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The Many
The minds of five normal people merge in a beautiful, unnerving first contact story where the strangest thing humanity has to face is each other, from the critically acclaimed author of Sleeping Giants.
“I’m you now. We all are.”
When advertising executive Carole Veilleux loses it at Booker’s donut shop and bites Booker on the arm, it’s about the most interesting thing to happen in the small city of Marquette, Michigan, in years.
But that’s only the beginning of the story. Carole and Booker find their minds merging, in a collective that extends to include Carole’s husband Shivansh and local doctor Evelyn Schlapp. The four of them become the beginning of something larger and stranger than they could ever have imagined.
“I’m you now. We all are.”
When advertising executive Carole Veilleux loses it at Booker’s donut shop and bites Booker on the arm, it’s about the most interesting thing to happen in the small city of Marquette, Michigan, in years.
But that’s only the beginning of the story. Carole and Booker find their minds merging, in a collective that extends to include Carole’s husband Shivansh and local doctor Evelyn Schlapp. The four of them become the beginning of something larger and stranger than they could ever have imagined.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2026
About the author
Sylvain Neuvel
23 books5,385 followersSylvain Neuvel dropped out of high school at age 15. Along the way, he has been a journalist, worked in soil decontamination, sold ice cream in California, and peddled furniture across Canada. He received a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Chicago. He taught linguistics in India, and worked as a software engineer in Montreal. He is also a certified translator, though he wishes he were an astronaut. He likes to tinker, dabbles in robotics and is somewhat obsessed with Halloween. He absolutely loves toys; his girlfriend would have him believe that he has too many, so he writes about aliens and giant robots as a blatant excuse to build action figures (for his son, of course).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
May 2, 2026
Whoever tells you that science fiction has nothing new to offer, tell them about this novel.
What follows is not really a spoiler if you have already read the book’s synopsis: what Sylvain Neuvel offers has already been dealt with before, of course; at the end of the day, the science fiction genre as such already has more than a century of history; but in this novel the author provides a very innovative point of view. I think of major contributions from earlier novels and short stories such as Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell, or the masterful inversion of this story made by Peter Watts in The Things (it is actually based on the movie The Thing, itself based on John W. Campbell's novella); and also, of course, The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney.
As I say, here the author—as is already becoming something of a hallmark of his novels—achieves a very original way of expressing it. How? Well… although he has previously set up a solid worldbuilding, his best asset is his literary style: the very particular way he has of playing with the first-person narrator, even though he also combines it with the omniscient narrator.
After some opening chapters that are masterful in terms of the treatment of the characters, the narrative develops into territory that some readers may find more debatable, but that is not my case.
I don’t want to explain more, only that in one sentence The Many could be described as the definitive ensemble novel.
What follows is not really a spoiler if you have already read the book’s synopsis: what Sylvain Neuvel offers has already been dealt with before, of course; at the end of the day, the science fiction genre as such already has more than a century of history; but in this novel the author provides a very innovative point of view. I think of major contributions from earlier novels and short stories such as Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell, or the masterful inversion of this story made by Peter Watts in The Things (it is actually based on the movie The Thing, itself based on John W. Campbell's novella); and also, of course, The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney.
As I say, here the author—as is already becoming something of a hallmark of his novels—achieves a very original way of expressing it. How? Well… although he has previously set up a solid worldbuilding, his best asset is his literary style: the very particular way he has of playing with the first-person narrator, even though he also combines it with the omniscient narrator.
After some opening chapters that are masterful in terms of the treatment of the characters, the narrative develops into territory that some readers may find more debatable, but that is not my case.
I don’t want to explain more, only that in one sentence The Many could be described as the definitive ensemble novel.
October 15, 2025
The Many is a first contact science fiction story with an interesting twist. Based on the synopsis I was expecting something dark and very serious. While there are certainly serious parts, the novel was also a lot more fun to read than I expected! There was some humour and satire sprinkled throughout the plot that I really enjoyed.
The story follows a wide cast of characters, where we read their POVs both individually and together. All of them have serious issues and differences so seeing them come together and grow in some of their beliefs was really interesting. They were all distinct and well-developed and felt like realistic people that you could actually imagine meeting. My favourite part of the story was reading their interactions and all of their inner monologues.
Underneath the science fiction mind melding elements of the story there are also a lot of serious issues that are brought up. Things like wealth inequality, environmental issues, racism, sexism, trans rights, acceptance, and just the value of trying to be decent human beings. In some parts, the story felt like a bit of a critique or satire of our current society and all of the flaws within it, done in a very clever and subtle way. This is definitely a novel that can provoke a lot of thought and introspection if you look deeply into it while reading and reflect afterwards.
Overall, I found this to be a very enjoyable and unique science fiction novel with great and interesting characters. It was also very easy to get into, with good pacing, narrative structure, and writing. I would definitely recommend giving it a try if the synopsis calls to you.
Thank you to Rebellion Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!
The story follows a wide cast of characters, where we read their POVs both individually and together. All of them have serious issues and differences so seeing them come together and grow in some of their beliefs was really interesting. They were all distinct and well-developed and felt like realistic people that you could actually imagine meeting. My favourite part of the story was reading their interactions and all of their inner monologues.
Underneath the science fiction mind melding elements of the story there are also a lot of serious issues that are brought up. Things like wealth inequality, environmental issues, racism, sexism, trans rights, acceptance, and just the value of trying to be decent human beings. In some parts, the story felt like a bit of a critique or satire of our current society and all of the flaws within it, done in a very clever and subtle way. This is definitely a novel that can provoke a lot of thought and introspection if you look deeply into it while reading and reflect afterwards.
Overall, I found this to be a very enjoyable and unique science fiction novel with great and interesting characters. It was also very easy to get into, with good pacing, narrative structure, and writing. I would definitely recommend giving it a try if the synopsis calls to you.
Thank you to Rebellion Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!
April 26, 2026
I read Sylvain Neuvel's Sleeping Giants back in 2016 and loved it, although I never got around to reading the rest of the Themis Files books. When I saw The Many, however, his first stand alone in a while, I dove at the chance. I'm glad I did because I had a delightful time with this. Thanks to Solaris and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Many begins with a tick that comes across something in the woods. We then switch to the inhabitants of the small town of Marquette, especially Carole, who one day bites Booker. Through different POVs we get an understanding of what happened, but then these POVs begin to shift, expand, and we come to realise that people are becoming connected. It is not just Carole and Booker, who find themselves mind melding, but also Carole's husband, Shivansh, and a local doctor, Evelyn. This is merely the beginning, however, as the question becomes whether to keep their new-found connection secret or to let more people in on it. The Many is in many ways an absolutely hilarious novel, while also being deeply serious. There are moments and chapters which had me laughing out loud, although I can't share more to avoid spoilers, but there were also moments that deeply touched me, which spoke to out shared nature as humans and our place in this world. At just over 300 pages, The Many isn't an overly-long novel, but it does pack a punch and tells a great story.
From Sleeping Giants I already knew that Sylvain Neuvel had a real skill for playing with narrative, figuring out different ways to tell a story. One of those is through form, with Sleeping Giants featuring diary entries and interviews, but in The Many it not so much in the form but in the nature of the perspective. The Many switches POVs consistently, but at a certain point these POVs themselves begin to change. Through these different POVs, the novel becomes something of a polyphonic novel that nonetheless speaks with a single voice. When Carole and Booker merge, they are still themselves and yet Carole is now also a Black man while Booker is also a married white woman. As their network develops and grows, people suddenly find themselves quite literally in the shoes of others, becoming aware of each others' desires, fears, and thoughts and discovering that truly humanity is one, that ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, sexuality, etc. do not, in a good way, matter. Neuvel addresses police violence, gender transition, racism, and more and while there is no easy, straightforward solution to any of these issues, The Many does offer insight and commentary in a way that feels both sharp and subtle. In a way the message that we are all the same if we could only see it is a little cliche, but the way that it is told makes The Many a gorgeous book.
