What do you think?
Rate this book
The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti #2
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles
Investigator Mossa and Scholar Pleiti reunite to solve a brand-new mystery in the follow-up to the fan-favorite cozy space opera detective mystery The Mimicking of Known Successes that Hugo Award-winning author Charlie Jane Anders called “an utter triumph.”
Mossa has returned to Valdegeld on a missing person’s case, for which she’ll once again need Pleiti’s insight.
Seventeen students and staff members have disappeared from Valdegeld University—yet no one has noticed. The answers to this case could be found in the outer reaches of the Jovian system—Mossa’s home—and the history of Jupiter’s original settlements. But Pleiti’s faith in her life’s work as scholar of the past has grown precarious, and this new case threatens to further destabilize her dreams for humanity’s future, as well as her own.
Mossa has returned to Valdegeld on a missing person’s case, for which she’ll once again need Pleiti’s insight.
Seventeen students and staff members have disappeared from Valdegeld University—yet no one has noticed. The answers to this case could be found in the outer reaches of the Jovian system—Mossa’s home—and the history of Jupiter’s original settlements. But Pleiti’s faith in her life’s work as scholar of the past has grown precarious, and this new case threatens to further destabilize her dreams for humanity’s future, as well as her own.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2024
175 people are currently reading
4071 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 559 reviews
Read
February 19, 2024Delightful shortish novel sequel with sapphic Holmes and Watson, only instead of gas lamps it's a gas giant because the books are set on Jupiter (where humanity has fled after the collapse of Earth).
I love the setting, it's gleefully imagined with the planet-spanning rails, and I adore how so many of the metaphors and vocabulary Pleiti uses are drawn from the rails. Mossa and Pleiti's relationship is a little bit prickly, a little bit uncertain, entirely engaging.The mystery wasn't hugely complex since it's a fairly short read, but fun. And I really, really need to see the Murderbot opera that exists in this world oh my God.
Linked to but not exessively weighed down by the first book. Absolutely lovely cover. I hope there will be many more in this series.
I love the setting, it's gleefully imagined with the planet-spanning rails, and I adore how so many of the metaphors and vocabulary Pleiti uses are drawn from the rails. Mossa and Pleiti's relationship is a little bit prickly, a little bit uncertain, entirely engaging.The mystery wasn't hugely complex since it's a fairly short read, but fun. And I really, really need to see the Murderbot opera that exists in this world oh my God.
Linked to but not exessively weighed down by the first book. Absolutely lovely cover. I hope there will be many more in this series.
August 4, 2025
I looked again at the bare platform, empty of amenities, sparse of society, precarious in every way, and wondered again at our human tendency to romanticize the imposition of unnecessary obstacles into our lives.
The second installment in the Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti novella series, The Imposition Of Unnecessary Obstacles delves deeper into the world of the human settlement on Giant through another investigation - this time into a missing persons case, as Mossa and Pleiti learn to navigate their relationship again.
The mystery, though seen as low stakes in the beginning, starts to build up soon and the tone of the novella is similar to the slightly academic university setting of the first. As a person who's interested in etymology and linguistics, I enjoyed tracing the many words with roots from different languages that Malka Older interspersed throughout the book. This is an excellent representation of the evolution of society starting from a population comprising people from several countries and cultures. This serves to truly highlight Malka Older's speculative writing as opposed to blatant stereotypes with racist overtones that might be seen elsewhere.
On a lighter note, I laughed out at her inclusion of popular culture with an aria from Murderbot and an opera based on Infomocracy, recommended to people who might have enjoyed these books!
🌟🌟🌟1/4🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 3/4 star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing; Half a star for the characters and their growth; Half a star for the story and themes - 3 1/4 stars in total.]
The second installment in the Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti novella series, The Imposition Of Unnecessary Obstacles delves deeper into the world of the human settlement on Giant through another investigation - this time into a missing persons case, as Mossa and Pleiti learn to navigate their relationship again.
The mystery, though seen as low stakes in the beginning, starts to build up soon and the tone of the novella is similar to the slightly academic university setting of the first. As a person who's interested in etymology and linguistics, I enjoyed tracing the many words with roots from different languages that Malka Older interspersed throughout the book. This is an excellent representation of the evolution of society starting from a population comprising people from several countries and cultures. This serves to truly highlight Malka Older's speculative writing as opposed to blatant stereotypes with racist overtones that might be seen elsewhere.
On a lighter note, I laughed out at her inclusion of popular culture with an aria from Murderbot and an opera based on Infomocracy, recommended to people who might have enjoyed these books!
🌟🌟🌟1/4🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 3/4 star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing; Half a star for the characters and their growth; Half a star for the story and themes - 3 1/4 stars in total.]
March 7, 2024
3 Stars
A solid performance but personally, not as engaging as The Mimicking of Known Successes.
I will say that I found the world building to be consistently interesting. Set in the far future, Earth’s descendants have colonized Jupiter with the main goal of one day returning to their home planet. In the meantime, life goes on right? People make a living, people have longings and desires, and people are still subject to and perform crimes.
This focused a bit more on the romantic relationship between investigator Mossa and her on and off paramour, scholar Pleiti. The main mystery is again a missing person and how these two work together since it involves a student from the university that Pleiti works at.
Again, I enjoyed the unique set up and the push pull of the relationship, though it would serve Mossa and Pleiti to actually communicate their wants and needs. Despite being nicely consistent in tone, I was often stymied by Older’s word choice. Where I found the first book quite charming as an audio listen, seeing the actual words on page was often cumbersome, confusing, and tiresome as I eventually just tried to infer what she meant instead of using my kindle’s dictionary function, many times discovering that terms were made up or were foreign words that were Spanish, French, Portuguese, and possibly more.
Should Older continue with these two protagonists, I would appreciate a more mature relationship progression, a different type of mystery, and Mossa’s POV. It’s time to get further insight into this interesting character, to see how her mind works as well as how she feels about Pleiti. That would be a nice change of pace.
Having said all that, I still really like the premise of this piece of science fiction that blends mystery, sapphic romance, and an odd mix of propriety and historical overtones as humanity continues to thrive on a new planet. Just so we’re clear, I wouldn’t say no to the next book despite my frustration with this second installment.
Thank you to the author and Tordotcom Publishing via NetGalley for an ebook in exchange for an honest review
Mossa and Pleiti Series
1. The Mimicking of Known Successes - 3.5 Stars
2. The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles - 3 Stars
A solid performance but personally, not as engaging as The Mimicking of Known Successes.
I will say that I found the world building to be consistently interesting. Set in the far future, Earth’s descendants have colonized Jupiter with the main goal of one day returning to their home planet. In the meantime, life goes on right? People make a living, people have longings and desires, and people are still subject to and perform crimes.
This focused a bit more on the romantic relationship between investigator Mossa and her on and off paramour, scholar Pleiti. The main mystery is again a missing person and how these two work together since it involves a student from the university that Pleiti works at.
Again, I enjoyed the unique set up and the push pull of the relationship, though it would serve Mossa and Pleiti to actually communicate their wants and needs. Despite being nicely consistent in tone, I was often stymied by Older’s word choice. Where I found the first book quite charming as an audio listen, seeing the actual words on page was often cumbersome, confusing, and tiresome as I eventually just tried to infer what she meant instead of using my kindle’s dictionary function, many times discovering that terms were made up or were foreign words that were Spanish, French, Portuguese, and possibly more.
Should Older continue with these two protagonists, I would appreciate a more mature relationship progression, a different type of mystery, and Mossa’s POV. It’s time to get further insight into this interesting character, to see how her mind works as well as how she feels about Pleiti. That would be a nice change of pace.
Having said all that, I still really like the premise of this piece of science fiction that blends mystery, sapphic romance, and an odd mix of propriety and historical overtones as humanity continues to thrive on a new planet. Just so we’re clear, I wouldn’t say no to the next book despite my frustration with this second installment.
Thank you to the author and Tordotcom Publishing via NetGalley for an ebook in exchange for an honest review
Mossa and Pleiti Series
1. The Mimicking of Known Successes - 3.5 Stars
2. The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles - 3 Stars
June 30, 2024
4.5 stars - Even better than the first! I love the characters, world, and vibes, and this one had more room for the mystery with the worldbuilding already in place. Can't wait for more
April 16, 2024
The Mimicking of Known Successes was one of my top reads in 2023, and I was so excited for this follow up to the Holmesian coziness that is Mossa and Pleiti solving a mystery. The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles takes place some time after the first book, and Mossa and Pleiti are in something of a relationship. Mossa is assigned a missing person case at Pleiti's university, and the two begin to investigate it together.
