyed most of it except the ending, which felt pretty ambiguous. I never continued since the second book wasn’t a continuation…
But it sounds like maybe there is a larger overall story being told here? If so I think I would definitely give it another try. Her writing is great.
I totally agree with you, I was disappointed in the ending of Planetfall, but the other three books are much better, in my opinion. I’d keep going if you have time!
Actually that’s super reassuring- I’ll have to bump them up, thanks!
Sarah recently posted…Recommended Reading From Favorite Authors
I need to get to this series! Great review!
Thanks David, it’s really good!
Emma is also a super sweet individual
Oh that’s good to know, I’d love to meet her:-)
I would to (I’ve only interacted with her via social media)
I seriously need to try the series! And the plot for this one reminds me of a Black Mirror episode. I’m tempted to start from book 3, but I’m guessing I’ll lose some of the emotional payoff if I do?
I think I’d recommend starting at the beginning, only because all the pieces are coming together, and you might miss out on some of those if you start in the middle.
I really need to catch up with this series!! I’ve only read Planetfall, but loved it. Glad to see the series is staying strong
Lisa @TenaciousReader recently posted…Review: The Unbound Empire by Melissa Caruso
I think all the other books are better than Planetfall, so I do recommend continuing:-)
Wow, this series and book sound absolutely fabulous, Tammy. I love the way you described the authors ideas and the resonance in the characters’ emotions. I’m going to add the first book. Wonderful review!
Thanks Jennifer, it’s worth checking out:-)
I really need to get around reading these because they sound incredible. Fantastic review!
Thanks Nadine! This series is lots of fun but also gives you a lot to think about:-)
This is a series I want to start! Maybe one day. I am glad it continues to be good and that you enjoyed this one!
It’s such a strong series, I love that when each book is good but brings different things to the table.
A fabulous review, Tammy:)) You have beautifully summed up the conumdrum that is Newman’s writing – tight and very focused in each book, while depicting a far larger, dizzyingly large canvas. I’ve enjoyed the contradiction within this superb series – but the Atlas duology nested within has been a real highlight for me. And that ending… I was really floored by it – until I realised it meant that HAD to be more coming in this series!
Yeah, I was actually happy with the ending because I didn’t want this series to be over!
Sounds quite good, and even though I’ve only read Before Mars I’m super intrigued for this! Although I should probably go back and read the others first. I love the concept of the mersives and it sounds like she really elves into that here!
Greg recently posted…Tales From Northern Michigan #4
Yeah, I would read After Atlas first, this one will make much more sense:-)
I just read Sarah’s review for this book and thought it sounded really good. I’m not familiar with the author or series, but you both have me very interested in seeing what it’s a ll about. Great review!
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Review: THE MOTHER-IN-LAW by Sally Hepworth
Thanks Suzanne, if you’re ever in the mood for science fiction, it’s very character-oriented:-)
Really looking forward to this, hope I can get to it soon! Seeing lots of positive reviews, I’m so happy!
I think being a gamer you’ll really enjoy it. The gaming “mersives” are pretty cool, I think!
This is a series I’ve been wanting to get to. Thanks for the excellent review!
Laura Thomas recently posted…Blurb Blitz and Giveaway for Where Demons Dance by Emma Briedis
It’s so good, totally worth starting, Laura!
This is a series that I need to catch up with – it receives such glowing attention. I have read the first and (think) I have a copy of the second.
Lynn 😀
Lynn Williams recently posted…Storm of Locusts (The Sixth World #2) by Rebecca Roanhorse
Playing sinister games with sinister unknown opponents: sounds like a perfectly good idea!
I havent started the series yet, but I think it’s about time.
Good to know this isn’t the first in the series. Thanks Tammy! 🙂