A review by leoberenson
XX by Rian Hughes

funny hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

XX by Rian Hughes is unlike any book I have ever read. Even just on a presentation level, XX does something incredibly unique by combining a traditional chapter structure with random interludes of other fictional pieces of writing, ranging from Wikipedia articles to an entire eight-part science fiction serial called “Ascension”. All of these extra bits of written work serve to further the story, which itself is a fascinating look at consciousness and the power of words/language told through the lens of an “invasion” of Earth by an alien signal. The book tells a galaxy-spanning tale over its colossal length of just over 1000 pages, but not once was I anything less than fully invested. For any sci-fi fan who wants to experience a book unlike almost any other science fiction story out there, I would strongly recommend XX.