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The Infinite Miles
Fans of Claudia Gray and Kelly Link will love Hannah Fergesen's wild and poignant debut--a wacky time-traveling sci-fi odyssey wrapped in an elegiac ode to lost friendship and a clever homage to Doctor Who. To save the future, she must return to the beginning. Three years after her best friend Peggy went missing, Harper Starling is lost. Lost in her dead-end job, lost in her grief. All she has are regrets and reruns of her favorite science fiction show, Infinite Odyssey. Then Peggy returns and demands to be taken to the Argonaut, the fictional main character of Infinite Odyssey. But the Argonaut is just that ... fictional. Until the TV hero himself appears and spirits Harper away from her former best friend. Traveling through time, he explains that Peggy used to travel with him but is now under the thrall of an alien enemy known as the Incarnate--one that has destroyed countless solar systems. Then he leaves Harper in 1971. Stranded in the past, Harper must find a way to end the Incarnate's thrall ... without the help of the Argonaut. But the cosmos are nothing like the technicolor stars of the TV show she loves, and if Harper can't find it in herself to believe--in the Argonaut, in Peggy, and most of all, in herself--she'll be the Incarnate's next casualty, along with the rest of the universe.
318 pages, Hardcover
First published June 20, 2023
19 people are currently reading
5379 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Fergesen
2 books35 followersHannah Fergesen is a former literary agent who represented New York Times bestselling and award-nominated authors. Now, on the other side of the table, Hannah can be found exploring themes of grief, queerness, and self-acceptance through their own speculative fiction. The Infinite Miles is their first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
May 22, 2023
This novel is such a beautifully written exploration of loss, love, and redemption wrapped in a delicious and exhilarating sci-fi candy coating. I would absolutely recommend for others to feel everything that comes along with becoming attached to these imperfect, complicated, and relatable characters. Hannah is an absolute master of mood and atmosphere in their writing -- there's a palpable reverence, specificity, and respect for words in their style, but never did it feel overly flowery or self-indulgent. I felt so incredibly connected to Harper and her journey -- her grief, her rage, her hopes, her fears, and her love for those she meets along the way. I *felt* her in some part of me. Getting lost in this book was easy, exciting, cathartic, and ultimately, joyful. Bravo, Hannah!
June 16, 2023
I was so excited for this to be an entertaining listen, and it was a let down.
The plot description sounds like a wacky space adventure that matches the fun of watching an old Doctor Who episode. The problem is that despite all of this, the tone is decidedly dour. Harper is an angry, resentful main character. The Argonaut doesn't add any levity: he's bitter and has decided there's no way for him to help anyone.
I liked the glimpse we got into Miles's backstory, but that was only an aside. The way Harper's feeling for Peggy are a reveal near the end rubbed me the wrong way, and we don't get any resolution to their relationship (of whatever nature), even though the whole book seems to be leading up to that.
Maybe if I had been prepared for it to be a heavy read and not a fun space adventure, I might have liked it more—but in my defense, the description for this book calls it a “wacky time-traveling sci-fi odyssey,” so I think I can be forgiven for thinking it would be fun and not bleak!
This was one I was so excited for and ended up feeling disappointed.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
The plot description sounds like a wacky space adventure that matches the fun of watching an old Doctor Who episode. The problem is that despite all of this, the tone is decidedly dour. Harper is an angry, resentful main character. The Argonaut doesn't add any levity: he's bitter and has decided there's no way for him to help anyone.
I liked the glimpse we got into Miles's backstory, but that was only an aside. The way Harper's feeling for Peggy are a reveal near the end rubbed me the wrong way, and we don't get any resolution to their relationship (of whatever nature), even though the whole book seems to be leading up to that.
Maybe if I had been prepared for it to be a heavy read and not a fun space adventure, I might have liked it more—but in my defense, the description for this book calls it a “wacky time-traveling sci-fi odyssey,” so I think I can be forgiven for thinking it would be fun and not bleak!
This was one I was so excited for and ended up feeling disappointed.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
June 19, 2023
4.5*
The Infinite Miles was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and I was not let down! I loved this story about friendship and fandom, set across time and space. My one minor qualm was that some of the more technical stuff went a wee bit above my head, but that did not take away my enjoyment of this great story! I am going to tell you why I liked it, because that is always fun!
►It felt like a love story to fandom. So, as likely everyone reading this knows, I am inordinately enamored with The 100. Like, it has become a huge part of my life, even afterJason tried to ruin our lives it ended. So from the start, I could relate to Harper and Peggy's love for Infinite Voyage, and how deeply it had rooted itself in their lives and friendship. I know this is an homage of sorts to Doctor Who, but the truth is, anyone who has felt deeply about any fandom can relate to this story.
►The characters were great. I loved Harper, I really did. She just felt so realistic, so... average, and I don't mean that in a negative way! Just that she could be any of us, having the ups and downs of regular life, when she's thrown into this time traveling, alien mess. And so, she fumbles. A lot, because we would too. But she clearly has the best interests of her friends, and even strangers, at heart, which made me feel that much more invested.
►I also really enjoyed the world building. So, this alien collective mind thing reminded me of The 100, where they are kind of a hive mind of sorts? And just like in The 100, these beings somehow got the idea that they should be able to control all the species, which is really annoying, especially if you are part of a species that doesn't fancy being controlled, as humans are. So that was compelling in itself, but the time travel stuff was really fascinating too. I don't really want to tell you much about what kind of time travel this is (is it weird that there are like, "brands" of time travel? Well- I worry that if I tell you what "brand" this is it'll give away too much, so shh), but I haven't seen a ton of its kind, and I really was intrigued by it!
►There are a lot of great twists! I love when I am like "ahhh so THAT is why that thing happened!" and everything falls into place and makes you feel satisfied. There is a lot of that in this story, and I dug it. A lot.