Older manages to blend a sci-fi setting with the comfort of reading a Holmesian mystery with ease. There is an equal amount of attention given to the mystery itself as well as to Pleiti and Mossa (though Pleiti's eyes) as characters. In this second short novel, we also get to see Pleiti navigate her relationship with Mossa; she often has trouble with her own perception of what their relationship really is, and with trying to fit Mossa's whole Holmes-ish character within the relationship they're building. But then Mossa smiles and Pleiti's lovestruck by it and they're incredibly adorable.
I would say that the one thing that brought it down a star for me compared to the first book is that the world building felt like it took over a little more this time around, instead of feeling a lot more natural within the storytelling. But I truly enjoy this world Older has created, this future colony living in the orbit of Giant (aka Jupiter), growing and surviving and thriving even as they try to figure out if they can ever inhabit Earth again.
I highly enjoy this series and its weird but interesting blend of sci-fi and mystery. Seasoned sci-fi and mystery readers should definitely give it a chance if you haven't already.
Many, MANY thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for giving me the chance to read and review this! The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles will be available on February 13, 2024.
======================
12/27: Cannot believe Malka worked a Boys Over Flowers reference into this lmaooooo. Review to come!
11/1: Ya girl got approved for an ARC on NetGalley, I am about to EAT THIS UP
6/20: IT HAS A COVER AND THE COLORS ARE SO PRETTY 😭😭😭
Can't believe I'm already out here making a 2024 TBR shelf BUT HERE I AM. I NEED THIIIISSSS
Older manages to blend a sci-fi setting with the comfort of reading a Holmesian mystery with ease. There is an equal amount of attention given to the mystery itself as well as to Pleiti and Mossa (though Pleiti's eyes) as characters. In this second short novel, we also get to see Pleiti navigate her relationship with Mossa; she often has trouble with her own perception of what their relationship really is, and with trying to fit Mossa's whole Holmes-ish character within the relationship they're building. But then Mossa smiles and Pleiti's lovestruck by it and they're incredibly adorable.
I would say that the one thing that brought it down a star for me compared to the first book is that the world building felt like it took over a little more this time around, instead of feeling a lot more natural within the storytelling. But I truly enjoy this world Older has created, this future colony living in the orbit of Giant (aka Jupiter), growing and surviving and thriving even as they try to figure out if they can ever inhabit Earth again.
I highly enjoy this series and its weird but interesting blend of sci-fi and mystery. Seasoned sci-fi and mystery readers should definitely give it a chance if you haven't already.
Many, MANY thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for giving me the chance to read and review this! The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles will be available on February 13, 2024.
======================
12/27: Cannot believe Malka worked a Boys Over Flowers reference into this lmaooooo. Review to come!
11/1: Ya girl got approved for an ARC on NetGalley, I am about to EAT THIS UP
6/20: IT HAS A COVER AND THE COLORS ARE SO PRETTY 😭😭😭
Can't believe I'm already out here making a 2024 TBR shelf BUT HERE I AM. I NEED THIIIISSSS
November 11, 2024
3.5 stars. reading vlog: https://youtu.be/IPfRyX_6_2E
loved the mystery in this but found the ending very disappointing!! loving the characters + the development of the world though
loved the mystery in this but found the ending very disappointing!! loving the characters + the development of the world though
December 25, 2023
Mossa and Pleiti return to solve another mystery in this sapphic sci-fi version of a Sherlockian mystery series! This time there are missing university students to find and their search will take them from the colony on Jupiter to on on its moon Io. Meanwhile Pleiti is experiencing some emotional turmoil over the development of her feelings for Mossa and concerns about how much they are reciprocated.
I am really enjoying this series and I think it's clever and quite unique. The way Older plays with language as a world-building tool is really cool too. I enjoyed this short novel and hope to see more in the series! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
I am really enjoying this series and I think it's clever and quite unique. The way Older plays with language as a world-building tool is really cool too. I enjoyed this short novel and hope to see more in the series! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
February 22, 2024
Just like the first in the series, this cozy sapphic science fiction mystery set a la Holmes and Watson was lovely. I love how Older manages to balance the cozy gaslamp mystery vibes with some serious questions about the nature of humanity and existence. Set in the distant future where humans have fled Earth and are living on platforms on Jupiter, the story concerns a large amount of seemingly disconnected people from the university who have all gone missing. Also: Pleiti and Mossa are tentatively rekindling their college romance and academics are squabbling. Like a warm cup of the tea that the characters are constantly drinking.
January 23, 2024
3.5 Stars
This was an easy, enjoyable science fiction sequel. Once again, I liked the interaction between our main characters.
The science elements are quite light making this series an accessible place to start for Sci fi newbies. As for the mystery, I liked it, but it wasn't the most complex or engrossing story. I liked this one but I don't find it as memorable as other series with higher stakes. Yet this series is not trying to compete with those stories.
Instead I would recommend this one for someone looking for a simple yet enjoyable experience.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was an easy, enjoyable science fiction sequel. Once again, I liked the interaction between our main characters.
The science elements are quite light making this series an accessible place to start for Sci fi newbies. As for the mystery, I liked it, but it wasn't the most complex or engrossing story. I liked this one but I don't find it as memorable as other series with higher stakes. Yet this series is not trying to compete with those stories.
Instead I would recommend this one for someone looking for a simple yet enjoyable experience.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
June 20, 2024
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles continues the story of Mossa and Pleiti while also providing more of their backstory.
Mossa enlists the help of Pleiti in the search for missing university students. Nothing is as it appears. They pursue the case from two different angles and make startling discoveries along the way. Their quest for answers leads them to circumnavigate Jupiter, shuttle to Io (where Mossa was born), and investigate a private frat-type group called The Cat Club.
Adding to the drama, the remains of Rector are found on earth and Pleiti is coerced into attending the ceremony to honor his memory. There is commentary on politics and funding for ways to recreate Earth’s biomes as well as the direction and type of prototypes to be developed. At the heart of the story is the question to what lengths would a person go to uphold and maintain their beliefs and independence.
I greatly enjoy this cozy space mystery series. I enjoyed this one even more than the first.
Mossa enlists the help of Pleiti in the search for missing university students. Nothing is as it appears. They pursue the case from two different angles and make startling discoveries along the way. Their quest for answers leads them to circumnavigate Jupiter, shuttle to Io (where Mossa was born), and investigate a private frat-type group called The Cat Club.
Adding to the drama, the remains of Rector are found on earth and Pleiti is coerced into attending the ceremony to honor his memory. There is commentary on politics and funding for ways to recreate Earth’s biomes as well as the direction and type of prototypes to be developed. At the heart of the story is the question to what lengths would a person go to uphold and maintain their beliefs and independence.
I greatly enjoy this cozy space mystery series. I enjoyed this one even more than the first.
February 22, 2024
as a mimicking of known successes apologist, I am foremost among those disappointed by my report that I found the imposition of unnecessary obstacles a letdown.
for those who clocked mossa as a state-sanctioned-power-abusing cop in the first book, this installments suggests that...older may also have belatedly realized what she did there, “lol.”
it’s still highly readable (which is not something I think can often be said about books with a narrator this dry, academic, and sesquipedalian, so that speaks in the book’s favor!), and I plowed through it, but it’s a mystery without suspense and a romance without emotion. the “climax” of this novel is more the fizzle of a firework that got wet and refuses to go off, and while, yes, the kicker of any holmesandwatsonian romance is that holmes types have a tendency to be emotionally distant workaholics, I just wanted to shake pleiti by the shoulders so many times over the course of her supposed love affair with mossa (who refers to pleiti as her “copine,” in response to which they experience homophobia. now, I’m someone who has, a time or two, openly admired a pinch of the spice of period-typical homophobia in my queer romances, but all I can say is: LOLOLOLOL).
