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Fractalverse #0
Tor UK Fractal Noise.
Humanity is not alone . . .
25 July 2234: The crew of the Adamura discovers an anomaly on an uninhabited planet.
They find a circular pit, fifty kilometres wide, its curve not of nature but design. A small team must land on Talos VII and journey on foot across the surface to learn who built the hole – and why. But they all carry the burdens of lives carved out on disparate colonies in the cruel cold of space.
For some, the mission is the dream of the lifetime; for others, a risk not worth taking. For one, it is a desperate attempt to find meaning in an uncaring universe. Every step they take towards the mysterious abyss is more punishing than the last. And the ghosts of their past follow.
25 July 2234: The crew of the Adamura discovers an anomaly on an uninhabited planet.
They find a circular pit, fifty kilometres wide, its curve not of nature but design. A small team must land on Talos VII and journey on foot across the surface to learn who built the hole – and why. But they all carry the burdens of lives carved out on disparate colonies in the cruel cold of space.
For some, the mission is the dream of the lifetime; for others, a risk not worth taking. For one, it is a desperate attempt to find meaning in an uncaring universe. Every step they take towards the mysterious abyss is more punishing than the last. And the ghosts of their past follow.
432 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2023
1385 people are currently reading
34166 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Paolini
88 books42.9k followersChristopher Paolini was born in Southern California and has lived most of his life in Paradise Valley, Montana. He published his first novel, Eragon, in 2003 at the age of nineteen, and quickly became a publishing phenomenon. His Inheritance Cycle—Eragon and its three sequels—have sold nearly 40 million copies worldwide.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
was his first adult novel.
Visit Paolini.net and Fractalverse.net for the latest news about this project and follow Christopher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
Visit Paolini.net and Fractalverse.net for the latest news about this project and follow Christopher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,317 reviews
September 2, 2024
Please stop review bombing this book without having read it.
While I understand your argument against AI generated art, I do find it highly unfair to review bomb a book by an author that I am pretty sure had no say in the selection of the cover art work and to, in at least one review bomb here, even actively call on people to pirate this book online.
Don't get me wrong, I fully support the protest against AI generated art, but do you really think that the correct response to corporations disrespecting and pirating art and artists is to disrespect or even pirate the work of other artists?
Sure, the majority of the money generated by the sale of this book will go to the publishing company, but I am pretty sure that the author will also earn a share of the income. And by voting down the book without having read it and by calling on people to pirate this book, you are actively trying to reduce the income of an artist living on his art. I know you could argue that this is a book by a famous, well know author who can probably deal with making a little less money. But just as with AI art, every artist should be respected the same way, regardless of wether he sells his paintings or stories for millions of dollars or posts them for free on the internet.
Edit: I have finally managed to actually read this book and I loved it. So the Star-Rating now attached to this review reflects my enjoyment of the story told and is not in any way related to the discussion about the AI artwork.
While I understand your argument against AI generated art, I do find it highly unfair to review bomb a book by an author that I am pretty sure had no say in the selection of the cover art work and to, in at least one review bomb here, even actively call on people to pirate this book online.
Don't get me wrong, I fully support the protest against AI generated art, but do you really think that the correct response to corporations disrespecting and pirating art and artists is to disrespect or even pirate the work of other artists?
Sure, the majority of the money generated by the sale of this book will go to the publishing company, but I am pretty sure that the author will also earn a share of the income. And by voting down the book without having read it and by calling on people to pirate this book, you are actively trying to reduce the income of an artist living on his art. I know you could argue that this is a book by a famous, well know author who can probably deal with making a little less money. But just as with AI art, every artist should be respected the same way, regardless of wether he sells his paintings or stories for millions of dollars or posts them for free on the internet.
Edit: I have finally managed to actually read this book and I loved it. So the Star-Rating now attached to this review reflects my enjoyment of the story told and is not in any way related to the discussion about the AI artwork.
June 22, 2023
It's Goodreads, not Goodcoverarts.
December 23, 2022
It's so bad to codemn a book with one star, because of its cover.
Some people think that publishers will feel guilty and change it. Eventually maybe, but not due to the one-star ratings.
The real damage is on the author, as not everyone is going to read the reviews. Also, in many websites only the Goodreads rating is visible.
State your thesis, but do it in a way that matters.
Some people think that publishers will feel guilty and change it. Eventually maybe, but not due to the one-star ratings.
The real damage is on the author, as not everyone is going to read the reviews. Also, in many websites only the Goodreads rating is visible.
State your thesis, but do it in a way that matters.
May 12, 2023
3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads
I don't know what I expected from Fractal Noise, but it wasn't this (which, to be clear, is not a bad thing), but if there's one thing you'll always find familiar ground in in a Christopher Paolini book, it's travel. That man is going to get a character from Point A to Point B and tell you all about it, whether it's on dragon-back, through the cosmos, or on foot on a new planet.
It did take me a bit to get into this one. I found the first third or so to be rather slow and I really didn't care for the Main Character for quite some time. The book throws you into the deep end on emotional baggage to force a connection and start building the main themes of the book quickly, but for whatever reason I just wasn't feeling it. However, by the second half of Fractal Noise I was fully interested and invested and at only 256 pages I read it in one sitting. On the surface, this is a book about a ship crew (very different from our familiar Wallfish crew) that finds an anaomaly on a foreign planet and sends a ground crew down to investigate, but at its core it's an exploration of finding meaning as a small speck of dust in a vast universe.
There are some things I think Fractal Noise explores really well. It has something to say on the hubris of mankind in exploration; the search for something "more" and the need to make discoveries bigger than oneself as we move further and further from our own small place in the universe; the need for humanities education in a world (and an expanding universe) more and more convinced that STEM is the end all be all of life.
There are also some bits I was less interested in. Namely, there's a solid focus on human religion in the face of space travel and religious arguments in this book, and frankly it's depressing to me to think that we'll still be having the same arguments centering The One True God™ 200+ years from now and dozens of lightyears from Earth. Realistic? Probably. But unfortunate. There's an interesting conversation had about what it means to be human and if/how belief in a higher power sets us apart in a significant way from others, but I mostly found the character who is the backdrop for this to be unrepentently obnoxious and I can't honestly tell if that's what I was supposed to take away from them or not. Much to think on here, but I think the brevity of the book creates a lack of nuance in some things.
As mentioned above though I think Paolini always does a fantastic job writing absolutely grueling travel. The phyhsical toll that something as simple as walking can take on your body and all the myriad ways it can compound upon itself. The way he centers that experience keeps this other-worldly story very physically human and bound to such a small concept as one foot in front of the other, over and over.
So there's my somewhat rambly, stream of conciousness review. I spent a really good Friday with this one and while it took me some time to really get into it, I was gasping and wincing and wide-eyed reacting to things by the end. Speaking of which, I am still trying to figure out just how I feel about the ending...
One of these days I'll figure out how to fluidly connect my points, but for now...that's all I have to say about that.
NOTE: Don't pay attention to the avg rating for this one, it got slightly review bombed because the cover art is in part AI generated. This is an abhorrent move in publishing and Tor had a terrible response, but I'm not in favor of punishing the author for the publisher's decisions, and I think many people assume that authors have a lot more control over their covers than they actually do. In response to fans worrying about other Paolini books potentially having AI cover art, he responded "Absolutely not. Over my dead body."
I don't know what I expected from Fractal Noise, but it wasn't this (which, to be clear, is not a bad thing), but if there's one thing you'll always find familiar ground in in a Christopher Paolini book, it's travel. That man is going to get a character from Point A to Point B and tell you all about it, whether it's on dragon-back, through the cosmos, or on foot on a new planet.