Bottom Line: While the time travel and alien aspects are awesome, the warmth and strength of the characters is what made me really love this book!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
The Infinite Miles was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and I was not let down! I loved this story about friendship and fandom, set across time and space. My one minor qualm was that some of the more technical stuff went a wee bit above my head, but that did not take away my enjoyment of this great story! I am going to tell you why I liked it, because that is always fun!
►It felt like a love story to fandom. So, as likely everyone reading this knows, I am inordinately enamored with The 100. Like, it has become a huge part of my life, even after
►The characters were great. I loved Harper, I really did. She just felt so realistic, so... average, and I don't mean that in a negative way! Just that she could be any of us, having the ups and downs of regular life, when she's thrown into this time traveling, alien mess. And so, she fumbles. A lot, because we would too. But she clearly has the best interests of her friends, and even strangers, at heart, which made me feel that much more invested.
►I also really enjoyed the world building. So, this alien collective mind thing reminded me of The 100, where they are kind of a hive mind of sorts? And just like in The 100, these beings somehow got the idea that they should be able to control all the species, which is really annoying, especially if you are part of a species that doesn't fancy being controlled, as humans are. So that was compelling in itself, but the time travel stuff was really fascinating too. I don't really want to tell you much about what kind of time travel this is (is it weird that there are like, "brands" of time travel? Well- I worry that if I tell you what "brand" this is it'll give away too much, so shh), but I haven't seen a ton of its kind, and I really was intrigued by it!
►There are a lot of great twists! I love when I am like "ahhh so THAT is why that thing happened!" and everything falls into place and makes you feel satisfied. There is a lot of that in this story, and I dug it. A lot.
Bottom Line: While the time travel and alien aspects are awesome, the warmth and strength of the characters is what made me really love this book!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
May 24, 2023
Rated 4.5 really.
Pros: Inventive, heartfelt twist on the time-travel trope. Ode to the power of friendship and hope.
Cons: You have to buy into a specific branch of time travel in order to suspend your disbelief (click on the link at your own risk - it will spoil part of the fun...).
WARNING! Contains some violence and a dose of dark imagery (face scars, black blood, stabbing).
Will appeal to: Fans of Doctor Who (especially the Matt Smith era). People who know how to love ardently (and fight for what they love).
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Edelweiss. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE
Let's address the elephant in the room first: if the synopsis gives you strong Doctor Who vibes, it's intentional. Ferguson does pay homage to the iconic British show and its titular character in the form of the Argonaut, a time traveler who trades the Doctor's space vessel masquerading as a blue police box for his own spaceship disguised as a black muscle car (and occasionally a lime-green VW bus). However, despite taking its cue from the long-lived TV series, The Infinite Miles isn't anything like fan fiction made novel. The disillusioned and bitter Argonaut couldn't be more different from whatever incarnation of the Doctor (even troubled time-war-survivor Nine and grumpy post-regeneration Twelve) if he tried. And for all their parallels and (often clever and oblique) similarities, the novel puts a number of spins on its source material and creates its own independent mythology, while ultimately conveying the same message of hope and love (self-love, too) being the biggest weapons. Let's put it this way: if you're a Doctor Who aficionado, you'll gobble this book up. If you've never seen the show, but you like time-travel stories that span both the Earth and the stars, and sci-fi with a heart, you'll love The Infinite Miles nevertheless - and maybe pick up Doctor Who because of it. [...]
Whole review here.
Pros: Inventive, heartfelt twist on the time-travel trope. Ode to the power of friendship and hope.
Cons: You have to buy into a specific branch of time travel in order to suspend your disbelief (click on the link at your own risk - it will spoil part of the fun...).
WARNING! Contains some violence and a dose of dark imagery (face scars, black blood, stabbing).
Will appeal to: Fans of Doctor Who (especially the Matt Smith era). People who know how to love ardently (and fight for what they love).
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Edelweiss. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE
Let's address the elephant in the room first: if the synopsis gives you strong Doctor Who vibes, it's intentional. Ferguson does pay homage to the iconic British show and its titular character in the form of the Argonaut, a time traveler who trades the Doctor's space vessel masquerading as a blue police box for his own spaceship disguised as a black muscle car (and occasionally a lime-green VW bus). However, despite taking its cue from the long-lived TV series, The Infinite Miles isn't anything like fan fiction made novel. The disillusioned and bitter Argonaut couldn't be more different from whatever incarnation of the Doctor (even troubled time-war-survivor Nine and grumpy post-regeneration Twelve) if he tried. And for all their parallels and (often clever and oblique) similarities, the novel puts a number of spins on its source material and creates its own independent mythology, while ultimately conveying the same message of hope and love (self-love, too) being the biggest weapons. Let's put it this way: if you're a Doctor Who aficionado, you'll gobble this book up. If you've never seen the show, but you like time-travel stories that span both the Earth and the stars, and sci-fi with a heart, you'll love The Infinite Miles nevertheless - and maybe pick up Doctor Who because of it. [...]
Whole review here.
August 5, 2023
This book is about broken friendships, grief, regret, and yes, it is also about time travel. It centers on Harper Starling, a young woman who's consumed by guilt over what happened to her childhood friend Peggy, who disappeared a few years ago and left no clues as to where she might have gone. One day Peggy shows up in Harper's apartment, very much unlike her old self, and so does the Argonaut and his time traveling vehicle (from Infinite Odyssey, the show Harper and Peggy used to love watching as kids). But that can't be real, Harper thinks. The Argonaut is just a fictional character, right?
The first half of this novel was a 5/5 read, but around the 50-60% mark, the book divided attention between Harper and Miles (the not so fictional Argonaut). Everything stopped just so the character could give tons of exposition and back history that didn't really need to be given. Also, the whole subplot with Harper being stuck in the early 70s and developing a friendship/romance with Anthony was just dropped completely, before the character made a very brief reappearance at the very end.