(although the use of said term did inspire a fun conversation with my wife and sister-in-law about how I, logophilic linguistics beep that I am, find genuine and pleasing humor in the fact that it would have been an insult had my wife’s family ever—and I thank my atheist goddesses that this is a purely hypothetical scenario and that I am a best beloved daughter-in-law :)))))))—referred to me as her “amiguita” as opposed to her “novia” during our courtship, but to use the french “petite copine” would hold none of the same homophobic elision. language exists! ha ha ha! larks! it’s fun!)
to return to the point: it is not particularly enjoyable to me to read something that exists in the gray area of the overlap in the venn diagram between “established relationship” and “one person in said relationship is pleased as punch or a pathetic puppy at every minute scrap of acknowledged affection thrown her way.” I do, for the record, think mossa is in love with pleiti, but pleiti is such a sad-sack wet blanket of a milquetoast that, god, what is even the point? never in my life have I told anyone to do anything so vulgar and bioessentialist as to ‘nut up or shut up,’ and to avoid breaking that streak I will instead say: COWBOY UP, PARDNER!!!! PULL YOUR SOCKS UP, PLEITI!!!! QUIT MOPING AROUND AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!
for what it’s worth. I do think that. perhaps. part of the very point of the whole goddamn book is the exploration of this ‘oh no hem haw what do we do in a series once they’ve willed the will-they-won’t-they, shall we IMPOSE some UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES, har ha ha harmlbjmelkblweh?’—it’s even spelled out explicitly at one point: was separation necessary for a romance? were obstacles, real or illusory, a requirement?—but I don’t think this attempt is pulled off altogether successfully, more’s the pity, and exacerbating the matter is the fact that the unnecessary obstacle in (this particular) question (there are a good deal more along other thematic and plotwise veins in the book) is ‘one person wants greater romantic certainty from the other but refuses to ask for it on account of being, as stated before, passivity personified, and even refuses to accept active offers of such affection when they are staring her in the face,’ something of which this particular reader grew weary at least half a decade ago.
older is cuban and ashkenazi (ukrainian), and it is nice seeing her populate her imagined future world with elements that seem to draw on her own heritage (and any number of other cultures besides!!! this really is an earnestly multiculturally influenced world in a way that feels genuine and lived in). indeed, if we, broadly speaking, are not building our speculative worlds for ourselves, then who for? as obliquely referenced before, some of this series’s use of language—including archaisms and neologisms; multilingual borrowings and coinages; and the groan-worthy “I can haz cheeseburger”–esque references—is fun, and some of it is silly, but all of it is, generally, interesting in one way or other to me (aforementioned language bitch). :) it’s good to be playful, I think; as I overheard a student telling her friend today at lunch, “I would rather be corny and cringe than nothing at all”! therefore—
new-to-me terms, language of note, etc.:
- mutatis mutandis (I am imagining goodreads user X reading this and mentally going HA HA HA, YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT ONE? YOU RUBE, but much to my irl bff’s lawyerly chagrin my legal vocabulary is not impressive)
- acurrucadx (I mostly avoided the ones not already commonly used in english, because again, lots of love linguistic borrowing going on, but this is too good a word not to add to my spanish vocabulary :)
- “sinquerer” to mean “involuntarily” is also charming lol
- I don’t like the way the pronoun “ta” functions!! “ta” as both subject and object pronoun is fine by me, passes muster, but “ta’s” as the possessive???? vile!!!! I hate it, thanks!!!!!
- anybody ken what “quistable” might be a reference to? context (“reading about oz, or pern, or quistable”) suggests that it’s a fictional locale, but I can’t find anything online; while it’s certainly possible that older invented it, her style tends more toward making references to media actually in existence (for example: NOT THE IMPLIED MURDERBOT OPERA, MALKA!!!!)
- NOT “DONKULOUS,” MALKA!!!!!!
- on the one hand: if we are not building our speculative worlds for ourselves then who for, but on the other, MALKAAAAAA YOU PUT INFOMOCRACY AS AN ENDURING CULTURAL TOUCHSTONE IN YOUR FUTURE SOCIETY LOLLLLL MALKA TOO MUCH CREMA ON YOUR OWN TACOS
♃🪐♃🪐♃
well: I started this review off determined to be harsh on this book for its near-utter lack of any sort of tension, whether narrative or romantic, but I’m ending it charmed all over again by its heartfelt earnestness. and even before that, I waffled strongly between 2 and 3 stars (2 because I am a big tough toughie!!!! a real tough customer, tough cookie, tough crowd, take your pick!!!! (ง •̀ᗝ•́)ง) and knew both while reading the book and after finishing it that I fully plan to continue on with the series—yes, even if it remains this listless on the, you know, plot front lol—and will do so happily. the worldbuilding is nice and feels hopeful even in its...ex-se-intelligetur acknowledgment that there is no way we (the 21st-century we) are coming back from having fucked up earth this badly; there are far worse ways to spend a few hours in pensive daydreaming, far less diverting playgrounds on which to release the pent-up toddler of my mind.
still, though: pretty much fails both as a mystery and as a [TRULY, BARELY A] romance, so 2 stars it remains lol.
for those who clocked mossa as a state-sanctioned-power-abusing cop in the first book, this installments suggests that...older may also have belatedly realized what she did there, “lol.”
it’s still highly readable (which is not something I think can often be said about books with a narrator this dry, academic, and sesquipedalian, so that speaks in the book’s favor!), and I plowed through it, but it’s a mystery without suspense and a romance without emotion. the “climax” of this novel is more the fizzle of a firework that got wet and refuses to go off, and while, yes, the kicker of any holmesandwatsonian romance is that holmes types have a tendency to be emotionally distant workaholics, I just wanted to shake pleiti by the shoulders so many times over the course of her supposed love affair with mossa (who refers to pleiti as her “copine,” in response to which they experience homophobia. now, I’m someone who has, a time or two, openly admired a pinch of the spice of period-typical homophobia in my queer romances, but all I can say is: LOLOLOLOL).
(although the use of said term did inspire a fun conversation with my wife and sister-in-law about how I, logophilic linguistics beep that I am, find genuine and pleasing humor in the fact that it would have been an insult had my wife’s family ever—and I thank my atheist goddesses that this is a purely hypothetical scenario and that I am a best beloved daughter-in-law :)))))))—referred to me as her “amiguita” as opposed to her “novia” during our courtship, but to use the french “petite copine” would hold none of the same homophobic elision. language exists! ha ha ha! larks! it’s fun!)
to return to the point: it is not particularly enjoyable to me to read something that exists in the gray area of the overlap in the venn diagram between “established relationship” and “one person in said relationship is pleased as punch or a pathetic puppy at every minute scrap of acknowledged affection thrown her way.” I do, for the record, think mossa is in love with pleiti, but pleiti is such a sad-sack wet blanket of a milquetoast that, god, what is even the point? never in my life have I told anyone to do anything so vulgar and bioessentialist as to ‘nut up or shut up,’ and to avoid breaking that streak I will instead say: COWBOY UP, PARDNER!!!! PULL YOUR SOCKS UP, PLEITI!!!! QUIT MOPING AROUND AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!
for what it’s worth. I do think that. perhaps. part of the very point of the whole goddamn book is the exploration of this ‘oh no hem haw what do we do in a series once they’ve willed the will-they-won’t-they, shall we IMPOSE some UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES, har ha ha harmlbjmelkblweh?’—it’s even spelled out explicitly at one point: was separation necessary for a romance? were obstacles, real or illusory, a requirement?—but I don’t think this attempt is pulled off altogether successfully, more’s the pity, and exacerbating the matter is the fact that the unnecessary obstacle in (this particular) question (there are a good deal more along other thematic and plotwise veins in the book) is ‘one person wants greater romantic certainty from the other but refuses to ask for it on account of being, as stated before, passivity personified, and even refuses to accept active offers of such affection when they are staring her in the face,’ something of which this particular reader grew weary at least half a decade ago.
older is cuban and ashkenazi (ukrainian), and it is nice seeing her populate her imagined future world with elements that seem to draw on her own heritage (and any number of other cultures besides!!! this really is an earnestly multiculturally influenced world in a way that feels genuine and lived in). indeed, if we, broadly speaking, are not building our speculative worlds for ourselves, then who for? as obliquely referenced before, some of this series’s use of language—including archaisms and neologisms; multilingual borrowings and coinages; and the groan-worthy “I can haz cheeseburger”–esque references—is fun, and some of it is silly, but all of it is, generally, interesting in one way or other to me (aforementioned language bitch). :) it’s good to be playful, I think; as I overheard a student telling her friend today at lunch, “I would rather be corny and cringe than nothing at all”! therefore—
new-to-me terms, language of note, etc.:
- mutatis mutandis (I am imagining goodreads user X reading this and mentally going HA HA HA, YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT ONE? YOU RUBE, but much to my irl bff’s lawyerly chagrin my legal vocabulary is not impressive)
- acurrucadx (I mostly avoided the ones not already commonly used in english, because again, lots of love linguistic borrowing going on, but this is too good a word not to add to my spanish vocabulary :)
- “sinquerer” to mean “involuntarily” is also charming lol
- I don’t like the way the pronoun “ta” functions!! “ta” as both subject and object pronoun is fine by me, passes muster, but “ta’s” as the possessive???? vile!!!! I hate it, thanks!!!!!
