A review by biblio_creep
In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

5.0

Read if you're looking for: 

• Emotional & affecting science fiction
• Deep awe & reverence for nature & exploration
• Makes you realize the interconnectedness of all things
• Hard sci-fi moments, particularly including the miracle of evolution & life in the oceans
• A gorgeous ending

This is one of the best books I've read this year, and maybe ever, so I'm so glad that I found Willow's review on YouTube because I haven't heard anyone else talking about it so far. This is a literary sci-fi about our main character, Leigh, who had a troubled childhood in Rotterdam and grows up to become a microbiologist. As she grows, she finds a deep respect for nature and a longing for the sea. She develops a single-mindedness for exploration and discovery, even to the detriment of some of her relationships, because nothing else brings her such fulfillment and joy. Early in her career she joins a team going to investigate a deep sea vent that has recently been discovered, and is thought to be the deepest in the world. During that expedition she has a life changing experience during a dive, and discovers something that has never been seen before.

We find out that humanity has also somehow found a way to travel faster than ever before, suddenly opening up the possibility of interstellar flight. Because of the discoveries Leigh made at the vent, she is then employed by a new, NASA-type space agency, that is prepping for long distance space travel, and Leigh is to research ways of using algae, and a mysterious organism she discovered in the vent, as a long-term food source for humans in space. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Leigh becomes one of the astronauts for the mission to go deeper into space than humanity has ever gone.

My summary here is so poor at expressing what happens in this book, but I don't want to give away any spoilers. However, the joy and wonder at nature, and how life has formed, and the things that humanity can do, is effusive in this book. It is deeply emotional. Leigh is a deeply flawed character, but I identified with her and the other characters in the book. There is a lot of hard science fiction, but it's also a book about humanity, and about Leigh in particular. It touches on themes of loss, family relationships, what we decide to do with our lives, and how we sacrifice for a greater purpose.

This is a piece of science fiction that will make you feel the same way as reading Carl Sagan's words about "the pale blue dot." I am not a good enough writer to express how affecting this book is, but boy did it make me feel. It was sorrowful and yet uplifting, technical and scientific and yet moving. It makes you see the interconnectedness of all things. This is science fiction that is ultimately about humanity and life. The ending, in particular, was gorgeous. If you enjoy sci-fi that makes you emotional and uplifted, this is the book for you. In fact, if you only take one recommendation from me this year, read In Ascension.

CW: Child abuse, Dementia, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse