After Atlas - Emma Newman

After Atlas

A Planetfall Novel

Emma Newman

Roc

Thriller/SciFi

Carlos Moreno has been famous since infancy.  His mother was one of the people (inspired or insane, depending on your view) who left on the ship called Atlas.  The ship was built in secret, by a well-funded cult, in an effort to find/follow God, at the behest of their charismatic leader.  Only so many people could travel on the ship, so most had to leave family members behind on Earth.  One of those was Carlos’ mother.  There was a famous documentary called “After Atlas” that detailed all of this.  Ever since, Carlos has been periodically approached by reporters of one kind or another for statements and follow-ups.  These encounters have been steadily escalating recently.  Atlas left behind a capsule that can only be opened in 40 years’ time.  That time is rapidly approaching, re-igniting interest in Atlas and those left behind.

Carlos has no use for journos.  His life, as it turned out, was not particularly happy.  But that’s no one else’s business.  He eventually found his way to a job as a gov-corp detective.  In this future Earth, governments and huge corporations have largely merged, to keep the money and the power consolidated.  He’s very good at what he does.  He never leaves a puzzle unsolved.  This case is different.  The murder victim is Alejandro Casales, the leader of the Circle cults.  Carlos spent some years in that cult with his father, and, at one time, looked up to Alejandro as a substitute father.  That all ended some years ago.  Now Carlos must put his personal feelings, good and bad, aside, and figure out exactly what happened here, and why.

On one level, this is a futuristic murder mystery.  The forensic and crime scene techniques are very advanced, but the detective work is familiar.  As a counterpoint to the new tech, the scene of the crime is a very upscale hotel.  It provides amenities like real food.  Food in this society is usually cheaply produced using organic substrates and printers.  Purchasing real food is a luxury only the rich can afford.  Carlos takes the job, in part, because he’ll be able to take meals at the hotel.  This is science fiction, but it’s very much character-driven.

It’s clear early on that Alejandro’s death is not exactly what it seems.  The obvious conclusion is suicide, but Carlos knows that self-harm contradicts all of Alejandro’s beliefs and teachings.  He’s being pressured to make the call, and, like all good detectives, that puts him on edge.  If he’s being pushed in one direction, he should probably look in another.  The single crime widens into a world-wide issue.  The characters presented are all three-dimensional and organic to the setting.  This author excels at scene-setting.  The world here is mostly like ours, but the differences are both surprising and understandable.  As the investigation widens, we’re introduced to some of the big players in gov-corps.  These people are absolutely believable, especially if you’ve been following current events at all. 

This is the second novel in this series.  If you haven’t yet read PLANETFALL, it’s not necessary for enjoying this novel.  If you have, it will give you a deeper understanding of some aspects of the story here.  I would recommend reading it for the sheer pleasure of it.  These two books are flip sides of a coin.  PLANETFALL tells the story (part of it) of those who left.  This one tells about those left on Earth.  I’m hoping there’s more to this series.  I know I’ll be following this author, wherever she decides to take me next.

Rating: 9

November 2018

ISBN# 978-0-425-28240-3 (trade paperback)