It did take me a bit to get into this one. I found the first third or so to be rather slow and I really didn't care for the Main Character for quite some time. The book throws you into the deep end on emotional baggage to force a connection and start building the main themes of the book quickly, but for whatever reason I just wasn't feeling it. However, by the second half of Fractal Noise I was fully interested and invested and at only 256 pages I read it in one sitting. On the surface, this is a book about a ship crew (very different from our familiar Wallfish crew) that finds an anaomaly on a foreign planet and sends a ground crew down to investigate, but at its core it's an exploration of finding meaning as a small speck of dust in a vast universe.
There are some things I think Fractal Noise explores really well. It has something to say on the hubris of mankind in exploration; the search for something "more" and the need to make discoveries bigger than oneself as we move further and further from our own small place in the universe; the need for humanities education in a world (and an expanding universe) more and more convinced that STEM is the end all be all of life.
There are also some bits I was less interested in. Namely, there's a solid focus on human religion in the face of space travel and religious arguments in this book, and frankly it's depressing to me to think that we'll still be having the same arguments centering The One True God™ 200+ years from now and dozens of lightyears from Earth. Realistic? Probably. But unfortunate. There's an interesting conversation had about what it means to be human and if/how belief in a higher power sets us apart in a significant way from others, but I mostly found the character who is the backdrop for this to be unrepentently obnoxious and I can't honestly tell if that's what I was supposed to take away from them or not. Much to think on here, but I think the brevity of the book creates a lack of nuance in some things.
As mentioned above though I think Paolini always does a fantastic job writing absolutely grueling travel. The phyhsical toll that something as simple as walking can take on your body and all the myriad ways it can compound upon itself. The way he centers that experience keeps this other-worldly story very physically human and bound to such a small concept as one foot in front of the other, over and over.
So there's my somewhat rambly, stream of conciousness review. I spent a really good Friday with this one and while it took me some time to really get into it, I was gasping and wincing and wide-eyed reacting to things by the end. Speaking of which, I am still trying to figure out just how I feel about the ending...
One of these days I'll figure out how to fluidly connect my points, but for now...that's all I have to say about that.
NOTE: Don't pay attention to the avg rating for this one, it got slightly review bombed because the cover art is in part AI generated. This is an abhorrent move in publishing and Tor had a terrible response, but I'm not in favor of punishing the author for the publisher's decisions, and I think many people assume that authors have a lot more control over their covers than they actually do. In response to fans worrying about other Paolini books potentially having AI cover art, he responded "Absolutely not. Over my dead body."
July 26, 2024
Fractal Noise is set in the same world as Paolini's 2020-release, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. I really enjoyed that fast-paced story of first contact, so was pretty excited when I heard of this release.
As with To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, I listened to the audiobook of this and it is incredibly well done. I cannot recommend it enough as a format choice for taking in this story.
Jennifer Hale is such a talented voice artist and truly is able to bring life to the characters and the story. Additionally, there's great sound effects included, perfect for this high-tech SF-tale.
In a way, this is also a story of first contact. It's not as intense, or action-packed, as TSIASOS. It has a lighter touch and focuses more on the philosophical side of our place in the universe, our purpose and what our relationship would/should be with other sentient beings.
Don't get me wrong, it's still gripping, emotional and full of tense moments, just overall, it's a different focus for the SF-elements, IMO.
In Fractal Noise, our main character is Alex. Alex is a xenobiologist, who has lost his wife and at the beginning of the story, to say he is struggling emotionally would be to put it mildly. What even is the purpose of his life anymore?
In spite of his depression, Alex is an active member of the crew of a ship called the Adamura and this crew ends up discovering a giant hole, an anomaly, on the desolate planet of Talos VII. Perhaps, Alex has a purpose after all.
It's unlike anything that could occur naturally. It's too perfect. It has to have been created by something, or someone, but for what purpose?
The crew of the Adamura agree to partake in a mission to investigate the hole first hand. The truth of the anomaly could help to fill in answers for some of the mysteries of the universe. Who wouldn't want to investigate that?
Because of the nature of the hole, they can't touch down too close. They have to land some distance from the hole and then traverse the planet on foot in order to even get close. It's incredibly dangerous. The four member team is ready to take it on though.
The other members of the team are Talia, Chen and Pushkin. Each of them specializes in a different area of science and each brings their own strengths and weaknesses to the table.
These individuals cannot be more different and their personalities definitely clash at times. It ends up bringing quite a bit of tension to the story. If you think their only threat would be aliens, or the hole itself, you'd be wrong. Humans can be volatile, whether on terra firma or in space.
The coolest aspect for me though was the hole itself. Once they begin their mission on Talos VII, it becomes clear very quickly that the hole is emitting a pulse of some sort. It's so powerful that it messes with their comms and they can feel it through every fiber of their bodies.
If I am remembering correctly, it is emitted in a pattern, something like every 10.9-seconds. The closer they get, the more powerful it is. It gets to the point where it seems it is driving them a little mad.
Additionally, the closer they get to the hole, the higher and higher the tension gets amongst the team members. What is up, what is down? It's hard to keep it straight. Who is in the right, and who is the evil one in their ranks?
I really enjoyed my time listening to this. I feel like Paolini is such a solid SF-writer. The story flows so fluidly and is full of fantastic sci-fi concepts and ideas, yet is so approachable and easy to understand.
I felt like I really got to know these characters and while I wasn't crazy about all of them, or even most of them, I felt like I understood where they were coming from and why they made the choices they did. Their conversations did open up lots of avenue for thought into our place, and our greater role, as a species in the universe.
I would recommend this to people who enjoy SF-stories with a dangerous space-set mission, or stories of first contact. Especially if you like considering those types of scenarios for our own future, what that could mean. I felt really connected to this story and definitely hope Paolini continues writing in this genre.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I have nothing but the highest praise Hale's narration and this audio production in general!
As with To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, I listened to the audiobook of this and it is incredibly well done. I cannot recommend it enough as a format choice for taking in this story.
Jennifer Hale is such a talented voice artist and truly is able to bring life to the characters and the story. Additionally, there's great sound effects included, perfect for this high-tech SF-tale.
In a way, this is also a story of first contact. It's not as intense, or action-packed, as TSIASOS. It has a lighter touch and focuses more on the philosophical side of our place in the universe, our purpose and what our relationship would/should be with other sentient beings.
Don't get me wrong, it's still gripping, emotional and full of tense moments, just overall, it's a different focus for the SF-elements, IMO.
In Fractal Noise, our main character is Alex. Alex is a xenobiologist, who has lost his wife and at the beginning of the story, to say he is struggling emotionally would be to put it mildly. What even is the purpose of his life anymore?
In spite of his depression, Alex is an active member of the crew of a ship called the Adamura and this crew ends up discovering a giant hole, an anomaly, on the desolate planet of Talos VII. Perhaps, Alex has a purpose after all.
It's unlike anything that could occur naturally. It's too perfect. It has to have been created by something, or someone, but for what purpose?
The crew of the Adamura agree to partake in a mission to investigate the hole first hand. The truth of the anomaly could help to fill in answers for some of the mysteries of the universe. Who wouldn't want to investigate that?
Because of the nature of the hole, they can't touch down too close. They have to land some distance from the hole and then traverse the planet on foot in order to even get close. It's incredibly dangerous. The four member team is ready to take it on though.
The other members of the team are Talia, Chen and Pushkin. Each of them specializes in a different area of science and each brings their own strengths and weaknesses to the table.
These individuals cannot be more different and their personalities definitely clash at times. It ends up bringing quite a bit of tension to the story. If you think their only threat would be aliens, or the hole itself, you'd be wrong. Humans can be volatile, whether on terra firma or in space.
The coolest aspect for me though was the hole itself. Once they begin their mission on Talos VII, it becomes clear very quickly that the hole is emitting a pulse of some sort. It's so powerful that it messes with their comms and they can feel it through every fiber of their bodies.
If I am remembering correctly, it is emitted in a pattern, something like every 10.9-seconds. The closer they get, the more powerful it is. It gets to the point where it seems it is driving them a little mad.