- anybody ken what “quistable” might be a reference to? context (“reading about oz, or pern, or quistable”) suggests that it’s a fictional locale, but I can’t find anything online; while it’s certainly possible that older invented it, her style tends more toward making references to media actually in existence (for example: NOT THE IMPLIED MURDERBOT OPERA, MALKA!!!!)
- NOT “DONKULOUS,” MALKA!!!!!!
- on the one hand: if we are not building our speculative worlds for ourselves then who for, but on the other, MALKAAAAAA YOU PUT INFOMOCRACY AS AN ENDURING CULTURAL TOUCHSTONE IN YOUR FUTURE SOCIETY LOLLLLL MALKA TOO MUCH CREMA ON YOUR OWN TACOS
♃🪐♃🪐♃
well: I started this review off determined to be harsh on this book for its near-utter lack of any sort of tension, whether narrative or romantic, but I’m ending it charmed all over again by its heartfelt earnestness. and even before that, I waffled strongly between 2 and 3 stars (2 because I am a big tough toughie!!!! a real tough customer, tough cookie, tough crowd, take your pick!!!! (ง •̀ᗝ•́)ง) and knew both while reading the book and after finishing it that I fully plan to continue on with the series—yes, even if it remains this listless on the, you know, plot front lol—and will do so happily. the worldbuilding is nice and feels hopeful even in its...ex-se-intelligetur acknowledgment that there is no way we (the 21st-century we) are coming back from having fucked up earth this badly; there are far worse ways to spend a few hours in pensive daydreaming, far less diverting playgrounds on which to release the pent-up toddler of my mind.
still, though: pretty much fails both as a mystery and as a [TRULY, BARELY A] romance, so 2 stars it remains lol.
May 7, 2024
i liked the first of the series and was looking forward to this second one, hoping that the second one would be better. i think it was not, it was more of the same thing, the characters were just the same and kind of boring and not interesting, the world and how it got to be there was not explained and the mystery felt the same to me. a huge part of the story was the train ride, with really nothing in it. so all in all if you like the first one, maybe you should skip this one and wait for the third.
March 8, 2025
Alas, I did not enjoy this better than The Mimicking of Known Successes, for pretty much the same reasons. I very much enjoyed some worldbuilding elements, still, like the visit to the moon Io and getting some history tidbits. But this world does not feel cohesive politically speaking, which does manifest in me having a lot of questions.
Pleiti is still extremely insecure and very eager to gain Mossa's approval and trying to parse out what Mossa is feeling about her, dissecting every little detail and communicating not at all. I mean, she does set a boundary at some point, so I guess... progress?? Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with people who do this IRL, unless the person who they're failing to communicate with is *me*, but I'm very direct and an open book and this dynamic between the two is giving me anxiety. Couldn't be in such a relationship, tbh.
The 'Mossa is a cop' thing is very much softened here. She doesn't carry out 'cool' abuses of power anymore, but hey, she still is a cop that's favorably portrayed and that's still copaganda in my book, perhaps even more insidious! I do think that Older made the smart decision of expressing that this is not a carceral state / giant and justice is mostly of the restorative kind, which complicates Mossa as a cop. At least she doesn't complain about train tickets being free and getting in the way of her surveilling people?! Once again, a bare hint of progress.
The mystery itself also disappointed me, damn it. This is connected to the lack of political cohesion in this and a reveal 3/4 of the way through, that is extremely little explored, when it could have been so damn interesting. This had so much potential, but it was all left on the superficial side of things.
I'm also wondering why people are still so atomized in this society, since capitalism isn't running rampant? Such that 17 people can go missing and nobody can connect the dots on that? It all seems very lonely and individualistic, even if their needs are met and I don't buy it!
The academic bits were still fun, I liked the Speculative department and wish there had been more on that. This is also a world where there's a Murderbot aria and also an adaptation of Infomocracy (Older's novel, which I own and am afraid to read now, lol, which are fun lil Easter eggs). Hot take: these should have been full novels so that we have a better understanding of the world, its structures and underpinnings. I might read the next one, too, because I see it's gonna be a 250 pager.
Pleiti is still extremely insecure and very eager to gain Mossa's approval and trying to parse out what Mossa is feeling about her, dissecting every little detail and communicating not at all. I mean, she does set a boundary at some point, so I guess... progress?? Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with people who do this IRL, unless the person who they're failing to communicate with is *me*, but I'm very direct and an open book and this dynamic between the two is giving me anxiety. Couldn't be in such a relationship, tbh.
The 'Mossa is a cop' thing is very much softened here. She doesn't carry out 'cool' abuses of power anymore, but hey, she still is a cop that's favorably portrayed and that's still copaganda in my book, perhaps even more insidious! I do think that Older made the smart decision of expressing that this is not a carceral state / giant and justice is mostly of the restorative kind, which complicates Mossa as a cop. At least she doesn't complain about train tickets being free and getting in the way of her surveilling people?! Once again, a bare hint of progress.
The mystery itself also disappointed me, damn it. This is connected to the lack of political cohesion in this and a reveal 3/4 of the way through, that is extremely little explored, when it could have been so damn interesting. This had so much potential, but it was all left on the superficial side of things.
I'm also wondering why people are still so atomized in this society, since capitalism isn't running rampant? Such that 17 people can go missing and nobody can connect the dots on that? It all seems very lonely and individualistic, even if their needs are met and I don't buy it!
The academic bits were still fun, I liked the Speculative department and wish there had been more on that. This is also a world where there's a Murderbot aria and also an adaptation of Infomocracy (Older's novel, which I own and am afraid to read now, lol, which are fun lil Easter eggs). Hot take: these should have been full novels so that we have a better understanding of the world, its structures and underpinnings. I might read the next one, too, because I see it's gonna be a 250 pager.
December 8, 2023
I love these books. They are so cute, and so very cozy.
For those who have not yet read them, the *Mossa & Pleiti* books are a series of Sherlock Holmes-reimaginings by Malka Ann Older. The first book, *The Mimicking of Known Successes*, came out in March. The second book, *The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles*, comes out February 14th. (Valentine’s Day, appropriately).
These books are set on orbital platforms in the upper reaches of the atmosphere of “Giant” (better known to us as Jupiter), where humanity resettled after we wrecked the Earth. Mossa is an Investigator, people tasked with investigating things like murders and disappearances. Pleiti is a professor of Classics (which, in this time and place, refers to anything from before humanity left Earth) working towards repairing Earth’s ecosystem. They were a couple as college students, fell apart, and reconnect in the first book when a case of Mossa’s takes her to Pleiti’s university.
For those who like cozy mysteries, these are just the very *coziest*. Suspects are discussed over steaming cups of tea by crackling fires. Progress towards the solution is steady and satisfying. In the first book, we spent a fair bit of time in the head of our Sherlock analogue, Mossa; in the sequel, we are nearly entirely inside the head of Pleiti, our Watson.
And much as I enjoy the mystery, the real star here is the relationship between the two. It rekindled in the first book; in this book, they’re redefining it as they come to understand each other as adults instead of hormone-addled college students. It’s a pure delight.
Mossa, it should be noted, is certainly written as neuroatypical, and as far as my neurotypical self can judge, is very well done.
Comes out February 14, 2024. Have a blanket and hot beverage of your choice on standby.
My blog
For those who have not yet read them, the *Mossa & Pleiti* books are a series of Sherlock Holmes-reimaginings by Malka Ann Older. The first book, *The Mimicking of Known Successes*, came out in March. The second book, *The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles*, comes out February 14th. (Valentine’s Day, appropriately).