The main problem is how the character of Peggy was handled. The book seemed to be building up to an ending where Harper would confess her feelings and either die trying to save Peggy, or get that elusive happy ending. Well, neither of those things happened. After the climactic battle with the alien 'Big Bad', Peggy just disappears and leaves Harper and Miles in the present. I had to re-read that chapter to make sure I didn't miss something, but that was it. It's like the character was being developed, things were moving forward, her reunion with Harper was so emotional, and at the very end that was all discarded.
The first half of this novel was a 5/5 read, but around the 50-60% mark, the book divided attention between Harper and Miles (the not so fictional Argonaut). Everything stopped just so the character could give tons of exposition and back history that didn't really need to be given. Also, the whole subplot with Harper being stuck in the early 70s and developing a friendship/romance with Anthony was just dropped completely, before the character made a very brief reappearance at the very end.
The main problem is how the character of Peggy was handled. The book seemed to be building up to an ending where Harper would confess her feelings and either die trying to save Peggy, or get that elusive happy ending. Well, neither of those things happened. After the climactic battle with the alien 'Big Bad', Peggy just disappears and leaves Harper and Miles in the present. I had to re-read that chapter to make sure I didn't miss something, but that was it. It's like the character was being developed, things were moving forward, her reunion with Harper was so emotional, and at the very end that was all discarded.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2023
The Infinite Miles has an intriguing premise that I was very excited for. The author lays out the plan at the beginning of the book that this will be essentially Dr. Who fan fiction. It absolutely felt like that, but seemed disjointed and slow at times. The overall concept of what happens to the friend who gets left behind when the Doctor recruits a new companion to travel through space and time had the potential to be amazing, but fell flat.
Harper's best friend, Peggy, takes off with Miles and leaves Harper behind. Harper then has to battle a parasitic hive mind that feeds on her hate and anger and plans to take over the universe. The stakes never felt large enough and I could never figure out Peggy's motivations especially at the end. It had the potential to be an awesome queer romance, but never could get it's footing in that regard either.
I would be curious what any Whovian would say about this book and would love to see what they would say about this homage.
Harper's best friend, Peggy, takes off with Miles and leaves Harper behind. Harper then has to battle a parasitic hive mind that feeds on her hate and anger and plans to take over the universe. The stakes never felt large enough and I could never figure out Peggy's motivations especially at the end. It had the potential to be an awesome queer romance, but never could get it's footing in that regard either.
I would be curious what any Whovian would say about this book and would love to see what they would say about this homage.
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dnf
April 28, 2023Not in the mood for this writing style.
June 22, 2024
This is a such a love letter to “Doctor Who”. But that's not all this wonderful novel is. It's also a story of second chances as its characters grapple with the costs of leaving messes behind them as they travel through life, and of childhood friendships not always surviving when people grow up.
Harper Starling, works a dead-end job at a diner, is losing interest in her studies, and is still drowning is anger and grief three years after her best friend Peggy disappeared. Then, in a sudden, horrifying moment, Peggy returns, but it’s not the Peggy she loves. This stranger is intent on recovering an object she says Harper has, and then killing her. Harper flees, and is saved by Miles, the Argonaut, the hero of Harper's and Peggy's favourite TV show growing up, “Infinite Odyssey”. The premise of the show is that the Argonaut travels the universe in his incredible time-travelling spaceship, the Odyssey, which looks like a car.
Miles transports them to the same diner Harper currently works in, but back in time to 1971. Miles reluctantly reveals a bit about what is going on, which is that a malevolent entity called the Incarnate is destroying planets. Barely able to wrap her head around Peggy's reappearance, and their escape, Harper is shocked when Miles then strands her in 1971. Furious, Harper must rebuild her life, afraid of when next the assassin Peggy will reappear.
Harper also discovers the inception for “Infinite Odyssey”, while also encountering a younger Miles. She eventually convinces Miles to help her in finding Peggy somewhere in space and time while they continue to evade the Incarnate's efforts to kill them. Along the way, Harper begins dealing with the reasons why her friendship with Peggy broke down. By dealing with her own messes, Harper forces Miles to stop running from his own, so they can figure out how to neutralize the Incarnate's threat to the galaxy, and hopefully also save Peggy.
This is loopy, dramatic and fun storytelling, with lots of time travel shenanigans, played out with humour and compassion, resulting in several exciting and poignant scenes. Author Hannah Fergesen skilfully illustrates the difficulties of maintaining a friendship as we mature and change, how storytelling brings people together, and how difficult it can be to meet one’s heroes. And this is also a great homage to the terrifically long-running series about the “Mad man in a box”.
I really loved this book.
Harper Starling, works a dead-end job at a diner, is losing interest in her studies, and is still drowning is anger and grief three years after her best friend Peggy disappeared. Then, in a sudden, horrifying moment, Peggy returns, but it’s not the Peggy she loves. This stranger is intent on recovering an object she says Harper has, and then killing her. Harper flees, and is saved by Miles, the Argonaut, the hero of Harper's and Peggy's favourite TV show growing up, “Infinite Odyssey”. The premise of the show is that the Argonaut travels the universe in his incredible time-travelling spaceship, the Odyssey, which looks like a car.
Miles transports them to the same diner Harper currently works in, but back in time to 1971. Miles reluctantly reveals a bit about what is going on, which is that a malevolent entity called the Incarnate is destroying planets. Barely able to wrap her head around Peggy's reappearance, and their escape, Harper is shocked when Miles then strands her in 1971. Furious, Harper must rebuild her life, afraid of when next the assassin Peggy will reappear.
Harper also discovers the inception for “Infinite Odyssey”, while also encountering a younger Miles. She eventually convinces Miles to help her in finding Peggy somewhere in space and time while they continue to evade the Incarnate's efforts to kill them. Along the way, Harper begins dealing with the reasons why her friendship with Peggy broke down. By dealing with her own messes, Harper forces Miles to stop running from his own, so they can figure out how to neutralize the Incarnate's threat to the galaxy, and hopefully also save Peggy.