Additionally, the closer they get to the hole, the higher and higher the tension gets amongst the team members. What is up, what is down? It's hard to keep it straight. Who is in the right, and who is the evil one in their ranks?
I really enjoyed my time listening to this. I feel like Paolini is such a solid SF-writer. The story flows so fluidly and is full of fantastic sci-fi concepts and ideas, yet is so approachable and easy to understand.
I felt like I really got to know these characters and while I wasn't crazy about all of them, or even most of them, I felt like I understood where they were coming from and why they made the choices they did. Their conversations did open up lots of avenue for thought into our place, and our greater role, as a species in the universe.
I would recommend this to people who enjoy SF-stories with a dangerous space-set mission, or stories of first contact. Especially if you like considering those types of scenarios for our own future, what that could mean. I felt really connected to this story and definitely hope Paolini continues writing in this genre.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I have nothing but the highest praise Hale's narration and this audio production in general!
May 9, 2023
Side note: I am not here to make some sort of political statement about my opinions on the industry. This is a space to review books and that is exactly what I’ll be doing - nothing more, nothing less.
Ugh… I’m so disappointed. This was one of my top ten most highly anticipated books for the year and it really let me down. After reading To Sleep in a Sea of Stars and it becoming one of my favorite books of all time, I had really high hopes for finally getting another book in this universe. But this prequel lacked everything I loved so much about the first book in this series, and failed to add any depth to the overall arc of the story world itself.
I felt zero connection with any of the characters. All of them were surface level at best. The protagonist had no other qualities to speak of except mourning the loss of his wife, but we couldn’t even empathize with him because we got no real glimpse into their relationship whatsoever. Two of the other characters were melodramatic caricatures and over-the-top with seemingly having only the purpose of creating meaningless conflict over their religious beliefs.
The plot itself is thus: a team finds a hole on a supposedly uninhabited planet and ventures to discover its secrets. And that’s literally it. It was a really boring slog to read through. It takes the entirety of the book for them to actually get to the hole and even then we learn absolutely not one single thing about who made it, why, how, when, etc. Honestly, the entire story seemed rather pointless in the end. We learned nothing, we experienced nothing, and it added absolutely nothing to this series. Other than the fractal pattern, there are no connections to anything else.
I’m really at a loss for this book. I don't know what happened here. I would have never guessed this as being written by Paolini nor of being a part of the Fractalverse series. Fans of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, you can honestly just skip it.
The one think I liked was the dramatic audiobook narration with the sound effects, which really added to the immersion of the story and kept me engaged.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ugh… I’m so disappointed. This was one of my top ten most highly anticipated books for the year and it really let me down. After reading To Sleep in a Sea of Stars and it becoming one of my favorite books of all time, I had really high hopes for finally getting another book in this universe. But this prequel lacked everything I loved so much about the first book in this series, and failed to add any depth to the overall arc of the story world itself.
I felt zero connection with any of the characters. All of them were surface level at best. The protagonist had no other qualities to speak of except mourning the loss of his wife, but we couldn’t even empathize with him because we got no real glimpse into their relationship whatsoever. Two of the other characters were melodramatic caricatures and over-the-top with seemingly having only the purpose of creating meaningless conflict over their religious beliefs.
The plot itself is thus: a team finds a hole on a supposedly uninhabited planet and ventures to discover its secrets. And that’s literally it. It was a really boring slog to read through. It takes the entirety of the book for them to actually get to the hole and even then we learn absolutely not one single thing about who made it, why, how, when, etc. Honestly, the entire story seemed rather pointless in the end. We learned nothing, we experienced nothing, and it added absolutely nothing to this series. Other than the fractal pattern, there are no connections to anything else.
I’m really at a loss for this book. I don't know what happened here. I would have never guessed this as being written by Paolini nor of being a part of the Fractalverse series. Fans of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, you can honestly just skip it.
The one think I liked was the dramatic audiobook narration with the sound effects, which really added to the immersion of the story and kept me engaged.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 16, 2023
An existential stunner.
Alex and the crew of the Adamura discover a perfectly circular hole, in a seemingly uninhabitable planet, emitting a fractal pattern through soundwaves. Naturally, they asked “why.”
Four of the members embark on a journey to study the anomaly up close, though the journey reveals more about themselves than this newly discovered alien environment.
Science fiction is one of the best platforms to discuss the deeper meanings of life and human conditions! I view Fractal Noise as an homage to Crichton and Sagan with elements of Altered Carbon’s technology and The Sparrow’s existential contemplation. It is swift in pace, portentous in tone and introspective in style.
The reader can feel the planet’s “thud, thUD, THUD” shaking the characters’ core on a physical, spiritual, and emotional level. You will feel it too. -Sara W.
Alex and the crew of the Adamura discover a perfectly circular hole, in a seemingly uninhabitable planet, emitting a fractal pattern through soundwaves. Naturally, they asked “why.”
Four of the members embark on a journey to study the anomaly up close, though the journey reveals more about themselves than this newly discovered alien environment.
Science fiction is one of the best platforms to discuss the deeper meanings of life and human conditions! I view Fractal Noise as an homage to Crichton and Sagan with elements of Altered Carbon’s technology and The Sparrow’s existential contemplation. It is swift in pace, portentous in tone and introspective in style.
The reader can feel the planet’s “thud, thUD, THUD” shaking the characters’ core on a physical, spiritual, and emotional level. You will feel it too. -Sara W.
March 15, 2023
An introductory note: if you're here because you're judging books by their covers, whether that's pro or con AI-generated art, move along, because I have actually read the ARC and this is a real review. That said, let's talk content, hm?
This is a challenging review for me to write and it's mostly because it isn't what I expected. This review is going to be a ramble, you have my apologies in advance.
I assumed, having read TSIASOS, this would be another first contact sci-fi novel packed with adventure, talking ships, space battles, fearsome aliens galore, lots of action, something new to ponder on basically every page, and lots to hold my painfully short attention span.
Fractal Noise is a lot of things. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, it is not.
If you're looking for something that's like Call of the Wild, Moby Dick, Waiting for Godot, or Old Man and the Sea, but put it in space? This is the book for you. If you like "man vs environment" plotlines, this is for you. If you really enjoy reading commercial literary fiction and you want to branch out into sci-fi but you're still looking for something familiar that spends the majority of the book focusing on Big Feelings About the Meaning of Life rather than a plot... This is for you.
Like the plot of this book is a dude going on a walk to try and cure his depression slash low-grade suicidal ideations following the death of his wife, that's what I'm trying to say here. And yes, to be fair the walk happens to be on an alien planet to look at an alien artifact and Shit Happens but like. It's a glorified walk.
Which is fine. Like that is a perfectly acceptable plot. It's also the plot of The Hobbit. The cool thing about literature is there can be a lot to convey and sometimes plot doesn't have to be the main thing, it can be Feelings and Emotions and Therapy In Space. The thing is, I personally wanted pew pew space guns and terrifying, murderous aliens and sassy talking ships and corrupt politicians and really awkward sex scenes, aka all the things I loved so much about TSIASOS.
So there's that.
I'm not sure how I feel about it, on the whole. I don't know that I'm qualified to say "this is good, read it" or "this is horrible, avoid it" because it's so far removed from what I typically read, and what the readers I typically talk books with read? It feels more literary than it does genre, and I don't feel that I'm the intended audience (which is a weird sentence to write about anything Tor publishes given I'm so obsessed with them that even 10 months after exiting bookselling I am still getting snuck back onto their e-ARC mailing lists. Thank you, marketing department; please don't kick me off the lists, ily).
Tangent aside, Fractal Noise has a lot to say about grief, the purpose of life, and finding one's way out of being in a bad headspace, and I think that's an important message in the world for those who may be struggling with shaky mental health. I am (thankfully) not in a shaky headspace right now, and would be interested to see if Fractal Noise hits deep for those who may be having some stressy depressy times.