These books are set on orbital platforms in the upper reaches of the atmosphere of “Giant” (better known to us as Jupiter), where humanity resettled after we wrecked the Earth. Mossa is an Investigator, people tasked with investigating things like murders and disappearances. Pleiti is a professor of Classics (which, in this time and place, refers to anything from before humanity left Earth) working towards repairing Earth’s ecosystem. They were a couple as college students, fell apart, and reconnect in the first book when a case of Mossa’s takes her to Pleiti’s university.
For those who like cozy mysteries, these are just the very *coziest*. Suspects are discussed over steaming cups of tea by crackling fires. Progress towards the solution is steady and satisfying. In the first book, we spent a fair bit of time in the head of our Sherlock analogue, Mossa; in the sequel, we are nearly entirely inside the head of Pleiti, our Watson.
And much as I enjoy the mystery, the real star here is the relationship between the two. It rekindled in the first book; in this book, they’re redefining it as they come to understand each other as adults instead of hormone-addled college students. It’s a pure delight.
Mossa, it should be noted, is certainly written as neuroatypical, and as far as my neurotypical self can judge, is very well done.
Comes out February 14, 2024. Have a blanket and hot beverage of your choice on standby.
My blog
March 18, 2024
Cute cozy detective story. This story is hopeful and pretty light, if you are in need of something softer. It has been described as a sapphic cozy mystery space opera detective story. Pretty accurate.
The place (just far enough above Jupiter to be safe for human life, with atmospheric shielding) for our narrative setting is named Valdegeld, which roundaboutly has similar etymological roots in several languages. Basically, Valdegeld means money, power, and authority. It's a good name for a University, though perhaps a bit on the nose for some of its scholars.
There's a feeling of tremendous anticipation that lurks under this story. Mossa and Pleiti always seem to be engaged in a careful and complex dance around each other. There's a tension that they create. We want them to stop circling each other and step forward into each other's arms, and we hold our collective breath until they do.
I must say that I am in love with Malka Older's extensive vocabulary. Who else uses *obviate* and *perfidy* in the same sentence? And the inclusion of *mutatis mutandis* is like a mic drop/chef's kiss combo for smart people. I definitely had to look up quite a few of the words: mueca, fallecimiento, chisme, cosseted. I want credit for already knowing raison d'etre. The way these scholarly types talk to each other is an endless source of amusement for me.
And of course, there's murder, but it's almost a side plot. The real story is of their relationship, and a caution against ethnocentrism (evidenced by the way the people on the moon Io and the folks on Giant tend to think of themselves and each other.)
It's a solid sequel. If you enjoyed the first in the series, you'll probably like this one even more.
The place (just far enough above Jupiter to be safe for human life, with atmospheric shielding) for our narrative setting is named Valdegeld, which roundaboutly has similar etymological roots in several languages. Basically, Valdegeld means money, power, and authority. It's a good name for a University, though perhaps a bit on the nose for some of its scholars.
There's a feeling of tremendous anticipation that lurks under this story. Mossa and Pleiti always seem to be engaged in a careful and complex dance around each other. There's a tension that they create. We want them to stop circling each other and step forward into each other's arms, and we hold our collective breath until they do.
I must say that I am in love with Malka Older's extensive vocabulary. Who else uses *obviate* and *perfidy* in the same sentence? And the inclusion of *mutatis mutandis* is like a mic drop/chef's kiss combo for smart people. I definitely had to look up quite a few of the words: mueca, fallecimiento, chisme, cosseted. I want credit for already knowing raison d'etre. The way these scholarly types talk to each other is an endless source of amusement for me.
And of course, there's murder, but it's almost a side plot. The real story is of their relationship, and a caution against ethnocentrism (evidenced by the way the people on the moon Io and the folks on Giant tend to think of themselves and each other.)
It's a solid sequel. If you enjoyed the first in the series, you'll probably like this one even more.
July 29, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Malka Older for giving me this free eARC in exchange for a review.
Simply put: Disregarding the fact that this needs further editing and spelling corrections, I didn’t like this one. I feel like there’s a way that Sci-fi can be done while being inclusive to those exploring the genre and this didn’t do that. It was so technical and wordy that I often had to stop reading to look up the definition of words. It didn’t slow me down as much since I was reading on kindle, but if it was a physical book I can imagine how annoying that would be. I wish the intricacies of the world would’ve been better explained.
Now let’s get to the FMC, Pleiti. Girl please, want better for yourself! She was so insecure and downplayed her own abilities because she was in love with Mossa. Every thought she had involved Mossa and whether or not Mossa was as interested in her as she was in Mossa. It was so annoying to read.
Then the plot didn’t do it for me. There was waaaay too much going on before we got to the climax. And when the reveal finally came it was tremendously underwhelming. It just felt like too much attention was being given to trying to make the book sci-fi and romance that the mystery aspect of it fell flat.
Simply put: Disregarding the fact that this needs further editing and spelling corrections, I didn’t like this one. I feel like there’s a way that Sci-fi can be done while being inclusive to those exploring the genre and this didn’t do that. It was so technical and wordy that I often had to stop reading to look up the definition of words. It didn’t slow me down as much since I was reading on kindle, but if it was a physical book I can imagine how annoying that would be. I wish the intricacies of the world would’ve been better explained.
Now let’s get to the FMC, Pleiti. Girl please, want better for yourself! She was so insecure and downplayed her own abilities because she was in love with Mossa. Every thought she had involved Mossa and whether or not Mossa was as interested in her as she was in Mossa. It was so annoying to read.
Then the plot didn’t do it for me. There was waaaay too much going on before we got to the climax. And when the reveal finally came it was tremendously underwhelming. It just felt like too much attention was being given to trying to make the book sci-fi and romance that the mystery aspect of it fell flat.
July 25, 2025
Nestle in a bit deeper
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles is the second (and last, as of 26-May-2024) novella in Malka Older's Mossa and Pleiti series of science fiction mysteries. This one felt a bit more conventional but also a bit more intimate than the first, The Mimicking of Known Successes. The overall structure is similar --we begin with a prolog from Mossa's point of view. Perhaps the most important thing we learn in the prolog is that, when she is alone, Mossa thinks of Pleiti. (In this prolog Mossa uses feminine pronouns in her thoughts of Pleiti -- this is, I believe, the only place in the two novellas in which Pleiti's gender is unambiguously revealed. So yes, it is indeed a Sapphic romance, as the advertising claims. But no, they are not really at all like Holmes and Watson.) The prolog is followed by thirty-one chapters told from Pleiti's first-person point of view.
What Mossa is thinking about in the prolog is a missing persons case in Valdegeld, and whether she can use it as an excuse to visit Pleiti. Of course she does, and of course she involves Pleiti in her investigation.
I enjoyed this one. It was a more conventional science fiction mystery, in the sense that the mystery is in part a mystery about the nature of the science fictional reality. Because of this, we learn a bit more about the history of the settlement on Giant (= Jupiter) and also on the volcanic moon Io. The nature of the geosynchronous steel rings that literally support the colony on Giant becomes ever-so-slightly more clear. (But I STILL want a MAP!) And Mossa and Pleiti's relationship becomes a little deeper and more intimate.
All-in-all, it feels to me as if Older is taking an incremental approach to world-building. She's never going to explain everything, but with each novella a couple more layers are peeled back and we understand a bit more deeply. It was fun. I enjoyed it.
Blog review.
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles is the second (and last, as of 26-May-2024) novella in Malka Older's Mossa and Pleiti series of science fiction mysteries. This one felt a bit more conventional but also a bit more intimate than the first, The Mimicking of Known Successes. The overall structure is similar --we begin with a prolog from Mossa's point of view. Perhaps the most important thing we learn in the prolog is that, when she is alone, Mossa thinks of Pleiti. (In this prolog Mossa uses feminine pronouns in her thoughts of Pleiti -- this is, I believe, the only place in the two novellas in which Pleiti's gender is unambiguously revealed. So yes, it is indeed a Sapphic romance, as the advertising claims. But no, they are not really at all like Holmes and Watson.) The prolog is followed by thirty-one chapters told from Pleiti's first-person point of view.
What Mossa is thinking about in the prolog is a missing persons case in Valdegeld, and whether she can use it as an excuse to visit Pleiti. Of course she does, and of course she involves Pleiti in her investigation.
