Nine Layers of Sky

by Liz Williams

In such novels as The Poison Master and Empire of Bones, Liz Williams sparked readers’ imaginations by creating worlds at once strange and familiar. Now this bold new writer delivers a profound and provocative look at human nature in a timely novel of a nation--and a world--torn asunder, and of a hope that refuses to die.Nine Layers of SkyA former Soviet rocket scientist, Elena Irinovna now cleans office buildings--until she crosses paths with Ilya Muromyets. A remnant of Russia’s glorious and fabled past, Ilya is an eight-hundred-year-old hero turned heroin addict, dreaming of a death that never comes. They are brought together by a strange artifact Elena has found, which offers a glimpse into another dimension, creating a dangerous breach in a world Elena only thought she knew... Ilya is no stranger to the unexplained. He’s been hired by a mysterious organization to track down the artifact. But nothing prepares him for what it offers--or for a woman like Elena. Fighting their own inner demons as well as those from across the breach, Ilya and Elena embark on a harrowing trip between nations and worlds. And for the first time the man of myth and the woman of science discover that they have a dream to defend--and even die for...From the Paperback edition.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Russia

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2003

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Liz Williams is a British science fiction writer. Her first novel, The Ghost Sister was published in 2001. Both this novel and her next, Empire of Bones (2002) were nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.[1] She is also the author of the Inspector Chen series.

She is the daughter of a stage magician and a Gothic novelist. She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge. She has had short stories published in Asimov's, Interzone, The Third Alternative and Visionary Tongue. From the mid-nineties until 2000, she lived and worked in Kazakhstan.[2] Her experiences there are reflected in her 2003 novel Nine Layers of Sky. Her novels have been published in the US and the UK, while her third novel The Poison Master (2003) has been translated into Dutch.

Series:
* Detective Inspector Chen
* Darkland

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book defines mediocre.

After a few chapters it wasn't really capturing my attention, but I identified pretty strongly with the protagonist and her situation in life for several reasons, so I stuck with it.

And while I don't regret that decision, I'm not thrilled with it either.

In modern-day Russia a former Soviet scientist works as a cleaning woman and struggles to save enough money for her family to move to Canada in search of better opportunities. On a trip to a neighboring country she finds a small object something like a gemstone, but is disappointed to find that it is apparently worthless. Meanwhile, a several-hundred-year-old "hero" of ancient legend is sent by a mysterious character to find said object.

What follows is an utterly predictable and unoriginal "adventure" through multiple parallel universes, accompanied by an equally predictable and underdeveloped "romance" between the two leads as they try to unravel the mystery of this object and the role it has played in the development of the world of the story.

Perhaps this is coming off as overly harsh. The book really isn't that bad. If you're stuck on a 6 hour plane ride it will pass the time, and there's nothing really WRONG with it aside from a little sloppiness of description regarding plot events (several times I completely missed the transition to the parallel world and had to re-read several pages to figure out what the heck was going on). It's just incredibly bland. There are plenty more interesting, thought-provoking, and even mindelessly entertaining books out there.

[ark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit that rating this book was a very difficult decision, somehow it became personal and even harder because of it. I'm not sure if projecting expectations on reviews makes me a good reviewer or quite the opposite.
But actually, might be the former, because one of writer's tasks is to create expectations and then, either ignore them completely (do not read), fulfill them to the letter (mediocre stuff) or blow them up in a way which makes your brain short-circuit. The last one is called inspiration and is the best thing one can get from reading. Of course most books are somewhere on the axis, in between aforementioned defining points.
Nine Layers of Sky creates so much promises at the beginning - awful, depressing, but still, very intense ones. Yet halfway through this intensity somehow burns down, or even worse, burns out. The author weaves this amazing atmosphere, both thick and chilly (for me even more striking since I'd qualify it as uncanny valley, not familiar enough to be perceived in a direct, conscious way, but also not alien enough to feel disconnected, something in between; all that spiced up with tales spun around historical references which is my favourite thing to do ever) and then kills it with infodump, almost nonexistent imagery and emotional shallowness. All this somehow simultaneously combined with complete lack of clarity about how this world works (Nine layers? Of sky? But why?) overdoing, or rather overusing (still, I wouldn't say abusing) folklore and multiplying angst.
Feeling nothing while reading your potentially favourite book's finale is the worst case of the promise being broken.