Also, I have really mixed feelings about the main character? Like. I started this book and within the first 2 chapters I was like "oh, Alex is this lil emo sadboi who kinda wants to die and he's going on a possible suicide mission to Meet Aliens, this is going to be spectacular" and yet, as the book progresses it becomes incredibly clear that, essentially, dude is genuinely miserable because of his own mental blocks and he really coulda just gone to therapy and not endangered his life on a cursed pilgrimage to look for alien artifacts. Like. Really, though.
And I feel like that sounds like I'm sassing the book. I'm not. I say it more in the way people say "man they really coulda rode those eagles all the way to Mordor in the first place" when talking Lord of the Rings, where we all know going for the walk is the point. It's the journey. It's the experience.
On a positive note, we are now 2/2 on me receiving the ARC of the next Paolini book, reading it at the drop of a hat after not reading any fiction for *months*, and magically being able to read books again. So despite my belly aching I do appreciate Fractal Noise for reminding me I do like to read, actually.
But anyway, yeah, that's my absolutely convoluted pre-bedtime ramble of thoughts on Fractal Noise. Would I re-read? No. Will I read the next fractalverse novel? Yes, no questions.
This is a challenging review for me to write and it's mostly because it isn't what I expected. This review is going to be a ramble, you have my apologies in advance.
I assumed, having read TSIASOS, this would be another first contact sci-fi novel packed with adventure, talking ships, space battles, fearsome aliens galore, lots of action, something new to ponder on basically every page, and lots to hold my painfully short attention span.
Fractal Noise is a lot of things. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, it is not.
If you're looking for something that's like Call of the Wild, Moby Dick, Waiting for Godot, or Old Man and the Sea, but put it in space? This is the book for you. If you like "man vs environment" plotlines, this is for you. If you really enjoy reading commercial literary fiction and you want to branch out into sci-fi but you're still looking for something familiar that spends the majority of the book focusing on Big Feelings About the Meaning of Life rather than a plot... This is for you.
Like the plot of this book is a dude going on a walk to try and cure his depression slash low-grade suicidal ideations following the death of his wife, that's what I'm trying to say here. And yes, to be fair the walk happens to be on an alien planet to look at an alien artifact and Shit Happens but like. It's a glorified walk.
Which is fine. Like that is a perfectly acceptable plot. It's also the plot of The Hobbit. The cool thing about literature is there can be a lot to convey and sometimes plot doesn't have to be the main thing, it can be Feelings and Emotions and Therapy In Space. The thing is, I personally wanted pew pew space guns and terrifying, murderous aliens and sassy talking ships and corrupt politicians and really awkward sex scenes, aka all the things I loved so much about TSIASOS.
So there's that.
I'm not sure how I feel about it, on the whole. I don't know that I'm qualified to say "this is good, read it" or "this is horrible, avoid it" because it's so far removed from what I typically read, and what the readers I typically talk books with read? It feels more literary than it does genre, and I don't feel that I'm the intended audience (which is a weird sentence to write about anything Tor publishes given I'm so obsessed with them that even 10 months after exiting bookselling I am still getting snuck back onto their e-ARC mailing lists. Thank you, marketing department; please don't kick me off the lists, ily).
Tangent aside, Fractal Noise has a lot to say about grief, the purpose of life, and finding one's way out of being in a bad headspace, and I think that's an important message in the world for those who may be struggling with shaky mental health. I am (thankfully) not in a shaky headspace right now, and would be interested to see if Fractal Noise hits deep for those who may be having some stressy depressy times.
Also, I have really mixed feelings about the main character? Like. I started this book and within the first 2 chapters I was like "oh, Alex is this lil emo sadboi who kinda wants to die and he's going on a possible suicide mission to Meet Aliens, this is going to be spectacular" and yet, as the book progresses it becomes incredibly clear that, essentially, dude is genuinely miserable because of his own mental blocks and he really coulda just gone to therapy and not endangered his life on a cursed pilgrimage to look for alien artifacts. Like. Really, though.
And I feel like that sounds like I'm sassing the book. I'm not. I say it more in the way people say "man they really coulda rode those eagles all the way to Mordor in the first place" when talking Lord of the Rings, where we all know going for the walk is the point. It's the journey. It's the experience.
On a positive note, we are now 2/2 on me receiving the ARC of the next Paolini book, reading it at the drop of a hat after not reading any fiction for *months*, and magically being able to read books again. So despite my belly aching I do appreciate Fractal Noise for reminding me I do like to read, actually.
But anyway, yeah, that's my absolutely convoluted pre-bedtime ramble of thoughts on Fractal Noise. Would I re-read? No. Will I read the next fractalverse novel? Yes, no questions.
December 31, 2025
I didn't love ERAGON, which isn't indicative of much, but I think Paolini and I aren't for each other. While the audio production quality is stunning, the accents used for the stereotypically Slavic and East Asian characters were questionable.
I see some other reviewers griping about AI. Both of these are problems, but my main issue here is not connecting with the plot, which sounded great in summary. A random hole? In the middle of nowhere? Sure, go explore it. What could go wrong?
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
I see some other reviewers griping about AI. Both of these are problems, but my main issue here is not connecting with the plot, which sounded great in summary. A random hole? In the middle of nowhere? Sure, go explore it. What could go wrong?
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
April 21, 2025
Also on littafi.com
A gigantic hole is discovered on an uninhabited planet during a routine survey mission by the crew of the interstellar ship, the Adamura, and they prepare a team to investigate and find out more about it. It measures fifty kilometers across, seems highly symmetrical and regularly blasts out a dose of high powered fractal noise, leading to speculations on the builders being self-aware and sentient aliens, although they're nowhere to be found.
The landscape is harsh, desolate and unforgiving, but thoughts of the findings near the circumference of the hole leads the team ever onwards as they grapple with what it might all come to mean for them and the fledgling interstellar human elements as a whole.
How would it feel to actually know for a fact that there are other sentient beings out there in the vastness of space? How would it affect our thinking of the place and import we have in the universe at large and in ourselves? Christopher Paolini answers us with a glimpse of an answer from his brilliantly written and structured novel, Fractal Noise.
The dialogue between the various characters within the novel continually felt like a conversation I was having with myself as I pondered on various hypothetical questions, on love, pain and loss, belief and faith, sentience and morals... and how different and alike everything (experience, perception, thoughts, etc.) must all feel, subjectively, to other selves. The writing seemed tense, eerie and atmospheric, providing an interesting backdrop to the scientific speculations within the plot. A remarkable book, highly recommended.
2023 Read
A gigantic hole is discovered on an uninhabited planet during a routine survey mission by the crew of the interstellar ship, the Adamura, and they prepare a team to investigate and find out more about it. It measures fifty kilometers across, seems highly symmetrical and regularly blasts out a dose of high powered fractal noise, leading to speculations on the builders being self-aware and sentient aliens, although they're nowhere to be found.
The landscape is harsh, desolate and unforgiving, but thoughts of the findings near the circumference of the hole leads the team ever onwards as they grapple with what it might all come to mean for them and the fledgling interstellar human elements as a whole.
How would it feel to actually know for a fact that there are other sentient beings out there in the vastness of space? How would it affect our thinking of the place and import we have in the universe at large and in ourselves? Christopher Paolini answers us with a glimpse of an answer from his brilliantly written and structured novel, Fractal Noise.
The dialogue between the various characters within the novel continually felt like a conversation I was having with myself as I pondered on various hypothetical questions, on love, pain and loss, belief and faith, sentience and morals... and how different and alike everything (experience, perception, thoughts, etc.) must all feel, subjectively, to other selves. The writing seemed tense, eerie and atmospheric, providing an interesting backdrop to the scientific speculations within the plot. A remarkable book, highly recommended.