I had an absolutely lovely time with The Many, which is both funny and touching, sad and uplifting. Sylvain Neuvel is an excellent Sci-Fi writer and I will definitely be dipping back into the Themis Files series.
URL: https://universeinwords.blogspot.com/...
The Many begins with a tick that comes across something in the woods. We then switch to the inhabitants of the small town of Marquette, especially Carole, who one day bites Booker. Through different POVs we get an understanding of what happened, but then these POVs begin to shift, expand, and we come to realise that people are becoming connected. It is not just Carole and Booker, who find themselves mind melding, but also Carole's husband, Shivansh, and a local doctor, Evelyn. This is merely the beginning, however, as the question becomes whether to keep their new-found connection secret or to let more people in on it. The Many is in many ways an absolutely hilarious novel, while also being deeply serious. There are moments and chapters which had me laughing out loud, although I can't share more to avoid spoilers, but there were also moments that deeply touched me, which spoke to out shared nature as humans and our place in this world. At just over 300 pages, The Many isn't an overly-long novel, but it does pack a punch and tells a great story.
From Sleeping Giants I already knew that Sylvain Neuvel had a real skill for playing with narrative, figuring out different ways to tell a story. One of those is through form, with Sleeping Giants featuring diary entries and interviews, but in The Many it not so much in the form but in the nature of the perspective. The Many switches POVs consistently, but at a certain point these POVs themselves begin to change. Through these different POVs, the novel becomes something of a polyphonic novel that nonetheless speaks with a single voice. When Carole and Booker merge, they are still themselves and yet Carole is now also a Black man while Booker is also a married white woman. As their network develops and grows, people suddenly find themselves quite literally in the shoes of others, becoming aware of each others' desires, fears, and thoughts and discovering that truly humanity is one, that ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, sexuality, etc. do not, in a good way, matter. Neuvel addresses police violence, gender transition, racism, and more and while there is no easy, straightforward solution to any of these issues, The Many does offer insight and commentary in a way that feels both sharp and subtle. In a way the message that we are all the same if we could only see it is a little cliche, but the way that it is told makes The Many a gorgeous book.
I had an absolutely lovely time with The Many, which is both funny and touching, sad and uplifting. Sylvain Neuvel is an excellent Sci-Fi writer and I will definitely be dipping back into the Themis Files series.
URL: https://universeinwords.blogspot.com/...
April 26, 2026
If you like Sense8 and Pluribus, this book will definitely scratch the itch. An interesting take on the hive mind idea, which benefits from having the internal thoughts of everyone experiencing the combinations.
May 1, 2026
The Many by Sylvain Neuvel was not at all what I expected going in, and that ended up being one of its greatest strengths.
What begins with a zombie-esque premise quickly evolves into something much more complex, becoming a first contact story layered with deeply human and non-human perspectives. This is a book that does not shy away from heavy topics. It explores racism, sexism, capitalism, and many other “isms” in a way that feels approachable and thought-provoking rather than overwhelming. Neuvel’s writing makes these conversations easier to engage with and understand without feeling preachy.
The narrative structure is one of the most compelling aspects. It starts with a tick carrying an infection that spreads to humans, and from there the story branches out across multiple points of view. You might be in the mind of a white woman in one moment, then a Black man in the next, with each perspective offering insight into the lived realities and struggles people face every day. As the scope widens, the story even moves into animal perspectives, showing the impact humans have had on them in a powerful and sometimes unsettling way.
One of the most memorable elements is the hive mind concept. When animals are brought into it, humans begin to take on their behaviors. A scene involving cat-like antics, especially knocking things off surfaces, made me laugh out loud.
Emotionally, this book covers a wide range. There is anger, loneliness, grief, happiness, acceptance, love, and even humor. It is immersive and engaging, pulling you in quickly and keeping you invested throughout.
While I appreciated the depth and message of the story, I did find myself wishing it were longer. There are lingering questions by the end, though it feels intentional. This is not a story that aims to neatly tie everything up. Instead, it leaves you thinking, reassessing, and questioning your own perspectives.
Overall, The Many is a fast-paced and impactful read that surprised me in the best way. It solidifies Sylvain Neuvel as a must-read author for me, and I will be picking up anything he writes next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Rebellion for providing me an Arc for my honest review.
What begins with a zombie-esque premise quickly evolves into something much more complex, becoming a first contact story layered with deeply human and non-human perspectives. This is a book that does not shy away from heavy topics. It explores racism, sexism, capitalism, and many other “isms” in a way that feels approachable and thought-provoking rather than overwhelming. Neuvel’s writing makes these conversations easier to engage with and understand without feeling preachy.
The narrative structure is one of the most compelling aspects. It starts with a tick carrying an infection that spreads to humans, and from there the story branches out across multiple points of view. You might be in the mind of a white woman in one moment, then a Black man in the next, with each perspective offering insight into the lived realities and struggles people face every day. As the scope widens, the story even moves into animal perspectives, showing the impact humans have had on them in a powerful and sometimes unsettling way.
One of the most memorable elements is the hive mind concept. When animals are brought into it, humans begin to take on their behaviors. A scene involving cat-like antics, especially knocking things off surfaces, made me laugh out loud.
Emotionally, this book covers a wide range. There is anger, loneliness, grief, happiness, acceptance, love, and even humor. It is immersive and engaging, pulling you in quickly and keeping you invested throughout.
While I appreciated the depth and message of the story, I did find myself wishing it were longer. There are lingering questions by the end, though it feels intentional. This is not a story that aims to neatly tie everything up. Instead, it leaves you thinking, reassessing, and questioning your own perspectives.
Overall, The Many is a fast-paced and impactful read that surprised me in the best way. It solidifies Sylvain Neuvel as a must-read author for me, and I will be picking up anything he writes next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Rebellion for providing me an Arc for my honest review.
May 4, 2026
The premise is going to remind you of the TV show Pluribus, with an alien virus infecting humans and creating a hive mind. But the author takes it a lot further than the show.
We get alternating points of view, initially from uninfected people then increasingly from infected ones who are part of an ever-growing hive mind. But while Pluribus is a human-centered virus, this one doesn't have that restriction. With unusual results.
The author is interested in how society would change if we really shared a common mind and common understanding. It's interesting to see what the author thinks would change, and you may have your own ideas. In fact, this book reads like an old-fashioned thought experiment, where the author posits a change and then looks at all sorts of consequences.
Also, it's very funny. There are a lot of amusing asides, not the least of which what a cat's consciousness would contribute to a hive mind. We just can't help knocking things off shelves, can we?
It's possible that Pluribus and The Many are stemming from similar concerns: How polarized we seem to have become, and how difficult it is to understand the other person's point of view. So what if we actually shared their point of view? How would it change things? And would it be preserved?
As I said, it's an interesting thought experiment.
We get alternating points of view, initially from uninfected people then increasingly from infected ones who are part of an ever-growing hive mind. But while Pluribus is a human-centered virus, this one doesn't have that restriction. With unusual results.
The author is interested in how society would change if we really shared a common mind and common understanding. It's interesting to see what the author thinks would change, and you may have your own ideas. In fact, this book reads like an old-fashioned thought experiment, where the author posits a change and then looks at all sorts of consequences.
Also, it's very funny. There are a lot of amusing asides, not the least of which what a cat's consciousness would contribute to a hive mind. We just can't help knocking things off shelves, can we?
It's possible that Pluribus and The Many are stemming from similar concerns: How polarized we seem to have become, and how difficult it is to understand the other person's point of view. So what if we actually shared their point of view? How would it change things? And would it be preserved?