I enjoyed this one. It was a more conventional science fiction mystery, in the sense that the mystery is in part a mystery about the nature of the science fictional reality. Because of this, we learn a bit more about the history of the settlement on Giant (= Jupiter) and also on the volcanic moon Io. The nature of the geosynchronous steel rings that literally support the colony on Giant becomes ever-so-slightly more clear. (But I STILL want a MAP!) And Mossa and Pleiti's relationship becomes a little deeper and more intimate.
All-in-all, it feels to me as if Older is taking an incremental approach to world-building. She's never going to explain everything, but with each novella a couple more layers are peeled back and we understand a bit more deeply. It was fun. I enjoyed it.
Blog review.
March 6, 2024
The author's second book featuring Inspector Mossa and scholar Pleiti is just as charming as the first (The Mimicking of Known Successes).
A few thoughts:
There's a mystery--Mossa is investigating the disappearance of a student and asks for Pleiti's assistance. And the discovery of even more missing people from the university. And a murder.
Nicely done, with a resolution to the missing people being something I didn't really expect. The identity of the murderer made sense and I liked the way that case ended.
Equally important in the story is the growth of the relationship between Mossa and Pleiti. We see it all through Pleiti's POV--the hopes, the fears,the uncertainty, the small moments of simple joy. Poor Pleiti certainly ties herself in knots as the book progresses.
I hope the author has more books planned for these characters. I've enjoyed the time I've spent with them and would like to see them again.
A few thoughts:
There's a mystery--Mossa is investigating the disappearance of a student and asks for Pleiti's assistance. And the discovery of even more missing people from the university. And a murder.
Nicely done, with a resolution to the missing people being something I didn't really expect. The identity of the murderer made sense and I liked the way that case ended.
Equally important in the story is the growth of the relationship between Mossa and Pleiti. We see it all through Pleiti's POV--the hopes, the fears,the uncertainty, the small moments of simple joy. Poor Pleiti certainly ties herself in knots as the book progresses.
I hope the author has more books planned for these characters. I've enjoyed the time I've spent with them and would like to see them again.
September 27, 2025
1. The Mimicking of Known Successes ★★★
“One of the principles gleaned from the end of the world, now enshrined at the Sunken Memorial in Yaste, was that humans will believe in completely unrealistic probabilities to their detriment.”
Pleiti and Mossa are back in this new sci-fi sequel to The Mimicking of Known Successes, with a new mystery to solve following the strange disappearances of several members of the university. This time, it will take them beyond the Jupiter colony to the moon Io. Despite following a similar formula to the first novella and delving deeper into the main characters’ sapphic relationship, the mystery kept me less intrigued this time around, and therefore I enjoyed this installment less. I’m not sure if I’ll continue the series, but if you’re looking for short, cozy sci-fi mysteries that barely reach 200 pages, I recommend these novellas.
February 11, 2024
I've been on a streak of reading sequel books that are as enjoyable as the first book, and I'm here for it. This book has the same Sherlock & Watson formula that made the first book so delightful. I also enjoyed the deeper level of elegant world-building we receive in this book without the lengthy info dumps. Pleiti's deep longing for Mossa at times read like pieces of Sappho's poetry and honestly was one of my favorite parts of the book. When the mystery was solved at the end I was already looking forward to what the next book will bring.
****Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for an eARC of this book in exchange for my biggest review.****
****Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for an eARC of this book in exchange for my biggest review.****
November 19, 2024
I stared into the bath—away from Mossa herself— to hide my smile, and my surprise. An existing relationship of affection, was it?
I must admit that the books in this series fail to meet my standards for a good mystery... but I love them anyway!! I'm just so enthralled with the characters, and there's just no way I could NOT love an f/f Sherlock Holmes retelling of sorts. In any case, mystery is only half the genre at play here. Scifi is the other one, and the ideas and themes are all so interesting, I can't help but love this. It feels engineered just for me. I feel like I have to specify, because I know that I've been harsh with other books for having the same flaws as this one... but again, did those other books give me f/f Sherlock/Watson on Jupiter that reminds me super super favourably of ACD canon? No, they didn't!
In this second book, we're back with Pleiti and Mossa again as they investigate a slew of persons who've gone missing from the university. We're also dealing a little with the fallout of what happened in the first book, Pleiti's stresses and PTSD, and also the way the relationship between the two women is growing once again. Lots of interesting world-building stuff: we got to visit one of the moons, and learn a little more about the history of the settlements, what it was like in the early days, and how the current culture has developed. Pleiti's perspectives on the rings versus the moon was interesting. I love the nods at 'classic' literature and studies, and it tickled me so much when something I'm familiar with was mentioned. Like, it makes me so happy to think of Murderbot being enshrined in memory years into the future. Also, Hana Yori Dango as an operatic piece? Amazing, incredible. Little details like that made me so happy. This book focused a lot on the romance, or at least the growing relationship, and what Pleiti wants out of it, now that they're sorta back together, and working together. I ate all that shit up. omg. Mossa as a character is both frustrating and enthralling (as she should be if she's meant to be Holmes) and there's something very fascinating about watching Pleiti struggle to figure her out. I loved seeing them bicker, and put their heads together, and protect each other... gosh, I keep saying this, but it made me real happy.
The mystery was... fine. Lol. Just like in the first book, there's pretty much no way the reader can figure it out alongside the characters. Or idk, maybe you can, if you're super smart. When the solution came and we find out who's responsible for a certain thing, my first reaction was '...who?' Pretty sure I had a similar reaction in the first book. There weren't even that many great deductions or anything. I liked this mystery for the questions it posed and for the ways in which it widened this world, but it wasn't really fair play, which all good mysteries SHOULD be. My love for the characters is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Lindsey Dorcus, which I liked, once again. I would probably like it more if she were using her natural accent. Not that her British voice is bad, or unsuitable for the characters. But it's just easy to tell she's putting on a voice. Still, I'll happily listen to all of these novellas, once she narrates them. Even if the plots continue to be lacklustre, I'm really invested in the relationship.
I looked again at the bare platform, empty of amenities, sparse of society, precarious in every way, and wondered again at our human tendency to romanticize the imposition of unnecessary obstacles into our lives.
September 12, 2024
thank you to netgalley and tor for the ARC in exchange for a review!
i read the mimicking of known successes all of three days ago and immediately added it to my favorites shelf, so my delight at being approved for this book was unmatched. my dearest wish, to see mossa and pleiti again IMMEDIATELY instead of having to wait 20 days, granted. incredible email to receive.
if it wasn't clear, i love these space detectives. i love their complex relationship and mossa's amazing deductions and pleiti's sharp observations. they miscommunicate often!! but they are clearly so fond of each other and it is wonderful.
this book borrows a lot of words from other languages, and uses words from english that might as well be from other languages for how much i understand them. i did a bunch of definition googling while reading, because i like knowing new words, but i do think the story is understandable even if you don't want to look up every single word you don't know (and there will be words you don't know). most, if not all, are pretty obvious in their meaning from context clues. i know some people don't like pleiti's extensive verbiage, but as someone who has read every single sherlock holmes story i feel qualified to say that it only adds to the sherlockian (is THAT a word?) charm.
the only thing i really wanted from this book was more of it. i will be thinking about these guys for far longer than the time it took me to read the book :D
2nd read: still love them <3
i read the mimicking of known successes all of three days ago and immediately added it to my favorites shelf, so my delight at being approved for this book was unmatched. my dearest wish, to see mossa and pleiti again IMMEDIATELY instead of having to wait 20 days, granted. incredible email to receive.
if it wasn't clear, i love these space detectives. i love their complex relationship and mossa's amazing deductions and pleiti's sharp observations. they miscommunicate often!! but they are clearly so fond of each other and it is wonderful.
this book borrows a lot of words from other languages, and uses words from english that might as well be from other languages for how much i understand them. i did a bunch of definition googling while reading, because i like knowing new words, but i do think the story is understandable even if you don't want to look up every single word you don't know (and there will be words you don't know). most, if not all, are pretty obvious in their meaning from context clues. i know some people don't like pleiti's extensive verbiage, but as someone who has read every single sherlock holmes story i feel qualified to say that it only adds to the sherlockian (is THAT a word?) charm.
the only thing i really wanted from this book was more of it. i will be thinking about these guys for far longer than the time it took me to read the book :D
2nd read: still love them <3
March 1, 2024
Please, Tordotcom, give Malka Older whatever she needs to write like ten more of these novellas. The Mossa and Pleiti stories are what you get when you take Sherlock and Watson, put them on Jupiter, and add a healthy dose of sapphic longing. Lots and lots of sapphic longing. It’s delightful.