2023 Read
April 28, 2023
Fractal Noise
By Christopher Paolini
I loved 'To Sleep in a Sea of Stars' and was very happy that NetGalley and the publisher allowed me to read this book! Thanks so much! What a tremendous world and atmospheric sense of dread, fear, and tension.
These characters were so different from each other and had very powerful personalities. Their backgrounds, or enough of it, came to light as the story unfolds that helps the reader understand the character better.
The cover show the Anomaly as a circle upright but it was a giant hole! The long trek to the Anomaly is most of the book. The characters, the strange life of the planet, the sound from the Anomaly, and conflicts between the members of the crew. Lots of crazy situations, built up tension, creepy planet life, and the strange noises. The book makes the reader feel like you are there dealing with all this stress! But there is so much more! Especially as they get closer and closer to the Anomaly! Loved it!
By Christopher Paolini
I loved 'To Sleep in a Sea of Stars' and was very happy that NetGalley and the publisher allowed me to read this book! Thanks so much! What a tremendous world and atmospheric sense of dread, fear, and tension.
These characters were so different from each other and had very powerful personalities. Their backgrounds, or enough of it, came to light as the story unfolds that helps the reader understand the character better.
The cover show the Anomaly as a circle upright but it was a giant hole! The long trek to the Anomaly is most of the book. The characters, the strange life of the planet, the sound from the Anomaly, and conflicts between the members of the crew. Lots of crazy situations, built up tension, creepy planet life, and the strange noises. The book makes the reader feel like you are there dealing with all this stress! But there is so much more! Especially as they get closer and closer to the Anomaly! Loved it!
June 5, 2023
I finished the book and yet I have no idea what this book was supposed to be about.
Stories set in isolated, cut-off settings hold a different place in sci-fi space and I haven't seen any other book make a complete hash of it. The characters are unbearable. For being specialized scientists, there is zero science and exploration of the hole. All we have is constant bickering of the characters or moping of the protagonist. For an interesting premise, the book delivered no answers or plot movements. Nothing at all. Instead, it went into repeated philosophical debates and answers to life that were out of place. 300+ pages of reading to know that the way to living is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. *smh*
One of the most disappointing reads of the year.
Stories set in isolated, cut-off settings hold a different place in sci-fi space and I haven't seen any other book make a complete hash of it. The characters are unbearable. For being specialized scientists, there is zero science and exploration of the hole. All we have is constant bickering of the characters or moping of the protagonist. For an interesting premise, the book delivered no answers or plot movements. Nothing at all. Instead, it went into repeated philosophical debates and answers to life that were out of place. 300+ pages of reading to know that the way to living is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. *smh*
One of the most disappointing reads of the year.
May 17, 2023
I hated the protagonist and it felt like the story did not resolve. Therefore, pointless
-
Listen, I get it. AI art is awful. But that's a choice on the art team and the publisher. I hope Paolini uses his pull to get it changed, but he's responsible for the story, not the cover, and that's what these reviews are supposed to be of - the story. Tor books has Instagram comments on - go bomb those.
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Listen, I get it. AI art is awful. But that's a choice on the art team and the publisher. I hope Paolini uses his pull to get it changed, but he's responsible for the story, not the cover, and that's what these reviews are supposed to be of - the story. Tor books has Instagram comments on - go bomb those.
June 1, 2023
It’s a shame that the AI cover art conversation is likely going to dominate the discourse surrounding this book and hinder its overall success, because this is Paolini’s tightest, most mature, most thought-provoking, and overall best work to date. Dark, desolate, philosophical, ambiguous, and haunting. Highly recommended.
September 20, 2023
People are so petty.
December 16, 2022
AI cover, no thanks
May 17, 2023
Headines:
thud, Thud, THUD
Missions
Ensuing madness
Fractal Noise took the reader on a personal, an existential and an exploratory journey. I had so many questions, so much tension and I got some answers. The story was told from Alex's perspective, a somewhat morose but understandably grief-striken xenobiologist who found himself in the centre of investigating an anomoly.
Unlike the crew of the Wallfish, this crew (the Adamura) were a disfunctional bunch of people. The wider group on the ship had some positives but as this group focused down into an exploratory group, only Alex and Chen had facets of integrity. The trek became a demise in the style of Lord of the Flies.
There was so much fascinating about Tavos VII while at the same time the planet presented a creepiness both in terms of the environment and creatures. I read the second half of this book drenched in adrenaline and found the culmination both satisfying with a slice of frustration. I want more story and answers and maybe we'll get that in the future, maybe we won't.
This story was as much an anthropological narrative as it was science fiction. That worked for me because humans interracting with alien worlds and environments do stupid stuff, make their ego the focus and the fall out is fascinating. You'll find much here to entertain.
Thank you to Tor Books for the review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
thud, Thud, THUD
Missions
Ensuing madness
Fractal Noise took the reader on a personal, an existential and an exploratory journey. I had so many questions, so much tension and I got some answers. The story was told from Alex's perspective, a somewhat morose but understandably grief-striken xenobiologist who found himself in the centre of investigating an anomoly.
Unlike the crew of the Wallfish, this crew (the Adamura) were a disfunctional bunch of people. The wider group on the ship had some positives but as this group focused down into an exploratory group, only Alex and Chen had facets of integrity. The trek became a demise in the style of Lord of the Flies.
There was so much fascinating about Tavos VII while at the same time the planet presented a creepiness both in terms of the environment and creatures. I read the second half of this book drenched in adrenaline and found the culmination both satisfying with a slice of frustration. I want more story and answers and maybe we'll get that in the future, maybe we won't.
This story was as much an anthropological narrative as it was science fiction. That worked for me because humans interracting with alien worlds and environments do stupid stuff, make their ego the focus and the fall out is fascinating. You'll find much here to entertain.
Thank you to Tor Books for the review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
May 18, 2023
call me a heartless wench but I care very little for the "grieving spouse" trope; although I will say that it takes talent to go from "never-before-seen anomaly at the edge of space" to "pure, unadulterated snoozefest", so make of it what you will
May 6, 2025
3,5/5 stars ⭐
June 15, 2023
What a stunningly tender, intimate character study from someone so adept at building large worlds and intricate systems this turned out to be. This is, by far, Paolini's sharpest, most adept writing yet. From improved prose to intricate characters, this short novel shows quite a bit of masterful prowess from an industry veteran who now feels like he's come into his own.
The novel bleeds from its heart from its opening scene, and rarely ever stops to patch itself. There's a daring authenticity to its grounded characters, its otherworldly, first-contact story a backdrop for something far more personal and delicate. Paolini's weaving of characterization and his universe's lore is nothing short of spectacular. He answers enough questions and introduces enough mysteries to promote investment in his larger Fractalverse but manages to keep it all contained and appropriately symbolic to this insular story.
In short, this is wonderful. It might just be Paolini's best work, and it's a clear evolution in his style that I hope marks its territory throughout his future works with both dragons and space. There are moments throughout, but particularly toward the end, where prose shifted from its usual functional style to something far more artistic and developed. It was breathtaking, and I would give quite a lot to see him extend that in future works. Some portions of the very end lose this masterful control and perhaps get a bit too literal and explanatory over the protagonist's motivations, where I feel showing them would have left a much stronger impact in the closing pages. Still, the ending is among his more potent and thoughtful, and the thematic connections it pulls together from the earlier portions of the book had me enraptured.
Without spoiling, there is a moment near the end where Paolini rapidly switches back and forth between the present and past in flashback form. It's the best bit of prose and the best storytelling he's ever put to paper. I won't mince words here: an entire novel with this caliber of storytelling will be a classic in whatever genre he chooses and seeing him evolve this style of writing as his career progresses may just catapult him beyond the limelight of his past and cement him as one of the true greats of his generation. It's a flawless moment of storytelling that had my eyes glazed, my throat lumped, and my inspiration to write itching in a way it had not in quite a long time.