This is loopy, dramatic and fun storytelling, with lots of time travel shenanigans, played out with humour and compassion, resulting in several exciting and poignant scenes. Author Hannah Fergesen skilfully illustrates the difficulties of maintaining a friendship as we mature and change, how storytelling brings people together, and how difficult it can be to meet one’s heroes. And this is also a great homage to the terrifically long-running series about the “Mad man in a box”.
I really loved this book.
July 3, 2023
This book takes place in an alternate universe. Some things are the same, some are different. The author wants the reader to be able to see ourselves in this world…and oh boy, it was fun to do so.
This book is very clearly inspired by Doctor Who. Miles is the Doctor, Peggy the companion, and Peggy’s best friend Harper is the person left behind. The TARDIS? That is a 1972 Dodge Charger called Argo.
And … and … in this reality Harper and Peggy grew up watching a tv show about Argo and the Argonaut, somehow based on Miles life and travels through space and time. He doesn’t have a clue which of his companions gave him up to a tv producer, but someone did. Imagine being Peggy…you find out that your all time favorite tv character is real and invites you along for adventures. So cool.
Then … Peggy goes missing. Harper is waiting around for her ever since they had a huge falling out three years earlier, until Peggy comes back. But … Peggy isn’t Peggy anymore. Miles “saves” Harper but … what if he was burnt out, tired of losing companions, and ditches Harper in the 1970s after her best friend’s body was taken over by an alien parasite? What should Harper do?
I really enjoyed this. Now, you have to take this book for what it is. Don’t go into it hoping for something that will blow the genre wide open. If you are a fan of doctor who and want to read something that is fan fictiony but also has a tone and feeling of it’s own, please go for it! I lied earlier, Miles is NOT the doctor, the Argo is NOT the TARDIS, but they were clearly inspired by them. There is a strong overarching story, a hero you can and will root for (Harper), and the Argo is amazing. I will admit, I really didn’t like Peggy, but that is okay. I do wish she deserved Harper’s love and loyalty though.
Enough from me. If you want to read the book after reading this review? Go get it as soon as you are able. Strong four star rating.
Bonus points: the books title is super cute and punny. Love it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an arc of this book.
This book is very clearly inspired by Doctor Who. Miles is the Doctor, Peggy the companion, and Peggy’s best friend Harper is the person left behind. The TARDIS? That is a 1972 Dodge Charger called Argo.
And … and … in this reality Harper and Peggy grew up watching a tv show about Argo and the Argonaut, somehow based on Miles life and travels through space and time. He doesn’t have a clue which of his companions gave him up to a tv producer, but someone did. Imagine being Peggy…you find out that your all time favorite tv character is real and invites you along for adventures. So cool.
Then … Peggy goes missing. Harper is waiting around for her ever since they had a huge falling out three years earlier, until Peggy comes back. But … Peggy isn’t Peggy anymore. Miles “saves” Harper but … what if he was burnt out, tired of losing companions, and ditches Harper in the 1970s after her best friend’s body was taken over by an alien parasite? What should Harper do?
I really enjoyed this. Now, you have to take this book for what it is. Don’t go into it hoping for something that will blow the genre wide open. If you are a fan of doctor who and want to read something that is fan fictiony but also has a tone and feeling of it’s own, please go for it! I lied earlier, Miles is NOT the doctor, the Argo is NOT the TARDIS, but they were clearly inspired by them. There is a strong overarching story, a hero you can and will root for (Harper), and the Argo is amazing. I will admit, I really didn’t like Peggy, but that is okay. I do wish she deserved Harper’s love and loyalty though.
Enough from me. If you want to read the book after reading this review? Go get it as soon as you are able. Strong four star rating.
Bonus points: the books title is super cute and punny. Love it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an arc of this book.
June 20, 2023
Happy Release Day to "The Infinite Miles"! I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this gem through my local bookshop in April. I was intrigued by the cover and then had to read it once I read the synopsis.
I am so glad I did. I feel like this is a book that is "not for everybody," but only on the surface. Yes, it's time-traveling sci-fi with an unmistakable homage to Dr. Who. But Hannah's debut novel has so much to say about self-discovery, friendship and love.
I am so glad I did. I feel like this is a book that is "not for everybody," but only on the surface. Yes, it's time-traveling sci-fi with an unmistakable homage to Dr. Who. But Hannah's debut novel has so much to say about self-discovery, friendship and love.
May 8, 2023
A beautiful story about the delicate relationships between time and space, friendships and place, and identity and perception. There are many poignant story moments that add to conversations we should all be having, and they are woven wonderfully into an escapist fantasy that is equally full of wild whimsy and the heaviness of being human. If you like to fall into a story and really feel something, look no further than The Infinite Miles.
August 3, 2023
A fun time travel romp. A poignant story of friendship with characters you will love.
July 31, 2023
This book hurt. It hurt the way reading The Midnight Library did. In that healing scab way. Like you know it’s healing, but fuck if it doesn’t itch.
And on a lighter note: READ THIS IF YOU’VE EVER DREAMED OF TRAVELING TO DISTANT PLANETS WITH THE DOCTOR AND HIS BLUE BOX!
And on a lighter note: READ THIS IF YOU’VE EVER DREAMED OF TRAVELING TO DISTANT PLANETS WITH THE DOCTOR AND HIS BLUE BOX!
July 12, 2024
3.5 stars maybe
I had a fun time with this - I think if you're doing a Doctor Who inspired story this is a really fun version of it
I had a fun time with this - I think if you're doing a Doctor Who inspired story this is a really fun version of it
January 15, 2024
The book is fine, for what it is. It's pretty open about the fact it's Doctor Who with the serial numbers filed off, but there's an aspect of reality and fiction blending that I thought would make it work. And it did, to a degree. My main issue with it is that while it paint-by-numbers the Doctor, it absolutely doesn't capture the feel of it. Everyone is miserable. Miles is supposed to be a mashup of the Doctor and David Bowie, but he's such a miserable asshole who doesn't enjoy ANYTHING that scenes with him were absolutely no fun (and how can a Doctor/David Bowie mashup be DEPRESSING??).