As I said, it's an interesting thought experiment.
May 5, 2026
What a weird (good weird) wild ride!! I was pumped to read Sylvain Neuvel’s newest novel after falling in love with his Themis Files trilogy a few years ago.
This is a sci-fi novel where in a zombie-esque fashion humans begin to merge with one another mentally….. ha this one is hard to summarize! Cool concept & beautiful overall themes and messages. I teared up at the very end!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley!
This is a sci-fi novel where in a zombie-esque fashion humans begin to merge with one another mentally….. ha this one is hard to summarize! Cool concept & beautiful overall themes and messages. I teared up at the very end!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley!
May 2, 2026
If you love Pluribus, read this !!
April 28, 2026
"Jeremiah Briggs III was fifth-generation military, and he had a small penis. These two unrelated facts had, in tandem, come to shape every single aspect of Jeremiah’s life."
Has to be one of the best openers of a chapter I've come across in a long time. I read this in a single sitting and enjoyed myself tremendously throughout. I wasn't sunk on the spheres, utterly enjoyed the giraffe, and enjoyed everything in between.
Has to be one of the best openers of a chapter I've come across in a long time. I read this in a single sitting and enjoyed myself tremendously throughout. I wasn't sunk on the spheres, utterly enjoyed the giraffe, and enjoyed everything in between.
October 27, 2025
Sylvain Neuvel’s The Many is less a conventional novel and more a challenging thought experiment, attempting to chart the tumultuous birth of a post-human collective consciousness in a deeply entrenched world. The central message—that true empathy and global equality are only achievable through the radical, painful destruction of existing systems and individual identities is profound and ultimately beautiful. However, the novel's structure often obscures this utopian ideal, making the journey to the final revelation a struggle marked by tonal dissonance and moral ambiguity.
The most significant structural hurdle lies in the book's pacing and focus. For much of the narrative, the reader wrestles with the story's purpose, a confusion that suggests the narrative's chosen ambiguity of perspective was ultimately detrimental to engagement. The inclusion of chapters, such as the widely noted giraffe sequence, reinforces this sense of a chaos. While perhaps intended to demonstrate the collective's expanding, playful, and omnivorous nature, these interludes feel like unnecessary narrative fluff that dilute the central conflict and disrupt the overall flow.
More challenging for many readers is the intimate and boundary-eroding evolution of the collective itself. What begins as a deeply personal merger between the original three characters accelerates into a problematic scenario following the introduction of Layla, an 11 yo child of one of the original merged that passed on. The narrative's explicit focus on shared intimacy and pleasure within a collective mind, particularly when children are later drawn into this consciousness, introduces a significant element of reader discomfort and ethical questioning. This narrative choice-the complete erosion of traditional age and relational boundaries sets a difficult, even disturbing, tone that undercuts the power of the book’s otherwise positive philosophical conclusion.
Ultimately, The Many is a work of high ambition that demands the reader navigate uncomfortable territory and structural unevenness to appreciate its core morality. While the novel delivers a powerful, hopeful message about what humanity could become, the abrasive and chaotic lead-up means this book will appeal primarily to a niche audience willing to grapple with difficult subject matter that is morally difficult to digest and highly experimental narrative angles in service of a potentially intellectual reward.
+++I have received this eARC in an exchange for an honest review+++
I want to thank @netgalley and @rebellionpublishing for allowing me to read this eARC.
The most significant structural hurdle lies in the book's pacing and focus. For much of the narrative, the reader wrestles with the story's purpose, a confusion that suggests the narrative's chosen ambiguity of perspective was ultimately detrimental to engagement. The inclusion of chapters, such as the widely noted giraffe sequence, reinforces this sense of a chaos. While perhaps intended to demonstrate the collective's expanding, playful, and omnivorous nature, these interludes feel like unnecessary narrative fluff that dilute the central conflict and disrupt the overall flow.
More challenging for many readers is the intimate and boundary-eroding evolution of the collective itself. What begins as a deeply personal merger between the original three characters accelerates into a problematic scenario following the introduction of Layla, an 11 yo child of one of the original merged that passed on. The narrative's explicit focus on shared intimacy and pleasure within a collective mind, particularly when children are later drawn into this consciousness, introduces a significant element of reader discomfort and ethical questioning. This narrative choice-the complete erosion of traditional age and relational boundaries sets a difficult, even disturbing, tone that undercuts the power of the book’s otherwise positive philosophical conclusion.
Ultimately, The Many is a work of high ambition that demands the reader navigate uncomfortable territory and structural unevenness to appreciate its core morality. While the novel delivers a powerful, hopeful message about what humanity could become, the abrasive and chaotic lead-up means this book will appeal primarily to a niche audience willing to grapple with difficult subject matter that is morally difficult to digest and highly experimental narrative angles in service of a potentially intellectual reward.
+++I have received this eARC in an exchange for an honest review+++
I want to thank @netgalley and @rebellionpublishing for allowing me to read this eARC.
February 13, 2026
The premise of this book sounded exactly like something I would really love, but it unfortunately didn’t quite work for me. I did however still find it enjoyable, so let’s start with the positives!
- The book was fairly fast paced, and I never found any of it boring. There was no time wasted in getting the plot moving, and I never felt lost as to what was going on.
- The way that the hive mind works was really interesting. I liked seeing how it adapted with each new person that was added to the collective.
- The cast was such a vast, diverse array of characters which I feel for the most part were represented very well
As for the negatives:
- I didn’t love how the dialogue was done in this book. All dialogue was written as a bullet point list, with no indication as to who is speaking, and any sort of emotion or inflection they had in their words. It made it feel a bit disconnected and rushed, especially during conversations where people changed their view points by the end. You never knew what they were thinking and how the conversation was effecting them, they just suddenly were on board.
- The hive mind was talked about as a very intense, highly sexual thing, and the introduction of an 11 year old into the mix made it all a little uncomfortable. One of the reasons she wants to join is to have all her fathers memories from when he was in the hive mind, but a lot of what he was doing (that we were told about, at least) was having sex with people in his kitchen, so his child then having all those memories feels a bit wrong
- The ending also felt really rushed to me, I didn’t love how everything resolved. We had all this buildup to the entire world being part of the hive and then it just… ended. Other than Carole, I also found each characters final chapter really unsatisfying. It sort of made the whole book feel a little pointless.
Overall, while not my favourite, I did still like the book, and I do think I would still recommend it to the right person!
- The book was fairly fast paced, and I never found any of it boring. There was no time wasted in getting the plot moving, and I never felt lost as to what was going on.
- The way that the hive mind works was really interesting. I liked seeing how it adapted with each new person that was added to the collective.
- The cast was such a vast, diverse array of characters which I feel for the most part were represented very well
As for the negatives:
- I didn’t love how the dialogue was done in this book. All dialogue was written as a bullet point list, with no indication as to who is speaking, and any sort of emotion or inflection they had in their words. It made it feel a bit disconnected and rushed, especially during conversations where people changed their view points by the end. You never knew what they were thinking and how the conversation was effecting them, they just suddenly were on board.
- The hive mind was talked about as a very intense, highly sexual thing, and the introduction of an 11 year old into the mix made it all a little uncomfortable. One of the reasons she wants to join is to have all her fathers memories from when he was in the hive mind, but a lot of what he was doing (that we were told about, at least) was having sex with people in his kitchen, so his child then having all those memories feels a bit wrong
- The ending also felt really rushed to me, I didn’t love how everything resolved. We had all this buildup to the entire world being part of the hive and then it just… ended. Other than Carole, I also found each characters final chapter really unsatisfying. It sort of made the whole book feel a little pointless.