[Matti Tornio · Rating 2 out of 5]

The novel starts promisingly enough and the premise is quite interesting. Unfortunately the main plot is weak and the ending in particular felt quite underwhelming. The writing can be quite awkward at times too with some odd word choices.

[Elizabeth Horton]

I always enjoy fantasy set on the backdrop of other cultures than the common medieval western European ones, but also feel wary of books like that not written by people of those cultures.

It was an entertaining read, but I don’t think I will read the next in the series.

[Lenora Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Soviet Union collapsed, Elena went from being an astrophysicist at Baikonur to being a janitor in her hometown of Almaty, who makes extra money buying and selling clothes on the black market. On her last trip, she picks up a small spherical object that is heavy, and oddly warm. As a scientist, she becomes curious and keeps it to study.

Ilya is 800 years old, a warrior of myth and legend, not quite human, but not sure of what he really is, who has one goal in life — to be able to die. Every time he is close to death, the rusalka come and heal him, against his will.

Ilya is hired to find the small, round object, and not only does he find it, he finds Elena, and together they discover the object can open gateways into an alternate Soviet Union, on another planet. Together, they must decide who gets the "key" and where they will live. Elena, the scientist does not know all the players. Ilya, the legend, does, and has spent 800 years hating and fearing some of them. But, are they who and what he has believed all this time?

I had a hard time putting this book down. I loved the characters, and the travel down the Silk Road in both universes. The ending came at just the right time, and was both satisfactory and conclusive. There are a few loose ends flying in the breeze here and there, but nothing serious, and perhaps, eventually, there will be a sequel?

I look forward to reading more books by Liz Williams.

[Maurynne Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept this book from 2003 because it had a big impact on me; I remembered it had something to do with technology and environmentalism. I re-read it this week. One of those sci-fi prophecy books, evidently. It takes place in post-Gorbachev Russia and an alternate world (aliens, indigenes, or elves included), and the entire “real-world” emotions of a woman space scientist who’s cleaning for a living, and the despair and particularly the government sound just like America today. Putin is even mentioned as one of Russia’s Great Men at the time and I have to say he has achieved his revenge here in 2018, just 15 years on. Every tactic of propaganda and gaslighting, used in the recent/current American political scene—every tried and true tactic of totalitarianism is part of the background of the story...also how much women have to fight for respect and make do without it. It is kind of awkward and a the author writing nowadays probably wouldn't have written such sexist scenes--but it's Russia, paternalistic Russia. And as we've been made aware, not much has changed since the 1970s in many countries for many men and women in the real world. And not much in the way of politics has changed in all human history, either.
It’s a good book and offers up for hope dreams, change, science, and alternate worlds. For our dreams, we should look both to the past and the future. But please not the Russia or the America of today.
I recommend the book, especially as a re-read.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the premise interesting but I never really got into it.

[Nathan Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Review of Nine Layers of Sky

Liz Williams' Nine Layers of Sky is a captivating blend of fantasy and historical fiction, offering a unique exploration of love, loss, and the supernatural.

The novel's intricate plot, set against the backdrop of post-Soviet Russia, is both intriguing and thought-provoking. Williams skillfully weaves together elements of fantasy, mythology, and historical fiction, creating a richly detailed world that is both familiar and unfamiliar.

While the story's transitions between worlds may occasionally feel abrupt, they ultimately contribute to the novel's sense of adventure and mystery. The characters, particularly Elena and Ilya, are well-developed and relatable, adding depth and emotion to the narrative.

Overall, Nine Layers of Sky is a compelling and imaginative read that will appeal to fans of fantasy and historical fiction alike. Its exploration of themes of love, loss, and the supernatural is both poignant and thought-provoking, making it a memorable and rewarding reading experience.