I also dropped it a star because, despite both Harper and Peggy being exclusively shown with male love interests, the last stretch suddenly says "But they also had feelings for each other, they were totally in love, now we can call it LGBT/Queer interest, boom!" You can take it out and lose nothing. We've spent a good 75% of the book assuming Harper was just trying to save her friend, might as well keep that going without the lame twist.
When I saw this book, I had the weird feeling I'd already read it. But it wasn't on my GR list, and it was new enough that it should've been. I eventually realized I was thinking of a comic book called The Infinite Loop. But, ironically, I have a feeling that if I see this book on another shelf in another few months, I will again be unsure whether I've read it or not. Let this review remind you, future!Geonn!
(A side note that didn't fit anywhere else... how many episodes of that TV show involved the Argonaut losing his damn memory?)
I also dropped it a star because, despite both Harper and Peggy being exclusively shown with male love interests, the last stretch suddenly says "But they also had feelings for each other, they were totally in love, now we can call it LGBT/Queer interest, boom!" You can take it out and lose nothing. We've spent a good 75% of the book assuming Harper was just trying to save her friend, might as well keep that going without the lame twist.
When I saw this book, I had the weird feeling I'd already read it. But it wasn't on my GR list, and it was new enough that it should've been. I eventually realized I was thinking of a comic book called The Infinite Loop. But, ironically, I have a feeling that if I see this book on another shelf in another few months, I will again be unsure whether I've read it or not. Let this review remind you, future!Geonn!
(A side note that didn't fit anywhere else... how many episodes of that TV show involved the Argonaut losing his damn memory?)
June 26, 2023
The Infinite Miles mixes together a sci-fi time and space travel story and an ode to pop culture. Sprinkled throughout are themes of grief, loss, friendship, love, and hate. The title and cover of this book are showstoppers, and I was really intrigued by the sound of overall story. Unfortunately, for me, the book never went deep enough into its major promises, of space and time travel along with the relationship between Harper and Peggy, for me to feel anything beyond a little bit confused and disconnected from the characters and stories. Harper and Peggy's friendship came across as pretty one dimensional, with barely any really impactful moments shared between the two. I was told that Harper missed and loved Peggy, but I was never given enough reason to care about her quest to find and save her. The concepts of space and time travel did not feel fully thought out and explained, and I never fully understood how any of the sci fi elements really worked. By the end, some of the key messages of the story felt overdone and heavy-handed, with the characters sometimes literally shouting them through space.
Ultimately, while I enjoyed Fergesen's writing overall, the plot and characters fell a bit flat for me. Fans of Doctor Who may have a better time with this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the arc.
Ultimately, while I enjoyed Fergesen's writing overall, the plot and characters fell a bit flat for me. Fans of Doctor Who may have a better time with this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the arc.
June 20, 2023
Time travel stories are definitely one of my favorite sub-genres, and I’m a huge Doctor Who fan. But with that being said, it’s basically an episode of Doctor Who fan-fiction, though that’s not necessarily bad. The story was a lot of fun for the most part, but I do think that the main characters were a bit gloomy for a lot of the story. And unfortunately, the ending didn’t resolve what I think was the main plot point of the story, which was Harper and Peggy’s friendship.
But I did think the story of Harper traveling with Miles to try and stop a hive mind who’s infected her friend was really interesting. And I liked the 1971 storylines and how they connected to the present and the rest of the story.
Not a bad story by any means, and I did like it. I unfortunately just didn’t love it.
But I did think the story of Harper traveling with Miles to try and stop a hive mind who’s infected her friend was really interesting. And I liked the 1971 storylines and how they connected to the present and the rest of the story.
Not a bad story by any means, and I did like it. I unfortunately just didn’t love it.
January 6, 2024
Hannah Fergesen pulls off something impressive here — THE INFINITE MILES is thrilling without being cheap, touching without being maudlin, intricately plotted without being confusing, and manages to be geeky and referential while maintaining an addictive originality. And it’s all held together by the author’s hilarious, confident voice. Such a pleasurable read.
November 10, 2023
3 .75 star rating.
It's my first sci-fi book and I think this is a good first science fiction book to read if you want to get into the genre . You're not weighted down too much with sci Fi stuff . It's about time travel and time traveler and a parasite alien that wants to take over. There is a little character development towards the end.
It's my first sci-fi book and I think this is a good first science fiction book to read if you want to get into the genre . You're not weighted down too much with sci Fi stuff . It's about time travel and time traveler and a parasite alien that wants to take over. There is a little character development towards the end.
June 6, 2024
Nope.
I would officially title this one as the worst book of 2024, not bad that it took me till June to find it.
It just wasn‘t meant for me, doesn‘t mean that its actually bad at all.
I just dont like sciene fiction books and all the talk about robots and stuff like that.
Probably meant for certain readers and groups for certainly not for me.
I would officially title this one as the worst book of 2024, not bad that it took me till June to find it.
It just wasn‘t meant for me, doesn‘t mean that its actually bad at all.
I just dont like sciene fiction books and all the talk about robots and stuff like that.
Probably meant for certain readers and groups for certainly not for me.
October 27, 2024
My favorite book of 2024. What a beautiful ode to Doctor Who.
dnf
June 20, 2023published OC doctor who fanfiction in the year of our lord 2023……..i need to lie down
July 11, 2024
This book asks a burning question: what if a Doctor Who episode was not only bad but also had the most insufferable set of characters imaginable, a healthy dose of melodrama, and a writing style that got more irritating the further you read?
July 25, 2023
I can see why people might respond really negatively to the end. But I really loved this overall.
January 27, 2024
As I love doctor who I found the premise of this very exciting and the opening chapters set up a very intriguing mystery and problem to solve. However, I have given up after 4 of the 14 hour run time on the audiobook.