Overall, while not my favourite, I did still like the book, and I do think I would still recommend it to the right person!
October 31, 2025
Thanks to Rebellion and Netgalley for the advance reader copy of this remarkable book!
When I was a teenager, I recall intense feelings of wanting to see myself and others through the eyes of other people, especially my family and friends. This remarkable novel explores that feeling. But not just one person, but a whole group of people, virtual strangers. What starts out as a melding of just two or three minds becomes something much greater, a hivemind. How would knowing and seeing and feeling everything through someone else's point of view affect your views, your mind, your beliefs?
Inside we all have beautiful parts and ugly parts: desperate, lonely, sad, angry feelings, things we dislike about ourselves; but we also have hope, kindness, love, generosity, the pride of doing something good for others, the self-worth that accompanies accomplishment. Now multiply that by 2, 3, 5, 15 thousand or maybe more. This story handles how some might handle such a load, what they would do. And it handles it with aplumb and a delightful sense of humor. Humor and the ability to not take ourselves too seriously truly helps us get through life. This book with woven with humor throughout which made it speed by so quickly for a book where we are trapped inside the brains of the main characters.
This is also the most unique first contact story I can recall reading. The contact serves as a tipping point once the story plays out its conceits to their logical end. It is most definitely the authors hilarious, bonkers journey to take the reader to a place where we all can try to see, not only ourselves, but everyone else too as a small but vital part in the large machine of the universe; and to make it a little bit better; to exercise understanding and empathy. Because skin color, language, culture, sex, or country of origin should not divide but be reasons for celebrating what makes us unique and wonderful. The story light-heartedly handles what a large united group can change about the world. And the quirks that would come along with all this too.
It was a fun, wild, sometimes violent, but caring experience.
When I was a teenager, I recall intense feelings of wanting to see myself and others through the eyes of other people, especially my family and friends. This remarkable novel explores that feeling. But not just one person, but a whole group of people, virtual strangers. What starts out as a melding of just two or three minds becomes something much greater, a hivemind. How would knowing and seeing and feeling everything through someone else's point of view affect your views, your mind, your beliefs?
Inside we all have beautiful parts and ugly parts: desperate, lonely, sad, angry feelings, things we dislike about ourselves; but we also have hope, kindness, love, generosity, the pride of doing something good for others, the self-worth that accompanies accomplishment. Now multiply that by 2, 3, 5, 15 thousand or maybe more. This story handles how some might handle such a load, what they would do. And it handles it with aplumb and a delightful sense of humor. Humor and the ability to not take ourselves too seriously truly helps us get through life. This book with woven with humor throughout which made it speed by so quickly for a book where we are trapped inside the brains of the main characters.
This is also the most unique first contact story I can recall reading. The contact serves as a tipping point once the story plays out its conceits to their logical end. It is most definitely the authors hilarious, bonkers journey to take the reader to a place where we all can try to see, not only ourselves, but everyone else too as a small but vital part in the large machine of the universe; and to make it a little bit better; to exercise understanding and empathy. Because skin color, language, culture, sex, or country of origin should not divide but be reasons for celebrating what makes us unique and wonderful. The story light-heartedly handles what a large united group can change about the world. And the quirks that would come along with all this too.
It was a fun, wild, sometimes violent, but caring experience.
November 28, 2025
The Many is a hilarious, interesting, and fast-paced story about a growing hive mind, leaving you with a heartfelt message that will resonate with you for weeks to come.
The first impression I got from this book was how clear the contrast between people's perspectives of themselves and other people's perspectives of them was as the POV changed. You're introduced to characters both by their acquaintances and by themselves, until they join the hive mind and then their understanding of the individual and the whole changes entirely.
I loved how quickly the book turns to chaos. Initially, I truly believed it would be an isolated incident, and I was curious to see how it changed the original three's lives, but as everything spiralled out of hand, seeing how things spread and how the plans and thought processes of the collective changed with new additions is a wild and entertaining ride!
Although the ending surprised me, the message that we are all interconnected with everything in the universe, even as individuals, and therefore we should all try to make one thing a tiny bit better, was the perfect way to tie up this standalone and leave a lasting impression. I will most definitely be picking up Sleeping Giants soon. Neuvel has certainly piqued my interest.
The first impression I got from this book was how clear the contrast between people's perspectives of themselves and other people's perspectives of them was as the POV changed. You're introduced to characters both by their acquaintances and by themselves, until they join the hive mind and then their understanding of the individual and the whole changes entirely.
I loved how quickly the book turns to chaos. Initially, I truly believed it would be an isolated incident, and I was curious to see how it changed the original three's lives, but as everything spiralled out of hand, seeing how things spread and how the plans and thought processes of the collective changed with new additions is a wild and entertaining ride!
Although the ending surprised me, the message that we are all interconnected with everything in the universe, even as individuals, and therefore we should all try to make one thing a tiny bit better, was the perfect way to tie up this standalone and leave a lasting impression. I will most definitely be picking up Sleeping Giants soon. Neuvel has certainly piqued my interest.
April 21, 2026
5 stars!!!
Sylvain Neuvel is my favorite modern sci-fi author and THE MANY was one of my most anticipated books of 2026. And it did not disappoint! Absolutely loved this chaotic, hive mind sci-fi novel!
This book was equal parts intriguing, fascinating, funny, bizarre, poignant, mind-blowing, just put all those descriptors into a bowl, mix it up, and you get THE MANY.
The only thing I knew about THE MANY before jumping in on release day was that it involved hive minds. That's it! And I think that's all anyone should really know before they jump into the book. This book was full of surprises, chapter after chapter. I devoured it in one day!
It's fun to see that Neuvel is not only great with writing trilogies (Themis Files, Take Them To The Stars) and novellas (The Test, No Kindness Too Soon) but he's now got standalone novels under his belt!
I can see this as a book I come back to again and again and love it just as much on my rereads. Thoroughly enjoyed my time with THE MANY! 5 stars!
Sylvain Neuvel is my favorite modern sci-fi author and THE MANY was one of my most anticipated books of 2026. And it did not disappoint! Absolutely loved this chaotic, hive mind sci-fi novel!
This book was equal parts intriguing, fascinating, funny, bizarre, poignant, mind-blowing, just put all those descriptors into a bowl, mix it up, and you get THE MANY.
The only thing I knew about THE MANY before jumping in on release day was that it involved hive minds. That's it! And I think that's all anyone should really know before they jump into the book. This book was full of surprises, chapter after chapter. I devoured it in one day!
It's fun to see that Neuvel is not only great with writing trilogies (Themis Files, Take Them To The Stars) and novellas (The Test, No Kindness Too Soon) but he's now got standalone novels under his belt!
I can see this as a book I come back to again and again and love it just as much on my rereads. Thoroughly enjoyed my time with THE MANY! 5 stars!
April 27, 2026
The Many is a unique first contact story. A meteorite falls to Earth and soon the inhabitants of a small town infect each other and create a hive mind.
I liked the premise and the thought experiment part of the story. Unfortunately some aspects of the novel felt rather disturbing (the intimacy between members of the hive mind, including children), maybe I missed that this was meant to be sarcastic?
I am quite sure this book will keep my mind occupied for some time, especially because of some of the more disturbing aspects. Again, this might have been the point and I missed it.
I liked the premise and the thought experiment part of the story. Unfortunately some aspects of the novel felt rather disturbing (the intimacy between members of the hive mind, including children), maybe I missed that this was meant to be sarcastic?
I am quite sure this book will keep my mind occupied for some time, especially because of some of the more disturbing aspects. Again, this might have been the point and I missed it.