[Juan Sanmiguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ilya Muromyets is an immortal Russian hero who has lived for 800 years. Elena Irinovna is a scientist who worked on the Russian space program. Now Elena must clean buildings to support her family. Elena finds a strange metal artifact from a dying man. Ilya on a bender is asked by mysterious stranger to recover this object. Ilya saves Elena from being attacked by rusalka (A Russian water spirit). Ilya convinces her to hand over the tool. Unfortunately the men they were going to give it to are killed. Elena and Ilya are on the run. The object is portal to a parallel world. A world were things turned out better. Still there dangers from this world and the new one. Can Elena and Ilya figure out what to do before it is too late. Cool all the stuff about Russian history and culture. Williams describes the bleak world of post Communist Russia. Elena and Ilya are classic Russian characters trying to make the best of seemingly hopeless situation.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

When an ancient artifact opens borders between the former USSR and Byelovodye (where dreams become real), a former astrophysicist turning cleaning lady and an 800-year-old hero turned drug addict must unite to save both worlds.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat fantastical concept, setting well evoked, actual story rather thin.

[Mervi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A stand-alone SF book set in a post-Soviet Union Russia with a healthy dose of Russian myths.

Elena Irinovna is an astrophysicist and she used to work in the U.S.S.R.'s space program. After the collapse of the Soviet government, the space program was ruthlessly cut down and Elena was one of the people who ended up unemployed. Like most people, she's trying to survive as best she can. She and her family live in Kazakhstan. She managed to get a job as a cleaner and smuggles stolen goods in order to get so much money that she, her mother, and her sister can move to Canada. On a run to Uzbekistan to sell clothing, her ride is stopped at the border and she runs into a corpse which has a curious, small object in his hand. Elena takes it.

In St. Petersburg, Ilya Muromyets is again near death but like all other times before, a rusalka appears and heals him. Ilya was born 800 years ago and is one of the legendary Russian Sons of the Sun, a bogatyr. However, in recent years he's been very depressed and looking for death. Only heroin has given him a little solace. Then, a strange man called Kovalin appears in his apartment. Kovalin claims that he knows what Ilya is and he might even help Ilya – if Ilya helps Kovalin first. Ilya agrees to find a strange object Kovalin is looking for.

The book has nine parts and each part has at least one chapter set in a world called Byelovodye where Colonel Anikova and her team are looking for a small object. Anikova's team includes a Mechvor who can look into other people's thoughts and dreams.

Elena's and Ilya's lives have become bleak and desperate. Elena still dreams about stars but she doesn't believe that she can return to anything like her old job, even in Canada. At the same time, she's lucky because she has a job and can even save money. The book portrays the brutal reality of the modern Russians and parts of it are really depressing to read. Elena's sister was a lawyer and now she's a waitress and resorts to prostitution, too. Elena wants to protect her family but that's not easy.

Ilya is a figure from Russian legends and we get to see a few more of the centuries old Russian heroes. For a long time, Ilya tried to live up to the legend but ended up as a soldier in various wars. He became bitter and disillusioned, and now longs for death. However, he still has the instincts to protect others from the rusalki, the female monsters from mythology.

Byelovodye is a fascinating place and also from Russian myths. It's said to be another world where dreams can come true. The question is, whose dreams?

The plot is slow at times, when our protagonists travel around, and furious at other times. There aren't many fight scenes but they're fast. Once again, people (and others) are usually not what they appear at first glance.

I liked the ideas more than the characters and I would have loved to see more of the Byelovodye's side.

[Chip Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book for numerous reasons, but I found that elements of it were predictable, despite the not-so-predictable elements of Russian folklore woven into both the text and the subtext of the novel. I was glad to see a different, fictionalized treatment of Ilya Muromets, and I found the handling of his character to be quite satisfying. Not perfect, but satisfying. In short, this was a good read: solid writing, solid plotting, wonderful cameos by a host of critters and characters from Russian/Slavic mythology/folklore. I think I was expecting more of a commentary/comparison between the Soviet Union and the world that replaced it; there was a bit of that in there, but the "astrophysicist working as a cleaning lady" conceit seemed a bit broad to me; there's nothing wrong with that and it served the book well, but I think that there could have been a little more meat added to the story. I guess that's a backhanded way of saying that this book was good enough to leave me wishing for more. The pacing was great and unlike most nuts-and-bolts science fiction stories, this one read like a piece of fiction rather than a class syllabus with dialogue, and that's always a good thing. I suspect, though, that the author pulled more punches than she should have, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to get into but it slowly progressed. The author seems to like revealing the world and the characters slowly with the explanations toward the end of the book. The characters were different from the stock but I felt not enough of them was revealed through their interactions with each other. There is quite a bit of internal dialog but why the characters "fall in love" is difficult for the reader to understand unless it is the simple bond of 2 lonely people escaping an unknown enemy(ies)

I felt there was as much left out of this book as was put into the book and I can't help but be curious about the rest of the untold story. The creation of the other world that seemed to exist for the soviet state to continue was interesting but not fully comprehended by this reader.