The main character Harper I initially found interesting enough and I sympathised with her issues and personality, however as the story progresses all she seems to do is is spout anger and hate she has for the past time she finds herself in regards to a particular race and gender. Now obviously the past had its problems when it comes to a lot of social and political issues and time talking about them in comparison with today in a time travel book seems obvious, but in the few hours I have listened she has angrily and with venom complained about a certain demographic 3 times and I have now given up.
It is also the only demographic it is somehow now acceptable to complain about. If it was any other this couldn’t have gotten published. It’s a shame too as the premise is interesting. Life is too short to expose yourself to this level of strangely out of place hate and anger from an author who has her own hang ups.
The main character Harper I initially found interesting enough and I sympathised with her issues and personality, however as the story progresses all she seems to do is is spout anger and hate she has for the past time she finds herself in regards to a particular race and gender. Now obviously the past had its problems when it comes to a lot of social and political issues and time talking about them in comparison with today in a time travel book seems obvious, but in the few hours I have listened she has angrily and with venom complained about a certain demographic 3 times and I have now given up.
It is also the only demographic it is somehow now acceptable to complain about. If it was any other this couldn’t have gotten published. It’s a shame too as the premise is interesting. Life is too short to expose yourself to this level of strangely out of place hate and anger from an author who has her own hang ups.
August 16, 2023
I LOVE SCI FI THAT IS LIKE THIS BABY!!!!!!
Wow. Okay. I finished reading this book on a plane, a place where normally I have to be stimulated at all times otherwise I fall into despair. But upon finishing, instead of putting on a podcast or watching a movie or opening another book, I had to just sit and stare at the back of the seat in front of me and think and yearn and feel all the emotions of finishing an incredible book and knowing you can never read it for the first time ever again.
A direct homage and love letter to Doctor Who—which, as the real ones know, was my beloved teenage-years comfort show and continues to be a favorite—THE INFINITE MILES (itself a pun on several levels) follows Harper, an astronomy student (not a dropout, okay, she's deferring school) grieving the death of her homoerotic best friend three years prior. On the anniversary of Peggy's death each year, she holes up in her room and watches the show Harper and Peggy loved about a time traveler battling alien monsters and his own past, the clear in-universe Doctor Who stand-in. Only, on the third anniversary of Peggy's death, who does Harper encounter in her own apartment but: Peggy, or, Peggy's body, puppeted by an alien parasitic hive mind (the Incarnate) bent on destroying the universe. Who swoops in to save Harper but Miles, the main character from the Doctor Who show who is actually a real time traveler and the reason Peggy got taken over by the Incarnate to begin with. But Miles's idea of saving Harper is dropping her in 1971 and leaving her there. And this is where the real story begins.
(Spoilers to come and also in-depth discussion of Doctor Who. Be warned).
I admit to being picky about my science fiction. I love aliens as much as the next person, but I find myself scrabbling for a grip whenever we're bogged down by the plot of it all. Doctor Who fits my tastes because of its procedural nature—sure, there's aliens and robots and time traveling and intergalactic stakes, but the monster changes every week. The overarching plots come together in the backdrop, helmed by the character power of Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. (Sorry, I'm a Matt Smith hater.) But as I reflect on my time spent watching a gazillion episodes of bad CGI and random encounters, the standouts are the episodes about being human. The show is literally about an alien who can travel across space and time and do all sorts of magicky-tech things, but my favorite episode is one where he's not even in it for more than maybe 5 minutes: "Blink" starring Carey Mulligan. I love when genre in general and sci-fi specifically serves to expand and exacerbate human stakes. That dude just wanted to go on a date with Carey Mulligan, my friends, before a weeping angel zapped him back in time where he lived a full life and died just after passing through that time again. Or "Turn Left," a "Sliding Doors" esque parallel universe. This book has time travel and alien planets and alien tech (including a lovely dress) but it was a breath of fresh air when it was revealed Sci fi is about humanity! Harper's anger fuels the entire book and it's because she's HUMAN. She integrates herself into 1971 diner culture and the Hayden Planetarium and the nascent sci-fi TV boom because she's human and humans want to belong. And her humanity is what saves her.
Hannah Fergesen I will follow you through space and time! I wish Miles Moonraker's songs were real.
Wow. Okay. I finished reading this book on a plane, a place where normally I have to be stimulated at all times otherwise I fall into despair. But upon finishing, instead of putting on a podcast or watching a movie or opening another book, I had to just sit and stare at the back of the seat in front of me and think and yearn and feel all the emotions of finishing an incredible book and knowing you can never read it for the first time ever again.
A direct homage and love letter to Doctor Who—which, as the real ones know, was my beloved teenage-years comfort show and continues to be a favorite—THE INFINITE MILES (itself a pun on several levels) follows Harper, an astronomy student (not a dropout, okay, she's deferring school) grieving the death of her homoerotic best friend three years prior. On the anniversary of Peggy's death each year, she holes up in her room and watches the show Harper and Peggy loved about a time traveler battling alien monsters and his own past, the clear in-universe Doctor Who stand-in. Only, on the third anniversary of Peggy's death, who does Harper encounter in her own apartment but: Peggy, or, Peggy's body, puppeted by an alien parasitic hive mind (the Incarnate) bent on destroying the universe. Who swoops in to save Harper but Miles, the main character from the Doctor Who show who is actually a real time traveler and the reason Peggy got taken over by the Incarnate to begin with. But Miles's idea of saving Harper is dropping her in 1971 and leaving her there. And this is where the real story begins.
(Spoilers to come and also in-depth discussion of Doctor Who. Be warned).