May 11, 2026
Finished this at work today. Really really enjoyed this and I find each novel the author puts out is better than the last. This reminded me a lot of Sense8 by the Wachowski Sisters and I LOVED that show so much. The ending definitely feels like there is potential to explore more (maybe space exploration?) but I believe this is a standalone and the ending was definitely sufficient.
Read
May 15, 2026rtc
November 30, 2025
The Many was a fun sci-fi read with an uplifting message and a nice touch of humour to counter-balance some of the horror (ish, it's not a scary book at all, just the odd bit of gore) elements.
A virus from outer space infects first a tick, which bites a human. That human bites another human and yeah, so far, so zombie, right? Well, no. There are parallels with undead tales but in this one the key conceit is that the individuals who are infected share a 'hive mind' - they literally become 'the many', sharing each other's minds, memories and very essence.
This leads to some weird stuff, like them having a lot of sex (or is it masturbation, because the other person is also them?), some funny stuff, some tragic stuff and some through-provoking stuff. Neuvel fleshes out the idea well and the small-town America portrayed is a fun lens for the outbreak.
The book isn't overtly political but Neuvel's personal politics do come through strongly. Not an issue for me, but if you're the type of gets in a rage about 'woke' stuff, this may not be for you.
Overall, a fun read, with some nice ideas and it sticks the landing pretty well.
PS. Shout-out to the recurring joke about the cat, that was great. :-)
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.
A virus from outer space infects first a tick, which bites a human. That human bites another human and yeah, so far, so zombie, right? Well, no. There are parallels with undead tales but in this one the key conceit is that the individuals who are infected share a 'hive mind' - they literally become 'the many', sharing each other's minds, memories and very essence.
This leads to some weird stuff, like them having a lot of sex (or is it masturbation, because the other person is also them?), some funny stuff, some tragic stuff and some through-provoking stuff. Neuvel fleshes out the idea well and the small-town America portrayed is a fun lens for the outbreak.
The book isn't overtly political but Neuvel's personal politics do come through strongly. Not an issue for me, but if you're the type of gets in a rage about 'woke' stuff, this may not be for you.
Overall, a fun read, with some nice ideas and it sticks the landing pretty well.
PS. Shout-out to the recurring joke about the cat, that was great. :-)
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!
“I’m you now. We all are.”
When advertising executive Carole Veilleux loses it at Booker’s donut shop and bites Booker on the arm, it’s about the most interesting thing to happen in the small city of Marquette, Michigan, in years.
But that’s only the beginning of the story. Carole and Booker find their minds merging, in a collective that extends to include Carole’s husband Shivansh and local doctor Evelyn Schlapp. The four of them become the beginning of something larger and stranger than they could ever have imagined.
I really think this had just the right amount of silly Scooby-Doo-esque plot but also serious points to make it really good.
I genuinely liked the characters we spend the most time with.
The point of this whole thing about tolerance and empathy is admittedly a little "uh, yeah, duh?" (no, I can't express that more eloquently) but I mean, basic empathy is still somehow a difficult concept for people. So I'd argue books like this are still needed.
All in all, fun!
“I’m you now. We all are.”
When advertising executive Carole Veilleux loses it at Booker’s donut shop and bites Booker on the arm, it’s about the most interesting thing to happen in the small city of Marquette, Michigan, in years.
But that’s only the beginning of the story. Carole and Booker find their minds merging, in a collective that extends to include Carole’s husband Shivansh and local doctor Evelyn Schlapp. The four of them become the beginning of something larger and stranger than they could ever have imagined.
I really think this had just the right amount of silly Scooby-Doo-esque plot but also serious points to make it really good.
I genuinely liked the characters we spend the most time with.
The point of this whole thing about tolerance and empathy is admittedly a little "uh, yeah, duh?" (no, I can't express that more eloquently) but I mean, basic empathy is still somehow a difficult concept for people. So I'd argue books like this are still needed.
All in all, fun!
April 24, 2026
A very engaging, easy read. Really enjoyed the bluntness and humor in the narration. Can't help but compare this to the Pluribus TV show in concept, (and some other famous stories that would spoil the ending). I appreciated the ideas, but some felt a bit blunt/heavy handed. When coupled with the narration style it worked for me, but I can see it causing others to bounce off.
Definitely recommended.
Definitely recommended.
May 1, 2026
3.5 stars
May 8, 2026
Can't imagine a harder journey as from one to many and to itself again. Enjoyed the diverse perspectives and the uncontrollable need to drop things
May 9, 2026
An honest look at the ugly and the beautiful of humanity, packed into a wild & wacky, full-of-soul sci-fi!
May 1, 2026
This felt like a short story that the author just did not know how to end, so it kept going and going. A forgettable read from an author I normally enjoy.
February 5, 2026
The most optimistic hive mind story I’ve consumed in an era where hive minds seem to be an increasingly common theme.
A tick bites a human, the human bites another human, a fight ensues, and so begins the start of a merging of consciousness throughout a town in Michigan. The afflicted share a collective mind, while still retaining one’s individuality, newly shaped by the experience and knowledge of others within the Many.
This book was a quick, largely enjoyable read, but the story was somewhat surface-level. There are dark moments but they aren’t wielded well as plot devices, nor did they seem to be afforded the gravity they deserve or that the reader would expect.
My main takeaway - what I think the author was trying to communicate - is that we can make idealistic hopes for the world come to fruition if only we acted in the best interest of the collective, caring for our community and all who are in it.
The ending, in my opinion, is too optimistic, but my perspective is almost certainly impacted by current events and the reality we live in. Suspend disbelief, take the story for what it is - I think most readers who do will enjoy their time spent with this book.
Thanks to the publisher, Rebellion, for allowing me access to the ARC.
A tick bites a human, the human bites another human, a fight ensues, and so begins the start of a merging of consciousness throughout a town in Michigan. The afflicted share a collective mind, while still retaining one’s individuality, newly shaped by the experience and knowledge of others within the Many.
This book was a quick, largely enjoyable read, but the story was somewhat surface-level. There are dark moments but they aren’t wielded well as plot devices, nor did they seem to be afforded the gravity they deserve or that the reader would expect.
My main takeaway - what I think the author was trying to communicate - is that we can make idealistic hopes for the world come to fruition if only we acted in the best interest of the collective, caring for our community and all who are in it.
The ending, in my opinion, is too optimistic, but my perspective is almost certainly impacted by current events and the reality we live in. Suspend disbelief, take the story for what it is - I think most readers who do will enjoy their time spent with this book.
Thanks to the publisher, Rebellion, for allowing me access to the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Many by Sylvain Neuvel
3.85 rounded up to 4🔮 orbs
Est. Pub. Date: Apr. 21, 2026
Rebellion/Solaris
Emerging from the branches…
💡 Orbs Prologue: A rather difficult day has supplanted my monotonous existence. The egg-yolked sun bears down on the crown of my sparse head of hair. I find shade underneath my favorite maple tree and begin to snack on a chocolate éclair that I purchased from Booker’s bakery down the street. The light, fluffy pastry gives way as my taste buds howl in delight as the rich, textured chocolate satisfies my craving. Gazing out upon the neighboring street, the warm breeze tickles the back of my neck hair in a tickling manner as if the wind itself had its own set of slender fingers. Unbeknownst to me, a nasty tick had settled within the wrinkles of my leathery skin and was in the midst of finishing off its own sort of culinary delight. Finished with my doughy delight, I stand and begin my journey to the local library in hopes of unearthing a dusty gem hidden among the rows of books. Along my walk, my mind starts to wander, slowly at first, but enough to jar me from people-watching. My smile recedes, overtaken by an insatiable lust for something…
🧐 A small glimpse: You might ask what donuts have to do with a science-fiction story. This is the scene of the crime, so to speak, the beginning of time, where humanity is converted into something like-minded. Ixodida, better known as the tick, has gnawed its way into the flesh of Carol Veilleux. Carol, an average woman in every sense of the word, seeks love from a husband unwilling to reciprocate. Meandering through love in a bit of a comfortable stupor, Carol remains unfulfilled, yet not enough to cause her to abandon her life raft. Upon this fateful day, author Sylvain Neuvel decides to spice Carol’s life up. As the blood is sucked up from the tick, Carol's fluid transfusion is replaced with an otherworldly ability. Within her blood, something percolates, a need to feed. Booker’s donuts stare at Carol from the window, and as she enters the confines of sweet confections, Carol’s palate turns towards a treat with more iron flavoring. What begins as a rather vicious attack on Booker, filled with a chomping of his limb, ends with a hive-mind sense. Within the community of Marquette, a melding of the minds becomes conveniently pleasurable as others are brought into Carol and Booker’s fold. Through sheer coincidence or calculated means, people begin to enter into the hazy fray of like-mindedness. This novel shows the benefits of self-examination through others’ eyes, demolishing societal discrimination and injecting mankind with a harmonious peace.