Paolini has shown a distinct love and talent over his career for a few specific topics. He's perhaps one of the best the industry has ever seen when it comes to showing the toll of intense travel, so it's a no-brainer that perhaps his best novel yet centers around the very idea. He also has quite a love for delving into the methods and logic of his world, but he does so with such a careful hand here that it rarely detracts from the story, enhancing the plot in a way he has strived to achieve since his debut.
This will reign as one of my favorite reads of the year. Paolini is often an author I return to for comfort. His sprawling epics inspired me at a younger age, and returning to his writing brings me back to a nostalgic point every man is desperate to recapture.
Fractal Noise is far from comfortable. It's intense yet delicate, an examination into the most fragile parts of the human condition that marks a significant moment of growth for a beloved author who I can now confidently say has the capability to reach the stars.
Bravo, Christopher.
The novel bleeds from its heart from its opening scene, and rarely ever stops to patch itself. There's a daring authenticity to its grounded characters, its otherworldly, first-contact story a backdrop for something far more personal and delicate. Paolini's weaving of characterization and his universe's lore is nothing short of spectacular. He answers enough questions and introduces enough mysteries to promote investment in his larger Fractalverse but manages to keep it all contained and appropriately symbolic to this insular story.
In short, this is wonderful. It might just be Paolini's best work, and it's a clear evolution in his style that I hope marks its territory throughout his future works with both dragons and space. There are moments throughout, but particularly toward the end, where prose shifted from its usual functional style to something far more artistic and developed. It was breathtaking, and I would give quite a lot to see him extend that in future works. Some portions of the very end lose this masterful control and perhaps get a bit too literal and explanatory over the protagonist's motivations, where I feel showing them would have left a much stronger impact in the closing pages. Still, the ending is among his more potent and thoughtful, and the thematic connections it pulls together from the earlier portions of the book had me enraptured.
Without spoiling, there is a moment near the end where Paolini rapidly switches back and forth between the present and past in flashback form. It's the best bit of prose and the best storytelling he's ever put to paper. I won't mince words here: an entire novel with this caliber of storytelling will be a classic in whatever genre he chooses and seeing him evolve this style of writing as his career progresses may just catapult him beyond the limelight of his past and cement him as one of the true greats of his generation. It's a flawless moment of storytelling that had my eyes glazed, my throat lumped, and my inspiration to write itching in a way it had not in quite a long time.
Paolini has shown a distinct love and talent over his career for a few specific topics. He's perhaps one of the best the industry has ever seen when it comes to showing the toll of intense travel, so it's a no-brainer that perhaps his best novel yet centers around the very idea. He also has quite a love for delving into the methods and logic of his world, but he does so with such a careful hand here that it rarely detracts from the story, enhancing the plot in a way he has strived to achieve since his debut.
This will reign as one of my favorite reads of the year. Paolini is often an author I return to for comfort. His sprawling epics inspired me at a younger age, and returning to his writing brings me back to a nostalgic point every man is desperate to recapture.
Fractal Noise is far from comfortable. It's intense yet delicate, an examination into the most fragile parts of the human condition that marks a significant moment of growth for a beloved author who I can now confidently say has the capability to reach the stars.
Bravo, Christopher.
June 5, 2024
Overall Rating : C+
"He wanted to understand. Without understanding, what was the point?"
Years before the events of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, humanity finds its first proof of alien life in the form of a huge hole in the ground emitting a strange frequency. Four members of the crew Andromeda are tasked with getting as close as possible to see if they can find any details as to who - and why - it was made. But everyone has a reason to go, and can the wonder of discovery ever overcome the overwhelming despair that is human grief?
This is gonna be a "meh" for me. I didn't really see how it fit with the previous book except to cover minor questions. More often it felt like a horror novel. Four people all alone on an unknown planet except for the THUD of the also unknown anomaly and going mental because of it.
Not to mention our main character - Alex - has severe depression due to his tragic past. It almost felt like Paolini wrote a book on the effects of grief and how it can basically take away all of our emotions and values and leave you a hollow shell. But he also wrote it as a way to say, even with the weight of it all, there is a way back out of the darkness. That part of the story really stuck with me.
But even though I loved the message, it didn't feel like it fit with what I imagined going in, and was left blindsided by events happening out of nowhere along with a pretty ambiguous ending that didn't satisfy me in the slightest.
Truly I believe it was an alright book, but should've been 100 pages shorted and turned into a novella.
"He wanted to understand. Without understanding, what was the point?"
Years before the events of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, humanity finds its first proof of alien life in the form of a huge hole in the ground emitting a strange frequency. Four members of the crew Andromeda are tasked with getting as close as possible to see if they can find any details as to who - and why - it was made. But everyone has a reason to go, and can the wonder of discovery ever overcome the overwhelming despair that is human grief?
This is gonna be a "meh" for me. I didn't really see how it fit with the previous book except to cover minor questions. More often it felt like a horror novel. Four people all alone on an unknown planet except for the THUD of the also unknown anomaly and going mental because of it.
Not to mention our main character - Alex - has severe depression due to his tragic past. It almost felt like Paolini wrote a book on the effects of grief and how it can basically take away all of our emotions and values and leave you a hollow shell. But he also wrote it as a way to say, even with the weight of it all, there is a way back out of the darkness. That part of the story really stuck with me.
But even though I loved the message, it didn't feel like it fit with what I imagined going in, and was left blindsided by events happening out of nowhere along with a pretty ambiguous ending that didn't satisfy me in the slightest.
Truly I believe it was an alright book, but should've been 100 pages shorted and turned into a novella.
December 18, 2022
Now I don't go out of my way to give books 1 stars, especially a book I haven't read yet. This rating has nothing to do with the book itself. Being a fan of Paolini and his past books, I know I would enjoy it.
However this rating is due to the cover and the problematic statement of Tor and the deafening silence from Paolini.
The cover of the book (as pretty as it appears) is AI art. Now you'd have to be living under a rock to not have heard the controversy surrounded by how ai programs source their material to "train" their program. I'm honestly not going to get into that. It was pointed out by numerous fans of Paolini and Tor publishing house that this cover is ai art last month when Tor did a cover reveal. It took Tor a MONTH to make a post with comments turned off that stated that "yeah they know it's ai art and we're still going to use it because you know we care about making money instead of pushing back the release date of a book of a well-known author than support artists."
What's even more sad and disappointing is how silent Paolini has been on this matter and in facts follows midjourney ai art accounts on Instagram. Yes, ai art looks cool and easy to create but the fact that it runs on stolen artwork and photography makes it unethical and a huge issue at the moment.
Edit to add: It's irresponsible to use ai art at this present time when there is so many legal issues needed to be investigated. Even if you don't believe that these ai programs are copying past artworks, there's still too much controversy that needs to be addressed. Companies often steer away from controversy and problematic people when allegations come out and wait for proof. Why is this not the case for ai art in the marketing field?
I sadly will not be reading this book until the cover is changed.
However this rating is due to the cover and the problematic statement of Tor and the deafening silence from Paolini.
The cover of the book (as pretty as it appears) is AI art. Now you'd have to be living under a rock to not have heard the controversy surrounded by how ai programs source their material to "train" their program. I'm honestly not going to get into that. It was pointed out by numerous fans of Paolini and Tor publishing house that this cover is ai art last month when Tor did a cover reveal. It took Tor a MONTH to make a post with comments turned off that stated that "yeah they know it's ai art and we're still going to use it because you know we care about making money instead of pushing back the release date of a book of a well-known author than support artists."
What's even more sad and disappointing is how silent Paolini has been on this matter and in facts follows midjourney ai art accounts on Instagram. Yes, ai art looks cool and easy to create but the fact that it runs on stolen artwork and photography makes it unethical and a huge issue at the moment.
