Generations

May 27, 2024
An epic SF political noir set on a generation ship as humanity faces perhaps the most consequential decisions in its history, Generations proves as brisk and engaging as it is ambitious. Eight generations after its launch, the Thetis is facing two crucial decision points: first, a once-every-quarter-century election for primo, “the number one citizen” on a ship of equals. Second: the question of whether to land at the original target planet, two generations away, or to press on in search of someplace possibly more habitable. Sandrine Liet, a “Gen7” traveler, is proud to have achieved the role of Senior Archivist despite not yet being 30, though she’s chagrined at the bureaucratic nonsense that denied her and her ex-partner the right to participate in a Birthing Year. But her world will be shaken by what she uncovers when she’s asked to look into the presiding primo’s report of an attempt at extortion.
Primo Sebastian Anderson (motto: “Stability and Unity”) insists that Sandrine file and forget the charge—and when she pokes around, discovering a coverup and a potential threat to all life on the ship, Anderson’s team threatens her with possibly missing all future Birthing Years, too. Josephides (author of Tuichi) honors expectations of multiple genres—the unsettling paranoia of political thrillers, the awe and invention of science fiction, the shoe-leather investigation of the procedural—as Sandrine chases down leads, interviews a host of shipmates who reveal fascinating detail about ship life, and faces accusations, hard choices, and danger.
Sandrine proves a compelling hero, one driven by duty and belief in the principles behind the mission—principles that Anderson seems all-too-eager to exploit. She’s driven but human (“Speak Thetan, please,” she snaps to a long-winded scientist), and her investigation offers a memorable tour through the ship’s people, culture, tech, and secrets. Seasoned mystery readers may find the identity of the villain obvious, but the civilizational stakes, lived-in worldbuilding, and assured storytelling all satisfy.
Takeaway: Satisfying generation ship mystery, with strong worldbuilding.
Comparable Titles: Patrick S. Tomlinson’s Children of a Dead Earth series, Nick Harkaway’s Titanium Noir.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

An archivist unearths possible corruption--and worse--aboard a colony spaceship headed toward a habitable planet in Josephides' SF thriller. Sandrine Liet lives among thousands of other passengers on the Thetis, a multilevel, multigenerational ship that's been traveling from Old Earth for nearly two centuries. It's headed for one of two potential planets for "Resettlement"--a decision that must be finalized soon. Until then, 29-year-old Sandrine, as a Senior Archivist, continues to oversee the Code of Law on a ship that hasn't experienced violent crime in four generations. She handles an accusation of attempted extortion from the Thetis' leader, PrimoSebastian Anderson, although the accusation becomes suspicious when Anderson later tells her to forget all about it. Rather than dropping the issue, "protocol-purist" Sandrine tracksthe missing, would-be extortionist: a scientist named Almaz Bashiri, who asserts that Anderson may be involved in an attempt to weaponize his research. What exactly the leader is up to--along with his wife, Cassidi, who heads the Public Health Security division--is a bit murky. Later, data goes missing in an archive system that was supposed to have undeletable files, and the Andersons try to sully Sandrine's name in the media. She pieces together a conspiracy that involves deceit, political corruption, and maybe even murder, although she'll need rock-solid evidence to prove her case. Josephides packs a lot of worldbuilding and backstory into this novel, starting by laying out the tower-shaped Thetis. Copious levels house residential areas, the Archive office, and the Sensory Farm, which is primarily used for educational purposes. Although the pleasant Level 19, where Sandrine lives, provides her with solace, the nerve-wracking lower levels appear to harbor dark secrets. Many gleefully curious details surrounding the Thetisgradually come to light over the course of the novel, most of them tied into the growing conspiracy. For example, alleged extremists called Eternists champion space habitats over planet-bound ones, and Sandrine's hacker ex-partner, Kilian Ngo, was involved in activities that got Sandrine's permission to have children revoked "for only associating with him." Kilian is just one of several memorable members of the cast, which also includes Sandrine's boss, Nyasha Woo, who treats her like a family member. Sandrine, however, is the most entertaining character--she takes guff from no one and stays cool in nearly every situation. For instance, when one of Anderson's loyal right-hand men responds to one of his directions in her presence, Sandrine remarks, "Good dog." The author explains the distant-future tech thoroughly and intelligently, from the encrypted chip implanted into each passenger's finger to the Thetis' manner of propulsion. In contrast, the investigative side of things is deliberately cryptic; characters either avoid directly answering questions or engage in prolonged discussions before offering any elucidation. For much of the novel, Sandrine is baffled, and most readers will likely be, too. Nevertheless, the ending provides a welcome and gratifying resolution. Extraordinary space travelers propel this dense but undeniably enthralling journey.

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