I will consider reading other boks by this author because of the generous use of imagination without rote trite and over rehearsed storylines.

[Cissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to really like Liz Williams' writing, and this is no exception. The plotting and the characters are wonderfully well-done, and the world is fascinating- it's a sort of multiverse but based on Russian (mostly) antecedents.

I have to give an especial amount of praise to the pacing- it was just perfect, and involved the plotting and characterizations wonderfully well.

As is often the case with Williams' novels- I have never before read anything quite like them. I love that! I've been a passionate reader for at least 45 years now, and it's such a joy to read something for which I cannot cite ALL the influences, because it's unique.

I'd say this is urban fantasy, but not the kind with vamps and weres. It's got it's own take on the "supernatural", and a well-thought-out and fascinating take it is.

Recommended for sf/f fans; it sort of bridges the space between science fiction and fantasy.

[kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could give 3,5 stars, I would. I found this book by accident and the title (however irrelevant to plot) captured my attention; and I keep thinking about the narrative. I gave it a big thumbs up for the interesting setting, but I'm still uncertain about the author's take on the so-called Slavic soul. Maybe for an American reader it'd be exotic, but for me reflections on Slavic-ness often bordered on unnecessary, unconvincing cultural fetishization. On the other hand, I liked the way that Russian folklore was intervowen into plot. Moreover, the protagonists were well-rounded and I was almost instantly invested in their backstories as well as the not-so-obvious romance. Another strong point was pacing: this book felt just perfect, not rushed and not too slow. It left just enough to readers' imagination. It could be longer and slightly more elaborate, and I wouldn't complain, but it's good as it is.

[Anne Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished Nine Layers of Sky by Liz Williams. It took a long time to draw to a conclusion (it's a very thick trade paperback, which my currently-sprained left thumb did not appreciate), but it was fascinating throughout, bouncing between Russia and other parts of Central Asia, and an Other world that may be stealing its dreams, myths and heroes. Or is that where the mythic creatures and heroes came from in the first place?

Interesting protagonists, including a female scientist who was once part of Russia's space program and yearns for a future where she could be part of that dream again.

Recommended.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. This author's writing is so vivid and intelligent that it has spoiled me for other lesser genre writers. I loved the relationship between the two main characters, who were damaged in different ways and ultimately gave each other something they both needed--love, the chance to fulfill a dream, and discover a destiny. I felt as though I lived in their world for a little while--the beauty and harshness of the Russian land and the rundown, sad cities left in the wake of socialism were places I walked around in. I would go back again.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

the cultural aspects were very cool. fantasy and "reality" wove together nicely. my only real dislike has to do with the "aftertaste." it left me feeling dimly existential, which i generally avoid as i need no help being melancholy.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted this to be in the old school SF tradition where the characters take a backseat to the worldbuilding... it wasn't. There were characters. They were fine characters, but in the end, I wanted to see how the real-world and dream-world former USSRs would interact, and I was left unsatisfied.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way Liz Williams writes, plus this book takes place in a locale that is very exotic to me: Russia. (More specifically the former USSR.) I'm not as conversant with this area of the world and its' legends as perhaps I might be-that made this a particularly interesting read.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Urban Fantasy set in Central Asia woven in with Post-Soviet Russia. A solid read.

[Johnny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could have gotten into the book more, but it didn't flow very well, and took a long time for the story to develop. Also the main story wasn't all that interesting.

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky, sci-fi myth thingie set in Central Asia. Not a spectacular book but the novel setting and appeals to Central Asian mythology, like Manas, make it enjoyable.

[Krisnow18]

Not my favorite. It got quite confusing.