That said, I do feel like Older hasn’t completely dialed into the characters yet. Mossa especially doesn’t quite click. There’s a lot of Holmes in her, of course, but in the places where she diverges from him, I have trouble getting a complete sense for her. Pleiti, as our POV character, feels somewhat more rounded and real, partly due to her narration, which mixes ten-dollar words like “postprandian” with SF words like “grok.” But I think that if you give Older like ten more novellas, both Mossa and Pleiti will inevitably come into sharper relief. So please, Tordotcom, let this become a long-running series. I’m begging you.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy!
That said, I do feel like Older hasn’t completely dialed into the characters yet. Mossa especially doesn’t quite click. There’s a lot of Holmes in her, of course, but in the places where she diverges from him, I have trouble getting a complete sense for her. Pleiti, as our POV character, feels somewhat more rounded and real, partly due to her narration, which mixes ten-dollar words like “postprandian” with SF words like “grok.” But I think that if you give Older like ten more novellas, both Mossa and Pleiti will inevitably come into sharper relief. So please, Tordotcom, let this become a long-running series. I’m begging you.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy!
September 1, 2023
This book lacked all of the charm of the previous book while perpetuating the things that frustrated me and made me impatient: namely the unnecessarily wordy narration that is not just sprinkled with uncommon words (which I love) but drowning in them in order to make the narrator feel like a capital-I Intellectual. Mossa, who is in my opinion the more compelling of the two characters, was barely present except occasionally to lead Pleiti to the correct answer or accidentally ignore her entirely.
There was little to no plot or worldbuilding relative to the previous book, instead relying on a brief change of scenery to sate the need for depth.
But at least it’s sapphic?
{Thank you Tor.com for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
There was little to no plot or worldbuilding relative to the previous book, instead relying on a brief change of scenery to sate the need for depth.
But at least it’s sapphic?
{Thank you Tor.com for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
February 5, 2024
After the stunning creative success that was The Mimicking of Known Successes, I was honestly a bit let down by this follow-up of Pleiti and Mossa’s investigative adventures. This book had all of the same pieces as the first book – sci-fi worldbuilding, sapphic romance, grand philosophical ideas, and a mystery – but it ultimately lacked the heart of what made The Mimicking of Known Successes one of my favorites of last year. Somehow, and it feels a bit weird saying this as a reader, it is almost like this book missed the point of what made the first book such as a resounding triumph.
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles picks up a bit after the first book, and Pleiti and Mossa are now in committed relationship. The impetus of the book comes when Mossa starts to investigate a group of missing persons who are all affiliated with the university, and asks Pleiti to come on board as a special consultant on the case.
What this novella (short novel?) does really well is seamlessly expands upon the the world Older has created. We get a better since of the history of the human colonization of Jupiter, the social tensions between different groups of people, and the (perhaps useless) quest to return to Earth. Older’s depiction of what a post-apocalyptic situation might be has always been masterful. She has always nailed the desire to return to a perceived homeland, even if you have no direct connection to it. None of the people who live on Jupiter, including Pleiti, have ever been to Earth. They have only known Jupiter from birth, and yet they still feel this alienation about their surroundings. They know that, based on all of the tech needed to just keep them alive, that they aren’t meant to be there, and rather than enjoying themselves they find themsevles always seeking a return to a past they know little about.
This was the main theme of the first book, and Older continues it here while adding on an additional question – why as humans do we always make things harder than they need to be? Why do we always get in our own way and set up the titual “unnecessary obstacles”? Whether it is the macro, structural social problems that we have created for ourselves (internal divisions, classism, etc.) or the micro, individual elements (like when we have a perfectly good relationship but we have to make it hard for some reason), it seems that our species just thrives on extraneous hardship. Like the meme of the kid putting the stick in his own bicycle wheel, we just cannot help ruining perfectly good things.
On the whole this is a great theme for Older to explore in this futuristic world, and as the grand level of the “idea” it should really work. One of my biggest issues with this book is that the themes are just not seamlessly integrated. The philosophizing crosses the line to be a bit too academic, a bit too wordy, and ultimately overwhelms everything else. What made the first book such a treat was the way Older was able to explore big themes while also telling a cozy, Holmesian mystery with a sapphic romance. In this book, everything except the ideas get sidelined.
This ultimately makes for a book that is relatively boring and feels longer than its pretty short page count. The relationship between Pleiti and Mossa loses its spark, mainly because the characters themselves lose their spark. Mossa and Pleiti are separated from each other for large sections of the book, and honestly Pleiti (as a character) needs Mossa to “pop”. I understand that the point of the book was that their relationship has progressed beyond the honeymoon phase, but they just didn’t feel like characters to me. They instead felt like pawns on a board to get to the themes and ideas Older wanted to discuss.
It also didn’t help that the mystery was not engaging. What starts off as a very interesting mass missing persons case quickly devolves into…nothing. There are many different ways to make an interesting mystery. Maybe it is a puzzled box, or a traditional whodunnit; but mysteries are only interesting if there is some element of the reader playing along. In this book there is no way for the reader to “play detective” with Mossa and Pleiti because the way information is given to the readers are so erratic. The book turned into the reader just following Mossa and Pleiti from place to place without any real narrative momentum and heft. The best parts of the book are the ones that don’t involve the mystery, such as Mossa’s background on Jupiter’s moon Io. I maybe would have preferred the book without the mystery elements, but instead just diving into the relationship between these two women.
Ultimately this book was a bit of a miss for me. The ideas and worldbuilding are still strong, but it just lacks the core of what made the first book so great. I’m still on board for whatever Pleiti and Mossa have in store for the future, but I hope that any future books find that specialness again.
Concluding Thoughts: A short novel/novella that is big on ideas, The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles finds academic Pleiti and detective Mossa on another case. The ideas are once again the star of this book, this time examining why and how we make are lives more difficult than they need to be, and why as a society and individuals we cannot be happy. Unfortunately the ideas are not as seamlessly tied into the characters or plot this time around. The characters don’t sparkle and the mystery falls flat. This was a bit of a “sophomore slump” for this series, but I am hopeful it will return to its glory in the future!
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles picks up a bit after the first book, and Pleiti and Mossa are now in committed relationship. The impetus of the book comes when Mossa starts to investigate a group of missing persons who are all affiliated with the university, and asks Pleiti to come on board as a special consultant on the case.
What this novella (short novel?) does really well is seamlessly expands upon the the world Older has created. We get a better since of the history of the human colonization of Jupiter, the social tensions between different groups of people, and the (perhaps useless) quest to return to Earth. Older’s depiction of what a post-apocalyptic situation might be has always been masterful. She has always nailed the desire to return to a perceived homeland, even if you have no direct connection to it. None of the people who live on Jupiter, including Pleiti, have ever been to Earth. They have only known Jupiter from birth, and yet they still feel this alienation about their surroundings. They know that, based on all of the tech needed to just keep them alive, that they aren’t meant to be there, and rather than enjoying themselves they find themsevles always seeking a return to a past they know little about.
This was the main theme of the first book, and Older continues it here while adding on an additional question – why as humans do we always make things harder than they need to be? Why do we always get in our own way and set up the titual “unnecessary obstacles”? Whether it is the macro, structural social problems that we have created for ourselves (internal divisions, classism, etc.) or the micro, individual elements (like when we have a perfectly good relationship but we have to make it hard for some reason), it seems that our species just thrives on extraneous hardship. Like the meme of the kid putting the stick in his own bicycle wheel, we just cannot help ruining perfectly good things.
On the whole this is a great theme for Older to explore in this futuristic world, and as the grand level of the “idea” it should really work. One of my biggest issues with this book is that the themes are just not seamlessly integrated. The philosophizing crosses the line to be a bit too academic, a bit too wordy, and ultimately overwhelms everything else. What made the first book such a treat was the way Older was able to explore big themes while also telling a cozy, Holmesian mystery with a sapphic romance. In this book, everything except the ideas get sidelined.