I admit to being picky about my science fiction. I love aliens as much as the next person, but I find myself scrabbling for a grip whenever we're bogged down by the plot of it all. Doctor Who fits my tastes because of its procedural nature—sure, there's aliens and robots and time traveling and intergalactic stakes, but the monster changes every week. The overarching plots come together in the backdrop, helmed by the character power of Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. (Sorry, I'm a Matt Smith hater.) But as I reflect on my time spent watching a gazillion episodes of bad CGI and random encounters, the standouts are the episodes about being human. The show is literally about an alien who can travel across space and time and do all sorts of magicky-tech things, but my favorite episode is one where he's not even in it for more than maybe 5 minutes: "Blink" starring Carey Mulligan. I love when genre in general and sci-fi specifically serves to expand and exacerbate human stakes. That dude just wanted to go on a date with Carey Mulligan, my friends, before a weeping angel zapped him back in time where he lived a full life and died just after passing through that time again. Or "Turn Left," a "Sliding Doors" esque parallel universe. This book has time travel and alien planets and alien tech (including a lovely dress) but it was a breath of fresh air when it was revealed Sci fi is about humanity! Harper's anger fuels the entire book and it's because she's HUMAN. She integrates herself into 1971 diner culture and the Hayden Planetarium and the nascent sci-fi TV boom because she's human and humans want to belong. And her humanity is what saves her.
Hannah Fergesen I will follow you through space and time! I wish Miles Moonraker's songs were real.
February 17, 2024
Sometimes, a book comes along that you didn't know you needed. This was just that. I gulped this book down, unable to stay away. Now, I'm trying to figure out why. Maybe it was the beautiful, haunting prose that pulled me into the story, or perhaps it was the flawed characters that felt ever so familiar, or it could be the concept that felt fresh yet experienced, or all above. Whatever the reason was, I felt a twinge of nostalgia like I had lived through the story before, not as a reader but as a person. And when the book ended, there was this sense of loss: I had lost a limp or, more so, a piece of me. So sometimes a book comes along that is part of you.
The Infinite Miles is an odyssey of time travel and distant galaxies and music that you can hear inside you that speaks of who you are and what you are made of, but you don't know the lyrics or the melody to. It is a story fleshed out of the song Space Oddity and the promise it gives. It is about that one childhood friend that you lost ever so carelessly, and you want them back because they are who you were, and without them, you are so alone and not you at all. The book is about Harper's and Peggy's friendship. Peggy suddenly disappears from Harper's life, presumed to be missing and dead, but Harper knows that not to be the case. She knows that Peggy left her behind, destroying Harper's brilliant future as an astrophysicist. She is stuck living the past, watching Infinity Odyssey on repeat to catch a glimpse of life with Peggy while Peggy is gallivanting through the galaxy without her. However, the thing is not that simple, and space and time have their dangers and beings that want you dead. Still, Peggy left Harper behind to live a small, miserable life on planet Earth.
The book's premise promises a poignant story of Harper being pulled into space and time travel, but it is darker than declared. This one is about that deep feeling you have inside you that poisons your mind and leaves you all sad and bitter. While I found the book beautiful and nourishing, it catered to my melancholic side, not to that curious side that loves to ask questions like what space and time travel could be. I loved the book to bits. It could be because I had a friendship like Harper and Peggy had. A morphed one where I'm both Harper, who focused all her time on her studies, and Peggy as well who left her friend behind. Either way, I had my friend with whom we did everything when we were children, with whom I watched all the odd TV shows with spaceships and aliens, searched the woods for fairies and witches, knew that ghosts were real, that space and time isn't fixed, that there are ancient civilizations out there, and you can never gaze stars too long. Now, it feels like there are a million miles between us and the life we had. So the sadness Hannah Fergesen wrote about and the distance between Harper and Peggy felt real. So did the ending and how painful it was. It is impossible to get back to what it once was. Like Peggy, we all wear scars from what we have gone through, and sometimes, it is difficult to arrive home to those who knew us. We all grow up. We all become something else than all the possibilities we had as children.
Thank you for reading the review! See you in the future <3
The Infinite Miles is an odyssey of time travel and distant galaxies and music that you can hear inside you that speaks of who you are and what you are made of, but you don't know the lyrics or the melody to. It is a story fleshed out of the song Space Oddity and the promise it gives. It is about that one childhood friend that you lost ever so carelessly, and you want them back because they are who you were, and without them, you are so alone and not you at all. The book is about Harper's and Peggy's friendship. Peggy suddenly disappears from Harper's life, presumed to be missing and dead, but Harper knows that not to be the case. She knows that Peggy left her behind, destroying Harper's brilliant future as an astrophysicist. She is stuck living the past, watching Infinity Odyssey on repeat to catch a glimpse of life with Peggy while Peggy is gallivanting through the galaxy without her. However, the thing is not that simple, and space and time have their dangers and beings that want you dead. Still, Peggy left Harper behind to live a small, miserable life on planet Earth.
The book's premise promises a poignant story of Harper being pulled into space and time travel, but it is darker than declared. This one is about that deep feeling you have inside you that poisons your mind and leaves you all sad and bitter. While I found the book beautiful and nourishing, it catered to my melancholic side, not to that curious side that loves to ask questions like what space and time travel could be. I loved the book to bits. It could be because I had a friendship like Harper and Peggy had. A morphed one where I'm both Harper, who focused all her time on her studies, and Peggy as well who left her friend behind. Either way, I had my friend with whom we did everything when we were children, with whom I watched all the odd TV shows with spaceships and aliens, searched the woods for fairies and witches, knew that ghosts were real, that space and time isn't fixed, that there are ancient civilizations out there, and you can never gaze stars too long. Now, it feels like there are a million miles between us and the life we had. So the sadness Hannah Fergesen wrote about and the distance between Harper and Peggy felt real. So did the ending and how painful it was. It is impossible to get back to what it once was. Like Peggy, we all wear scars from what we have gone through, and sometimes, it is difficult to arrive home to those who knew us. We all grow up. We all become something else than all the possibilities we had as children.