Edit to add: It's irresponsible to use ai art at this present time when there is so many legal issues needed to be investigated. Even if you don't believe that these ai programs are copying past artworks, there's still too much controversy that needs to be addressed. Companies often steer away from controversy and problematic people when allegations come out and wait for proof. Why is this not the case for ai art in the marketing field?
I sadly will not be reading this book until the cover is changed.
May 14, 2023
You're likely interested in reading Fractal Noise because of the main plot of the novel, which is exploring a planet with a strange giant hole. But you should know that under the surface, this is a book about grief and mourning. It's about the pain and sheer amount of time it takes to get over the death of a loved one while cleverly juxtaposing that with the trauma of walking days with heavy equipment and significant injuries over an unforgiving landscape just to look more closely at a hole.
I listened to the audiobook, so the "noise" mentioned in the title is created with a low throbbing sound effect. At first you don't notice it, then it begins to increase in frequency and you start to see how the exploration crew could be so drastically affected by this sound alone. The noise also seems to describe the constant chatter in our minds. What we think about when we have a lot of time by ourselves. Do we relive happy memories or let the ghosts of our past haunt us?
Overall, an interesting story and a great narrator. At times I wanted more space stuff and less time in the main character's head, but, in the end, it worked.
I listened to the audiobook, so the "noise" mentioned in the title is created with a low throbbing sound effect. At first you don't notice it, then it begins to increase in frequency and you start to see how the exploration crew could be so drastically affected by this sound alone. The noise also seems to describe the constant chatter in our minds. What we think about when we have a lot of time by ourselves. Do we relive happy memories or let the ghosts of our past haunt us?
Overall, an interesting story and a great narrator. At times I wanted more space stuff and less time in the main character's head, but, in the end, it worked.
May 18, 2023
This is an unspeakably bad book. I deeply regret wasting the time to read it. I kept hoping it would get better, but alas! Had the narrator simply killed himself on the first page, everything might have been ok. It could have ended there and I'd have my 5 hours back! This novel is so bad it makes me angry!
June 7, 2023
Fractal Noise is an amazing and spectacular story. A story that explore grief and profound loss. A story about seeking for answers in a cruel and malicious world. Answers that aren't there. Alex story and journey really resonated with me. Before buying and reading the book I been missing my dog Dale. Dale die almost two years ago. He been there with me my entire life. He was truly my dog. I truly was his human. For a myriad of reason lately I been missing him greatly and very depress. The world don't quite feel right without him. So to read a story about a person who experience profound loss and their struggle with grief really resonated with my soul. Despite Alex losing his wife and love of his life. A much deeper and personal connection then my loss of a dog. I still was able to feel his pain and torment. His hollowness especially. His desire for a purpose. His need for a reason of why. His need for knowledge and understanding. I never been in a relationship in my life or ever fall in love truly. So the loss that Alex experience is quite alien to me. Yet at the same time it is similar and very connected to all the losses I have experience in my life. My uncle, my dog Dale, my grandfather. Each one of these death has torn apart of my soul and heart out. Left me empty and hollow. Make me feel as if I would never be the same again. And true be told I ain't the same. Despise how different the loss Alex experience to mine own it is quite relatable and still manage to resonate with me. Not only that but I was able to feel what Alex felt. Quite spectacular writing indeed. Maybe I am bias to Paolini writing since I would rate any work of him a 4 or higher. But this is quite an amazing story. As often Paolini writing does it has help me in a dark patch of my life. I will forever be grateful for the things Paolini writing has help me overcome and conquer. May your sword stay sharp. Goodnight little one and remember to eat the path.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2023
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2023/06/05/...
While Fractal Noise has been framed as sort of a prequel to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, for those wondering if you can read it as a standalone, the answer is absolutely yes. In fact, it was so far removed from the first book and added so little to the overall Fractalverse that it left me a little disappointed.
As the story opens, we’re introduced to protagonist xenobiologist Alex who is still deep in the throes of grief for his wife Layla, killed in an accident when they were both colonists on the planet Eidolon. Dealing with the guilt of not being there to protect her is also a constant distraction from his current work aboard the Adamura, an exploration vessel on a survey assignment. Then, the crew’s cartographer picks up something strange on an uncharted planet called Talos VII, which is supposedly devoid of any life. So, what could have possibly made the huge, perfectly circular hole on the planet’s surface?
After much discussion on what they should do, the crew eventually decides to put together a team to investigate the crater. Alex finds himself on the mission together with team leader Talia and fellow scientists Chen and Pushkin, but while each member brings along invaluable expertise in their respective knowledge areas, tempers also run hot as different personalities and ideologies clash. It doesn’t take long for things to go south as the group makes its way towards their destination, an alien artifact that might just prove less dangerous than the simmering tensions building between the human crew members.
For a story mainly focused on character relationships, it was surprisingly difficult for me to care about or even connect to any of them. Most of them feel like caricatures, simplistic and embodying a single trait—Talia and her religious fervor, Pushkin and his over-the-top aggression, and Chen was simply the dude who got himself injured. Then there was our main character Alex, whose overwhelming grief was something we were constantly reminded of, to the point where he became completely defined by it. As a result, none of the conflicts or dialogue between the team members felt truly organic, instead coming across as manufactured and repetitive.
Fortunately, the story fared better, especially with regards to the mystery surrounding alien phenomena. The ominous sights and sounds were described vividly, building up to an atmosphere that was positively claustrophobic. If you are a fan of “doomed expedition” tales, I think you will be very happy with the deep immersion of the setting and overall mood of paranoia and fear.
Heck, I’d even say Fractal Noise was a pretty decent story of first contact. That said, if you are looking for more of the intrigue and action that we got from To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, I’m sorry to say it but you won’t find it here. Admittedly, had it been more like the first book, I probably would have enjoyed this one a lot more. However, the lack of connection to the characters really put a damper on things, not to mention the frustration of not having a clear resolution or making any headway on the greater mystery.
Ultimately, I feel as though Christopher Paolini set out to write this as a character-oriented novel but somehow fumbled the actual characterization—you know, the important part—making most of the book feel like a slog because so much was centered around the team’s interactions which did not interest me. It’s a shame too, because the actual premise is quite good, and with a more engaging and fully fleshed out cast, Fractal Noise could have easily surpassed the original. Despite its prequel status, I wouldn’t recommend starting with this one if you’re in any way curious about the Fractalverse, but it’s probably worth reading if you’re already invested in the series. For the most part though, I feel it missed the mark with me.
While Fractal Noise has been framed as sort of a prequel to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, for those wondering if you can read it as a standalone, the answer is absolutely yes. In fact, it was so far removed from the first book and added so little to the overall Fractalverse that it left me a little disappointed.
As the story opens, we’re introduced to protagonist xenobiologist Alex who is still deep in the throes of grief for his wife Layla, killed in an accident when they were both colonists on the planet Eidolon. Dealing with the guilt of not being there to protect her is also a constant distraction from his current work aboard the Adamura, an exploration vessel on a survey assignment. Then, the crew’s cartographer picks up something strange on an uncharted planet called Talos VII, which is supposedly devoid of any life. So, what could have possibly made the huge, perfectly circular hole on the planet’s surface?
After much discussion on what they should do, the crew eventually decides to put together a team to investigate the crater. Alex finds himself on the mission together with team leader Talia and fellow scientists Chen and Pushkin, but while each member brings along invaluable expertise in their respective knowledge areas, tempers also run hot as different personalities and ideologies clash. It doesn’t take long for things to go south as the group makes its way towards their destination, an alien artifact that might just prove less dangerous than the simmering tensions building between the human crew members.
For a story mainly focused on character relationships, it was surprisingly difficult for me to care about or even connect to any of them. Most of them feel like caricatures, simplistic and embodying a single trait—Talia and her religious fervor, Pushkin and his over-the-top aggression, and Chen was simply the dude who got himself injured. Then there was our main character Alex, whose overwhelming grief was something we were constantly reminded of, to the point where he became completely defined by it. As a result, none of the conflicts or dialogue between the team members felt truly organic, instead coming across as manufactured and repetitive.