👍 Orbs Pros: A poignant message! Beneath the surface lies a message of putting oneself in another person's shoes. Understanding fellow man, instead of berating those who wish to live in a manner unlike our own. If, for only a second, we were able to share the same heartbeat, follow the same wavelength, use others' skills as our own, and delight in this newfound knowledge. Our lives would be inherently enriched, and subsequently, we might be happier. Interesting premise! Creative! Bites containing the ability to enhance our lives instead of the standard zombie-turning trope. It flipped the script on the terrible narrative and instead shed a spotlight on what could be done if people were more tolerant, with the same goals and aspirations. A real assessment! With everyone thinking as one, some of our uniqueness would diminish, and therefore, we might become stagnant as a society. Some of our most brilliant thinkers have gone against the proverbial grain of popular thought. Often regarded as crazy, they trudged on with a sick passion, often hailed as brilliance by future generations. Would these minds be allowed to flourish in a like-minded society? Would these inventors even have the same desires anymore?
👎 Orbs Cons: Without a doubt, the number one question I had is, who runs the hive? Whose agenda shall we follow? Which ideas are seen as positive or negative? Is this a plot hole? In the story, the changes are mostly for the overall positive acceptance of others, and while valiant, I might ask how the selection of those came to fruition. How are any one person’s ideals more important in this type of society?
Recommended! A book that has much to say. It certainly left me wondering if this type of ideology could actually function, and yet I remained baffled. From a sheer entertainment standpoint, this SF novel was fun to read. There are plenty of storylines to delve into, and all of them begin to meet in the center of the proverbial spiderweb, so to speak. Not an overly complex undertaking, this will provide readers with a sense of wonder.
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Blood! Sustenance… As I paw my way through the aisles, the hazel-colored eyes radiating through the horn-rimmed glasses of the librarian bore holes into my dopamineless shell of a body. Survival tactics grip the librarian as she grabs a hardback copy of Alchemised by SenLin Yu and heaves it at my angry face. Like a ten-pound weight, it smacks my jaw and halts my forward progress. Disturbed and unrelenting, I leap on top of the countertop, my mind on one thing only. The warm taste of metallic redness. In a final-ditch effort, the librarian picks up a ruler and a roll of cloth tape. Clutched firmly in both her hands, this would appear a comedic skit to an innocent onlooker, some sort of medieval battle with library supplies, and yet I was not in a humorous mood. I slap the wooden ruler out of her hand and watch it slide down the marble floor in amusing slow motion. She immediately begins to attempt to tape closed the hardened jaws of my open maw, attempting to seal the crazy peeking out from within. Too late…. I bite down hard on her wrist, extracting her lifeblood. To bide my time, I pick up a magazine, cross my legs, and drink a cup of coffee. Soon, changes become imminent… and I find myself on the floor… Adjusting my dress, seeing through horn-rimmed glasses, I spy my other self sitting, enjoying a magazine. Indeed, what a crazy day it has been. I say to both versions of myself.
Many thanks to Rebellion/Solaris for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
3.85 rounded up to 4🔮 orbs
Est. Pub. Date: Apr. 21, 2026
Rebellion/Solaris
Emerging from the branches…
💡 Orbs Prologue: A rather difficult day has supplanted my monotonous existence. The egg-yolked sun bears down on the crown of my sparse head of hair. I find shade underneath my favorite maple tree and begin to snack on a chocolate éclair that I purchased from Booker’s bakery down the street. The light, fluffy pastry gives way as my taste buds howl in delight as the rich, textured chocolate satisfies my craving. Gazing out upon the neighboring street, the warm breeze tickles the back of my neck hair in a tickling manner as if the wind itself had its own set of slender fingers. Unbeknownst to me, a nasty tick had settled within the wrinkles of my leathery skin and was in the midst of finishing off its own sort of culinary delight. Finished with my doughy delight, I stand and begin my journey to the local library in hopes of unearthing a dusty gem hidden among the rows of books. Along my walk, my mind starts to wander, slowly at first, but enough to jar me from people-watching. My smile recedes, overtaken by an insatiable lust for something…
🧐 A small glimpse: You might ask what donuts have to do with a science-fiction story. This is the scene of the crime, so to speak, the beginning of time, where humanity is converted into something like-minded. Ixodida, better known as the tick, has gnawed its way into the flesh of Carol Veilleux. Carol, an average woman in every sense of the word, seeks love from a husband unwilling to reciprocate. Meandering through love in a bit of a comfortable stupor, Carol remains unfulfilled, yet not enough to cause her to abandon her life raft. Upon this fateful day, author Sylvain Neuvel decides to spice Carol’s life up. As the blood is sucked up from the tick, Carol's fluid transfusion is replaced with an otherworldly ability. Within her blood, something percolates, a need to feed. Booker’s donuts stare at Carol from the window, and as she enters the confines of sweet confections, Carol’s palate turns towards a treat with more iron flavoring. What begins as a rather vicious attack on Booker, filled with a chomping of his limb, ends with a hive-mind sense. Within the community of Marquette, a melding of the minds becomes conveniently pleasurable as others are brought into Carol and Booker’s fold. Through sheer coincidence or calculated means, people begin to enter into the hazy fray of like-mindedness. This novel shows the benefits of self-examination through others’ eyes, demolishing societal discrimination and injecting mankind with a harmonious peace.
👍 Orbs Pros: A poignant message! Beneath the surface lies a message of putting oneself in another person's shoes. Understanding fellow man, instead of berating those who wish to live in a manner unlike our own. If, for only a second, we were able to share the same heartbeat, follow the same wavelength, use others' skills as our own, and delight in this newfound knowledge. Our lives would be inherently enriched, and subsequently, we might be happier. Interesting premise! Creative! Bites containing the ability to enhance our lives instead of the standard zombie-turning trope. It flipped the script on the terrible narrative and instead shed a spotlight on what could be done if people were more tolerant, with the same goals and aspirations. A real assessment! With everyone thinking as one, some of our uniqueness would diminish, and therefore, we might become stagnant as a society. Some of our most brilliant thinkers have gone against the proverbial grain of popular thought. Often regarded as crazy, they trudged on with a sick passion, often hailed as brilliance by future generations. Would these minds be allowed to flourish in a like-minded society? Would these inventors even have the same desires anymore?
👎 Orbs Cons: Without a doubt, the number one question I had is, who runs the hive? Whose agenda shall we follow? Which ideas are seen as positive or negative? Is this a plot hole? In the story, the changes are mostly for the overall positive acceptance of others, and while valiant, I might ask how the selection of those came to fruition. How are any one person’s ideals more important in this type of society?