Thank you for reading the review! See you in the future <3
February 6, 2024
Three years ago, Harper’s best friend, Peggy, went missing. Peggy had been acting strangely before that, more distant and secretive, culminating in the worst fight they’d ever had. Now, Harper can’t seem to move on, having quit school to work in a diner and watch re-runs of Infinite Odyssey. Then, on the anniversary of her disappearance, Peggy suddenly returns and demands that Harper take her to the Argonaut, the time and space traveling star of their favorite show. When the Argonaut himself shows up and strands Harper in 1971, she realizes that Infinite Odyssey may be more reality than fiction, and she’s going to need all her knowledge of it to defeat The Incarnate, an insidious alien parasite that has Peggy in its thrall and intends to spread throughout the universe. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Blackstone Publishing. Trigger warnings: death, sexism (countered), severe injury, violence, brainwashing, self-loathing.
My freaking heart. I requested this despite not being much of a sci-fi person (or much of a Doctor Who fan) because I couldn’t resist the words “queer space fantasy,” and I’m so glad I did. It was everything I was hoping for and more, and I found myself sinking right away into this slightly alternate Earth where we have Miles Moonraker instead of David Bowie and Infinite Odyssey instead of Doctor Who. There’s a little bit of several beloved science fiction fandoms included here, from Doctor Who and Back to the Future (1985) to Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), and The Infinite Miles feels like a love letter to all of them.
The mechanics of time/space travel and paradoxes aren’t so complicated as to put off the casual sci-fi reader (re: me), and I never felt bogged down in the details of Fergesen’s world-building. She gives us just enough to make us feel at home in her slightly alternate Earth and to make the story plausible when it’s needed. On the whole, I’d say it’s more of a character novel, and I loved the relationships between Harper, Peggy, Miles, and of course Argo, the starship with a soul and a mind of her own (who, incidentally, is my favorite character). Harper and Peggy’s childhood friendship and their shared love for Infinite Odyssey is the heart of the novel, the need to save her the thing that drives all of Harper’s actions. It emphasizes how fandoms help to create bonds and even, to some extent, shape reality.
The Incarnate is a formidable villain, more sentient and relatable than the Blob or Pod People but with a similar drive to feed and a lack of empathy. I like the direction Fergesen takes for a solution to what, at times, looks like an insurmountable problem. There are also healthy doses of queer representation, critiques of 1970s sexism, and lessons in self-love. The ending made me cry but in a cathartic way, and while there are some bittersweet overtones, it ultimately felt right. I’ll be looking for a copy for my shelf for future rereads (and look at that cover! 😍).
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
My freaking heart. I requested this despite not being much of a sci-fi person (or much of a Doctor Who fan) because I couldn’t resist the words “queer space fantasy,” and I’m so glad I did. It was everything I was hoping for and more, and I found myself sinking right away into this slightly alternate Earth where we have Miles Moonraker instead of David Bowie and Infinite Odyssey instead of Doctor Who. There’s a little bit of several beloved science fiction fandoms included here, from Doctor Who and Back to the Future (1985) to Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), and The Infinite Miles feels like a love letter to all of them.
The mechanics of time/space travel and paradoxes aren’t so complicated as to put off the casual sci-fi reader (re: me), and I never felt bogged down in the details of Fergesen’s world-building. She gives us just enough to make us feel at home in her slightly alternate Earth and to make the story plausible when it’s needed. On the whole, I’d say it’s more of a character novel, and I loved the relationships between Harper, Peggy, Miles, and of course Argo, the starship with a soul and a mind of her own (who, incidentally, is my favorite character). Harper and Peggy’s childhood friendship and their shared love for Infinite Odyssey is the heart of the novel, the need to save her the thing that drives all of Harper’s actions. It emphasizes how fandoms help to create bonds and even, to some extent, shape reality.
The Incarnate is a formidable villain, more sentient and relatable than the Blob or Pod People but with a similar drive to feed and a lack of empathy. I like the direction Fergesen takes for a solution to what, at times, looks like an insurmountable problem. There are also healthy doses of queer representation, critiques of 1970s sexism, and lessons in self-love. The ending made me cry but in a cathartic way, and while there are some bittersweet overtones, it ultimately felt right. I’ll be looking for a copy for my shelf for future rereads (and look at that cover! 😍).
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
July 11, 2023
I love this book. This is an alternate reality Dr. Who fan service. I honestly thought that it would be a great nod to Dr. Who, a cute fun read. And it is. But it is also so much more.
The story is complex with rich characters that both encompass the style of Dr. Who but also expand in their own way. There are nods to the way aliens are perceived but then it goes beyond to where I was left completely shocked by the turn of events.
It is queer, specifically looking at gender beyond what biological parts a person was regenerated with. And as someone had to point out to me it has the Aro/Ace flag right on the cover. How could I not love it?
While the book does not get into politics and historical (politically at least) events on earth, it also does not ignore them. Society is called out for what it is when it is. Although, science fiction fandom is more integral to the plot and I found myself transported to the first Star Trek convention. In my soul it felt like I was really there and I cannot tell you how much joy that gave me.
If you like Dr. Who, TOS Star Trek, and/or queer sci-fi then pick up this book. If you like none of those I still say you should read it - because those are all very epic things.
The story is complex with rich characters that both encompass the style of Dr. Who but also expand in their own way. There are nods to the way aliens are perceived but then it goes beyond to where I was left completely shocked by the turn of events.
It is queer, specifically looking at gender beyond what biological parts a person was regenerated with. And as someone had to point out to me it has the Aro/Ace flag right on the cover. How could I not love it?
While the book does not get into politics and historical (politically at least) events on earth, it also does not ignore them. Society is called out for what it is when it is. Although, science fiction fandom is more integral to the plot and I found myself transported to the first Star Trek convention. In my soul it felt like I was really there and I cannot tell you how much joy that gave me.
If you like Dr. Who, TOS Star Trek, and/or queer sci-fi then pick up this book. If you like none of those I still say you should read it - because those are all very epic things.
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