Fortunately, the story fared better, especially with regards to the mystery surrounding alien phenomena. The ominous sights and sounds were described vividly, building up to an atmosphere that was positively claustrophobic. If you are a fan of “doomed expedition” tales, I think you will be very happy with the deep immersion of the setting and overall mood of paranoia and fear.
Heck, I’d even say Fractal Noise was a pretty decent story of first contact. That said, if you are looking for more of the intrigue and action that we got from To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, I’m sorry to say it but you won’t find it here. Admittedly, had it been more like the first book, I probably would have enjoyed this one a lot more. However, the lack of connection to the characters really put a damper on things, not to mention the frustration of not having a clear resolution or making any headway on the greater mystery.
Ultimately, I feel as though Christopher Paolini set out to write this as a character-oriented novel but somehow fumbled the actual characterization—you know, the important part—making most of the book feel like a slog because so much was centered around the team’s interactions which did not interest me. It’s a shame too, because the actual premise is quite good, and with a more engaging and fully fleshed out cast, Fractal Noise could have easily surpassed the original. Despite its prequel status, I wouldn’t recommend starting with this one if you’re in any way curious about the Fractalverse, but it’s probably worth reading if you’re already invested in the series. For the most part though, I feel it missed the mark with me.
May 16, 2023
Thank you to Drew Kilman at MacMillan for reaching out with an audio ARC NetGalley widget! I can't even express how excited I was about a prequel to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars and I was disappointed when I wasn't able to get an eARC copy. Thank you again! As always, my thoughts are my own and my review is honest.
Alex, a xenobiologist reeling from the recent loss of his wife, finds himself on a ship that is about the make first contact with... something. Something that left a perfectly round hole where no other signs of life exist. When Alex volunteers for the landing party, he has no idea what's about to unfold or what danger awaits him and his three landing party members.
Oh, and by the way: THUD.
The perfectly round hole is pulsing with an eerie, increasingly deafening thud.
I can't speak to any added material in the print/eBook edition, but if you listen to the end of the audiobook, you'll be treated to a brief interview with Paolini about the origin of this book and his writing process. This story was conceived long ago, way before To Sleep got its publishing deal, but it's clear that this is the spark that eventually turned into some of the alien elements in the lengthy 2020 novel. You won't see any familiar characters, and you won't get any firmly defined answers, but you'll be left with a sense that you've been given a glimpse under the hood at what happened before Kira encountered the Soft Blade.
The audiobook is narrated by Jennifer Hale, once again, and once again her performance is spectacular! Hale is a master of character voices, so each character sounds very distinct in a way that few other narrators achieve. One could be forgiven for thinking more than one narrator read the dialogue! The Fractal Noise audiobook also features a small collection of songs composed and sung by Hale, and even at the rushed speeds I'm used to listening to audiobooks on, they sounded beautiful.
If To Sleep in a Sea of Stars was one of the best books you've read this decade like it was for me, this one probably won't compare, but it has a lot of merit in its own right. This is a dark, gritty horror story set in space with a tantalizing element of mystery woven in. It's suspenseful, gory, heartbreaking, and captivating. It's a solid 4 stars for me, and I absolutely recommend this to both fans of To Sleep and to fans of dark SFF in general.
This book can be read independently of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, as well. It doesn't matter it you read it first, second, farther into your Fractalverse journey, or if you never read the rest of the series. If this is your introduction to Paolino as a science fiction author, though, please don't stop here!
An important note before I go: The average rating on Goodreads, and I imagine other places once retail listings go live and accept reviews, is artificially low. The print publisher, Tor, has chosen to use AI generated artwork for the cover, and advocates are review-bombing the book with 1-star ratings. While I'm not the biggest fan of AI art replacing illustrators like myself either, and I know Paolini didn't want an AI cover, leaving fake 1-star reviews on a book only hurts the author (who had no say in the final cover.)
Alex, a xenobiologist reeling from the recent loss of his wife, finds himself on a ship that is about the make first contact with... something. Something that left a perfectly round hole where no other signs of life exist. When Alex volunteers for the landing party, he has no idea what's about to unfold or what danger awaits him and his three landing party members.
Oh, and by the way: THUD.
The perfectly round hole is pulsing with an eerie, increasingly deafening thud.
I can't speak to any added material in the print/eBook edition, but if you listen to the end of the audiobook, you'll be treated to a brief interview with Paolini about the origin of this book and his writing process. This story was conceived long ago, way before To Sleep got its publishing deal, but it's clear that this is the spark that eventually turned into some of the alien elements in the lengthy 2020 novel. You won't see any familiar characters, and you won't get any firmly defined answers, but you'll be left with a sense that you've been given a glimpse under the hood at what happened before Kira encountered the Soft Blade.
The audiobook is narrated by Jennifer Hale, once again, and once again her performance is spectacular! Hale is a master of character voices, so each character sounds very distinct in a way that few other narrators achieve. One could be forgiven for thinking more than one narrator read the dialogue! The Fractal Noise audiobook also features a small collection of songs composed and sung by Hale, and even at the rushed speeds I'm used to listening to audiobooks on, they sounded beautiful.
If To Sleep in a Sea of Stars was one of the best books you've read this decade like it was for me, this one probably won't compare, but it has a lot of merit in its own right. This is a dark, gritty horror story set in space with a tantalizing element of mystery woven in. It's suspenseful, gory, heartbreaking, and captivating. It's a solid 4 stars for me, and I absolutely recommend this to both fans of To Sleep and to fans of dark SFF in general.
This book can be read independently of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, as well. It doesn't matter it you read it first, second, farther into your Fractalverse journey, or if you never read the rest of the series. If this is your introduction to Paolino as a science fiction author, though, please don't stop here!
An important note before I go: The average rating on Goodreads, and I imagine other places once retail listings go live and accept reviews, is artificially low. The print publisher, Tor, has chosen to use AI generated artwork for the cover, and advocates are review-bombing the book with 1-star ratings. While I'm not the biggest fan of AI art replacing illustrators like myself either, and I know Paolini didn't want an AI cover, leaving fake 1-star reviews on a book only hurts the author (who had no say in the final cover.)
May 29, 2023
Please note this isn’t a lower rating because of the cover drama. I did read the book…
I wanted nothing more than to enjoy this. Unfortunately I found it overwhelmingly repetitive, with a killjoy cast of characters, and by the end of it I had no care in the world to finish it.
The set up is intriguing, and I loved TSIASOS, so I figured this would be fantastic… by page 200 I wanted to put it down and not pick it back up. But alas, I did finish it. Sigh.
Will continue with whatever else he does in this world.
I wanted nothing more than to enjoy this. Unfortunately I found it overwhelmingly repetitive, with a killjoy cast of characters, and by the end of it I had no care in the world to finish it.
The set up is intriguing, and I loved TSIASOS, so I figured this would be fantastic… by page 200 I wanted to put it down and not pick it back up. But alas, I did finish it. Sigh.
Will continue with whatever else he does in this world.
June 23, 2023
A Brilliant first contact story! A crazy descent into madness, a mission that gradually begins to go wrong. The four main characters were all unique particularly in terms of their flaws. The pressure and tension which builds made for a very claustrophobic atmosphere. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
October 15, 2023
PLEASE READ
Warning all of these 1 ⭐️ reviews are by people who haven’t read the book cause it hasn’t been released yet. It’s cause they have an issue against AI art. But this is not the place to do it.
Cause this is about the book’s content which none of these people know about.
Warning all of these 1 ⭐️ reviews are by people who haven’t read the book cause it hasn’t been released yet. It’s cause they have an issue against AI art. But this is not the place to do it.
Cause this is about the book’s content which none of these people know about.
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