A review by bex_hexandrecs
When the Sparrow Falls by Neil Sharpson

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

 

 “I am me. No one else can be me.” 

 

Genres: Sci-Fi/Mystery/Thriller/ 

Subgenres: Dystopian, Psychological, Political Fiction, Debut, Hard SF 

 

A horrifying and irresistibly vivid story following the espionage of Nikolai South through the war-infused terrain in a futuristic and very dystopian earth (circa year 2200’s). The last remaining human state is fueled by fear. Outside this territory, is a utopia of AI beings and machines. But the constant question of, “why do the humans remain so oppressed? Is it by the man or machine?” 

 

Sharpson takes the time this story deserves to allow the world to feel full while not overindulging in introspections. Handling flashbacks and different formats of file logs/scripture quotes/and general dialogue with care so they do not feel overly complex. Humour, the grim kind, is peppered into the prose with intention and allows for even the most hard sci-fi scenes to feel incredibly human. 

 

A carouseling thought that continued to surface while reading this story was: that this feels more like a recounting than a projected future. Nothing inside of When The Sparrow Falls felt far-reaching, albeit bleak and nightmarish at times, but never too “out there” in terms of what could be true for our future planet. A retro spy op aesthetic emulsifying with futuristic tech and landscape brought about the most fun and dynamic plot progression. 

 

Learning this story was originally a play and came into being more than a decade ago, makes the concepts within the duplicity of Artificial Intelligence and consciousness transference a wonder for its time. Like, Sharpson…what else do you know!? *Also Sally Coe is my favourite and she has won my heart. 

 

When reading a thick and gooey syrup of a sci-fi such as this one, I try to remove the fancy, glittering future soaked themes and look more at the base information and messages therein. In doing so with this story, and without spoiling the ending, I have come to realize, When The Sparrow Falls, can really settle with the message that; fighting the inevitable evolution of humans and technology alike, means survival is not guaranteed to those unwilling to change. 

 

Like a bottomless wicker basket being filled with berries along a forest stroll, the reader collects hints and trinkets to hold onto and hopes to speculate how this story concludes… I would wager you will also not be able to guess far ahead as to how this tale ends, which is the show of a skillful writer. 

 

I hope more sci-fi enthusiasts give this book/audiobook a go. It deserves to be read and talked about. Especially now. Believing in humanity and keeping hands held out to catch falling sparrows may be foolish…but to each sparrow that makes all the difference.