This ultimately makes for a book that is relatively boring and feels longer than its pretty short page count. The relationship between Pleiti and Mossa loses its spark, mainly because the characters themselves lose their spark. Mossa and Pleiti are separated from each other for large sections of the book, and honestly Pleiti (as a character) needs Mossa to “pop”. I understand that the point of the book was that their relationship has progressed beyond the honeymoon phase, but they just didn’t feel like characters to me. They instead felt like pawns on a board to get to the themes and ideas Older wanted to discuss.
It also didn’t help that the mystery was not engaging. What starts off as a very interesting mass missing persons case quickly devolves into…nothing. There are many different ways to make an interesting mystery. Maybe it is a puzzled box, or a traditional whodunnit; but mysteries are only interesting if there is some element of the reader playing along. In this book there is no way for the reader to “play detective” with Mossa and Pleiti because the way information is given to the readers are so erratic. The book turned into the reader just following Mossa and Pleiti from place to place without any real narrative momentum and heft. The best parts of the book are the ones that don’t involve the mystery, such as Mossa’s background on Jupiter’s moon Io. I maybe would have preferred the book without the mystery elements, but instead just diving into the relationship between these two women.
Ultimately this book was a bit of a miss for me. The ideas and worldbuilding are still strong, but it just lacks the core of what made the first book so great. I’m still on board for whatever Pleiti and Mossa have in store for the future, but I hope that any future books find that specialness again.
Concluding Thoughts: A short novel/novella that is big on ideas, The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles finds academic Pleiti and detective Mossa on another case. The ideas are once again the star of this book, this time examining why and how we make are lives more difficult than they need to be, and why as a society and individuals we cannot be happy. Unfortunately the ideas are not as seamlessly tied into the characters or plot this time around. The characters don’t sparkle and the mystery falls flat. This was a bit of a “sophomore slump” for this series, but I am hopeful it will return to its glory in the future!
September 9, 2024
A Holmesian mystery is always fun, make it sapphic and adorable and sci-fi and what more can I ask for.
Pleiti and Mossa are back with another missing person case in this sequel novella and I loved being back on this gas giant of Jupiter. We get some more world building, a look into inner workings of the university, the living situation on the moon and the conflicts among the people, and also the aspirations and desires of the residents other than the idea of returning to earth.
While the mystery itself is a small part of the story and solved quite easily, it’s the slightly prickly and uncertain but also adorable relationship of Pleiti and Mossa that I found to be the highlight. We only get Pleiti’s POV and she is sometimes unsure of whether Mossa cares enough but then she says something appreciative and Pleiti is a goner. It’s frankly very lovely to follow along, though I would love to know what Mossa is feeling too.
Overall I had fun listening to the audiobook and I definitely hope the series continues.
Pleiti and Mossa are back with another missing person case in this sequel novella and I loved being back on this gas giant of Jupiter. We get some more world building, a look into inner workings of the university, the living situation on the moon and the conflicts among the people, and also the aspirations and desires of the residents other than the idea of returning to earth.
While the mystery itself is a small part of the story and solved quite easily, it’s the slightly prickly and uncertain but also adorable relationship of Pleiti and Mossa that I found to be the highlight. We only get Pleiti’s POV and she is sometimes unsure of whether Mossa cares enough but then she says something appreciative and Pleiti is a goner. It’s frankly very lovely to follow along, though I would love to know what Mossa is feeling too.
Overall I had fun listening to the audiobook and I definitely hope the series continues.
October 19, 2024
Thanks to the publisher (Tordotcom) for an ARC of this book.
Perfect for a train ride without an internet connection. Still really enjoying this series. The writing style is a little ponderous and you either love it or hate it, but it definitely sets the general atmosphere - a little old, a little new. The worldbuilding is still amazing and the main reason I keep returning to this series, very creative (I mean, Jupiter!) and I love glimpses into Pleiti's academic life. The plot is definitely the weakest part though. It meandered and then resolved seemingly out of nowhere, but the rest was good enough that I didn't even mind. Definitely reading the next book!
Enjoyment: 4/5
Execution: 4/5
More reviews on my blog, To Other Worlds.
Perfect for a train ride without an internet connection. Still really enjoying this series. The writing style is a little ponderous and you either love it or hate it, but it definitely sets the general atmosphere - a little old, a little new. The worldbuilding is still amazing and the main reason I keep returning to this series, very creative (I mean, Jupiter!) and I love glimpses into Pleiti's academic life. The plot is definitely the weakest part though. It meandered and then resolved seemingly out of nowhere, but the rest was good enough that I didn't even mind. Definitely reading the next book!
Enjoyment: 4/5
Execution: 4/5
More reviews on my blog, To Other Worlds.
Read
July 20, 2024I’ve tried starting this a couple times and I think my (fairly uninformed) diagnosis is this - I want the first chapter POV, from the Sherlock character, to continue. I don’t want to know I have to spend the rest of the book with the milquetoast Watson character.
Look, Watson is always the hardest part of a Sherlock remake - he’s boring! He sucks! He’s a passive observer to the actual good stuff! I’d rather be in the mind of Sherlock. Maybe it’s just that Sherlock is more relatable to me lol… but I love to read a well-written Watson! It’s rare but it’s totally possible. I just don’t have confidence I’ll get that here based on what I remember of the last book and the taste I’ve gotten of this one.
Fully admit this is informed by how fantastic the Josephine Tey/Alan Grant books have been - so creative in terms of perspective. Maybe because of that I’m looking for something that Older isn’t trying to offer - but in any case I’m just not feeling it. DNF about a chapter and a half in.
Look, Watson is always the hardest part of a Sherlock remake - he’s boring! He sucks! He’s a passive observer to the actual good stuff! I’d rather be in the mind of Sherlock. Maybe it’s just that Sherlock is more relatable to me lol… but I love to read a well-written Watson! It’s rare but it’s totally possible. I just don’t have confidence I’ll get that here based on what I remember of the last book and the taste I’ve gotten of this one.
Fully admit this is informed by how fantastic the Josephine Tey/Alan Grant books have been - so creative in terms of perspective. Maybe because of that I’m looking for something that Older isn’t trying to offer - but in any case I’m just not feeling it. DNF about a chapter and a half in.
March 3, 2024
The worldbuilding was what really stood out for me in the first book in this series, and in this sequel the worldbuilding continues to be the highlight. The relationship between Io and Giant, and their people's perceptions of each other, was one of the most fascinating parts of this story for me. The use of different languages' terms throughout - 'grignoter' from French, 'chisme' from Spanish, and so on - I found interesting (and entirely believable given the world this book is set in); 'grok' and 'donkulus' did not work so well.
In my review of the book's predecessor, The Mimicking of Known Successes, I noted that I found the relationship between Mossa and Pleiti less interesting than the other aspects of the book (the plot/mystery, the setting, etc.); I would say the same here, but this book focuses more on the relationship and so didn't interest me as much as the first. There are way to many words here that are some variant of 'but how does she feel about me?!' for me.
Content warnings: murder (not on-page), violence
In my review of the book's predecessor, The Mimicking of Known Successes, I noted that I found the relationship between Mossa and Pleiti less interesting than the other aspects of the book (the plot/mystery, the setting, etc.); I would say the same here, but this book focuses more on the relationship and so didn't interest me as much as the first. There are way to many words here that are some variant of 'but how does she feel about me?!' for me.
Content warnings: murder (not on-page), violence
January 18, 2025
An excellent continuation of the Mossa and Pleiti story. The revelation from book one is explored, and there is another mystery at Valdegeld that brings Mossa back into Pleiti's life. Seventeen students and staff are missing from the university, and oddly, no one seems to have taken notice.
Mossa and Pleiti must travel to the far parts of the Jovian system to Mossa's home as part of the investigation, which leaves Pleiti wondering what is the point of her work at the university when in such a short span of time she meets people whose aims seem so far from the one she thought everyone shared at Valdegeld.
This was lovely, and I liked the deepening of the worldbuilding. The writing was so good, and I really hope there are more stories in this series
Mossa and Pleiti must travel to the far parts of the Jovian system to Mossa's home as part of the investigation, which leaves Pleiti wondering what is the point of her work at the university when in such a short span of time she meets people whose aims seem so far from the one she thought everyone shared at Valdegeld.
This was lovely, and I liked the deepening of the worldbuilding. The writing was so good, and I really hope there are more stories in this series
Displaying 1 - 30 of 559 reviews