Recommended! A book that has much to say. It certainly left me wondering if this type of ideology could actually function, and yet I remained baffled. From a sheer entertainment standpoint, this SF novel was fun to read. There are plenty of storylines to delve into, and all of them begin to meet in the center of the proverbial spiderweb, so to speak. Not an overly complex undertaking, this will provide readers with a sense of wonder.
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Blood! Sustenance… As I paw my way through the aisles, the hazel-colored eyes radiating through the horn-rimmed glasses of the librarian bore holes into my dopamineless shell of a body. Survival tactics grip the librarian as she grabs a hardback copy of Alchemised by SenLin Yu and heaves it at my angry face. Like a ten-pound weight, it smacks my jaw and halts my forward progress. Disturbed and unrelenting, I leap on top of the countertop, my mind on one thing only. The warm taste of metallic redness. In a final-ditch effort, the librarian picks up a ruler and a roll of cloth tape. Clutched firmly in both her hands, this would appear a comedic skit to an innocent onlooker, some sort of medieval battle with library supplies, and yet I was not in a humorous mood. I slap the wooden ruler out of her hand and watch it slide down the marble floor in amusing slow motion. She immediately begins to attempt to tape closed the hardened jaws of my open maw, attempting to seal the crazy peeking out from within. Too late…. I bite down hard on her wrist, extracting her lifeblood. To bide my time, I pick up a magazine, cross my legs, and drink a cup of coffee. Soon, changes become imminent… and I find myself on the floor… Adjusting my dress, seeing through horn-rimmed glasses, I spy my other self sitting, enjoying a magazine. Indeed, what a crazy day it has been. I say to both versions of myself.
Many thanks to Rebellion/Solaris for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Imagine a world where the person you were… doesn’t disappear, but is replaced by something larger than you, a collective mind made up of everyone’s uniqueness, but always thinking as one. In that world, you would share everyone’s knowledge, but also their strengths, their aspirations, because you would become everyone.
I loved the Sleeping Giants trilogy and Neuvel's novella The Test, but this book about the human race joining together to become a hive mind just... wasn't my cup of tea. I will do my best to explain why.
The truth is there were a number of reasons why, and I'm not sure which was the most significant contributor to my overall dislike. I have broken it down into points to try to make sense of it.
» I did not love the goofy humour that sucked all gravitas out of serious issues like police brutality against black men, sexual assault and gender dysphoria; I don't personally think it worked.
» I struggled to truly buy into the idea that everyone suddenly becoming privy to everyone else's thoughts would make them feel more peaceful towards each other. There seemed to be a whole conversation about uncovered affairs and dark thoughts that was missing. It is nice to think that we would all be kinder if we got a glimpse of each other's minds and memories, but would we though? I'm not convinced. Especially as the people here may "become one" in a fashion, but they still retain a sense of their individuality.
» To be fair, I recently watched Pluribus, which has a similar premise, so I will allow that maybe I've hit my limit for alien hive mind plots.
» I found it all a bit pointless in the end.
» I also felt— and if I were to hazard a guess, I'd say this was my biggest issue —that the book really lacked nuance. The characters were either wholly good, or else hat-wearing racist MAGA conservative murderers. The way the story handled themes like racial profiling and violence against black men, and kids going on puberty blockers, was dissatisfying, almost flippant.
The book opens with a black man getting pulled over by a racist “troglodyte” cop, which he seems to note is basically a tautology. Then immediately into his 11 year old begging for puberty blockers, followed by a woman being catcalled by road workers, which, she notes, is about power and nothing to do with attraction. Then comes Lana, victim of sexual assault and misogyny in the workplace. Then:
His mother had taught him to hate the Jews, the Blacks and the gays, and the rest he’d learned to hate all on his own. He hated them personally, one by one. They were to blame for absolutely everything, including the weather. His life sucked not because of the system, but because of that guy, and that one, and her, and him, and them…
I'm pretty sure myself and Neuvel are politically on the same page, but even I felt this was too on the nose to be taken seriously. The issues are so surface-level and almost checklist that they honestly read like a neocon parody of liberals.
It is also unclear to what extent, if at all, Neuvel is joking. The tone of the book is casual and goofy, which makes me wonder if passages like the one above are just poking fun at racists and are intentionally over the top, but many of the book's themes and plot points are categorically unfunny .
I felt mostly dissatisfaction at the end. The book never goes deep enough into either the characters or the ideas. It offers up characters that fall neatly into good vs evil, and solutions to human vice that feel far too simplistic.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review – 4⭐
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
*SPOILERS*
I went into The Many by Sylvain Neuvel with extremely high expectations. His The Themis Files series is one of my all-time favourite sci-fi series, so when I saw the premise for this book I was immediately excited. It actually reminded me of the first sci-fi novel that really pulled me into the genre, Join by Steve Toutonghi—a story exploring identity, consciousness, and the boundaries between individuals.
Neuvel’s writing style is just as strong here as ever. His prose is incredibly readable, immersive, and addictive—the kind of writing that keeps you turning pages without even realising it. The multiple points of view were particularly effective. I also loved how clearly Neuvel showed the way each character experienced the shared consciousness, especially how someone would essentially “vanish” from the group when they were unconscious.
The premise itself is fascinating: a sci-fi exploration of the human condition, identity, and what it means to be human when consciousness becomes shared. The atmosphere felt chaotic, tense, and strangely intimate at the same time.
However, despite loving the concept and the writing, I found myself a bit disappointed with the story itself.
The novel is much shorter than I expected, and while a lot happens, it also felt like the narrative didn’t go quite as deep as it could have. I kept wanting more exploration—more conflict, more implications for the wider world, and more insight into the universe beyond. The global takeover happened very quickly, and I would have loved more time with the world before everything escalated.
Another element that didn’t work as well for me was how strongly the narrative focused on themes like sexuality, racism, and identity. These are important topics and absolutely belong in science fiction, but at times they felt so front-and-centre that the story itself took a back seat, making the themes feel a bit forced rather than naturally woven into the narrative.
Character-wise, I liked the core group—Carole, Booker, Shivansh, Layla, Evelyn, and Lana—but I wanted more depth from them overall. They did grow over the course of the story, but often in predictable ways. Lana was my favourite character from very early on, and I actually wish the book had spent more time exploring her story and perspective.
The pacing was also very fast, which contributed to that feeling of wanting more depth. There were several fascinating ideas and characters that I wished had been given more space to breathe.
That said, there were still moments that really worked for me. The scene where Evelyn joins the group was probably my favourite—it was immersive, surprising, and emotionally interesting. The Frank twist was also intriguing and added another layer to the story. His ability to maintain more of his individuality than the others was fascinating. Ultimately, his decision to end his own life because he couldn’t live with who he had been before was a dark but thought-provoking moment.
I also liked the concept of everyone eventually returning to being individuals again. In many ways, the ending felt like a compressed version of real life—people confronted their flaws, learned from the experience, and attempted to grow. At the same time, although the story does reach a conclusion, I found myself wishing the book had taken more time to explore the larger phenomenon and develop its ideas and conflicts more fully.
Overall, The Many is a very unique sci-fi novel with a compelling concept and Neuvel’s signature readable writing, but for me it felt like it needed just a bit more depth and exploration to truly reach its potential.
Three words:
Human condition • Chaos • Sci-fi
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
*SPOILERS*
I went into The Many by Sylvain Neuvel with extremely high expectations. His The Themis Files series is one of my all-time favourite sci-fi series, so when I saw the premise for this book I was immediately excited. It actually reminded me of the first sci-fi novel that really pulled me into the genre, Join by Steve Toutonghi—a story exploring identity, consciousness, and the boundaries between individuals.
Neuvel’s writing style is just as strong here as ever. His prose is incredibly readable, immersive, and addictive—the kind of writing that keeps you turning pages without even realising it. The multiple points of view were particularly effective. I also loved how clearly Neuvel showed the way each character experienced the shared consciousness, especially how someone would essentially “vanish” from the group when they were unconscious.
The premise itself is fascinating: a sci-fi exploration of the human condition, identity, and what it means to be human when consciousness becomes shared. The atmosphere felt chaotic, tense, and strangely intimate at the same time.
However, despite loving the concept and the writing, I found myself a bit disappointed with the story itself.
The novel is much shorter than I expected, and while a lot happens, it also felt like the narrative didn’t go quite as deep as it could have. I kept wanting more exploration—more conflict, more implications for the wider world, and more insight into the universe beyond. The global takeover happened very quickly, and I would have loved more time with the world before everything escalated.
Another element that didn’t work as well for me was how strongly the narrative focused on themes like sexuality, racism, and identity. These are important topics and absolutely belong in science fiction, but at times they felt so front-and-centre that the story itself took a back seat, making the themes feel a bit forced rather than naturally woven into the narrative.
Character-wise, I liked the core group—Carole, Booker, Shivansh, Layla, Evelyn, and Lana—but I wanted more depth from them overall. They did grow over the course of the story, but often in predictable ways. Lana was my favourite character from very early on, and I actually wish the book had spent more time exploring her story and perspective.
The pacing was also very fast, which contributed to that feeling of wanting more depth. There were several fascinating ideas and characters that I wished had been given more space to breathe.
That said, there were still moments that really worked for me. The scene where Evelyn joins the group was probably my favourite—it was immersive, surprising, and emotionally interesting. The Frank twist was also intriguing and added another layer to the story. His ability to maintain more of his individuality than the others was fascinating. Ultimately, his decision to end his own life because he couldn’t live with who he had been before was a dark but thought-provoking moment.
I also liked the concept of everyone eventually returning to being individuals again. In many ways, the ending felt like a compressed version of real life—people confronted their flaws, learned from the experience, and attempted to grow. At the same time, although the story does reach a conclusion, I found myself wishing the book had taken more time to explore the larger phenomenon and develop its ideas and conflicts more fully.
Overall, The Many is a very unique sci-fi novel with a compelling concept and Neuvel’s signature readable writing, but for me it felt like it needed just a bit more depth and exploration to truly reach its potential.
Three words:
Human condition • Chaos • Sci-fi
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Many by Sylvain Neuvel is a quick, engaging sci-fi read that delivers a fascinating premise, even if it doesn’t always dig as deeply as it could. The story moves at a brisk pace right from the start with tno wasted time. It’s the kind of book you can easily fly through in a couple of sittings.
What stood out most to me was the concept of the hive mind. Watching how the collective evolved with each new person added was genuinely interesting, and Neuvel does a great job exploring both the possibilities and the quirks that would come with that kind of shared consciousness. The large, diverse cast was another highlight with most characters felt well represented, and their perspectives added texture to the unfolding story.
That said, the novel could at times felt a bit surface-level. There are some darker, more emotionally weighty moments that don’t quite land the way they should. They’re introduced, but not given the gravity or narrative follow-through you’d expect, which made parts of the story feel slightly underdeveloped. On the flip side, I also appreciated the humor woven throughout the narrative. It adds levity to what could otherwise feel like a heavy concept, and it makes the reading experience more enjoyable. The flipping the usual trope in a first contact story into something more introspective and, at times, surprisingly optimistic was refreshing to read.
The ending felt rushed. After so much buildup, especially toward the idea of a fully connected global hive, it resolves a little too neatly and quickly. I was left wanting more exploration of the consequences and implications.
At its core, the book seems to be aiming for a message about empathy, unity, and acting in the best interest of the collective. It asks what might happen if we could truly understand one another. If we could share thoughts, emotions, and experiences on a deeper level. There’s something both hopeful and unsettling in that idea. On one hand, it suggests a world built on compassion and cooperation; on the other, it raises valid questions about individuality, creativity, and who ultimately gets to shape the collective will.
While the optimism of the ending didn’t entirely work for me and may feel a bit idealistic depending on your perspective, the book is best enjoyed if you lean into that tone and take it for what it is.
Overall, The Many is a creative, thought-provoking, and entertaining sci-fi novel. It may not fully explore every idea it introduces, but it raises enough interesting questions about humanity, connection, and empathy to make it well worth the read.
Thank you Sylvain Neuvel, Rebellion | Solaris, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What stood out most to me was the concept of the hive mind. Watching how the collective evolved with each new person added was genuinely interesting, and Neuvel does a great job exploring both the possibilities and the quirks that would come with that kind of shared consciousness. The large, diverse cast was another highlight with most characters felt well represented, and their perspectives added texture to the unfolding story.
That said, the novel could at times felt a bit surface-level. There are some darker, more emotionally weighty moments that don’t quite land the way they should. They’re introduced, but not given the gravity or narrative follow-through you’d expect, which made parts of the story feel slightly underdeveloped. On the flip side, I also appreciated the humor woven throughout the narrative. It adds levity to what could otherwise feel like a heavy concept, and it makes the reading experience more enjoyable. The flipping the usual trope in a first contact story into something more introspective and, at times, surprisingly optimistic was refreshing to read.
The ending felt rushed. After so much buildup, especially toward the idea of a fully connected global hive, it resolves a little too neatly and quickly. I was left wanting more exploration of the consequences and implications.
At its core, the book seems to be aiming for a message about empathy, unity, and acting in the best interest of the collective. It asks what might happen if we could truly understand one another. If we could share thoughts, emotions, and experiences on a deeper level. There’s something both hopeful and unsettling in that idea. On one hand, it suggests a world built on compassion and cooperation; on the other, it raises valid questions about individuality, creativity, and who ultimately gets to shape the collective will.
While the optimism of the ending didn’t entirely work for me and may feel a bit idealistic depending on your perspective, the book is best enjoyed if you lean into that tone and take it for what it is.
Overall, The Many is a creative, thought-provoking, and entertaining sci-fi novel. It may not fully explore every idea it introduces, but it raises enough interesting questions about humanity, connection, and empathy to make it well worth the read.
Thank you Sylvain Neuvel, Rebellion | Solaris, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2026
Canadian science-fiction author Sylvain Neuvel likes a big idea. In his Themis Files trilogy it was giant alien robots that could be controlled by specially trained humans. In his follow up Take Them to the Stars trilogy it is a generation spanning alien conflict happening within the context of the second half of the twentieth century and, in particular, the space race. His latest standalone novel The Many is a hive mind novel. Neuvel tries to answer the question: what if we all knew what everyone else was thinking and feeling?
The first host of the alien intelligence that crash lands on earth is a tick. When that tick bites Carole she unknowingly shares its consciousness which encourages to bite local baker Booker. Soon the two find that they share each others’ thoughts and memories. Booker, while still out of control and operating partly as Carole, infects Carole’s husband Shivanish and then the three hatch a plan to include the local doctor Evelyn. Things feel stable as a mind-sharing foursome until a shocking event throws out the balance and the ‘infection’ starts to spread.
The Many, if nothing else, is one of the most idiosyncratic zombie narratives of recent times. Yes, there is transmission by biting. But rather than becoming a ravenous horde, those who are bitten reach a new level of consciousness and understanding. They bite not for pleasure or for food but because they want everyone to be part of the hive mind. And Neuvel does focus on the positives of this sharing of knowledge and understanding. When people literally live the lives of others it does away with things like discrimination, hatred and violence.
In this respect, The Many is a little too Utopian. It is unclear how young children would handle suddenly having the experiences of adults. The main way readers are asked to consider this is through the eyes of Booker’s teenage child Layla. But Neuvel never really explores the impact of young people suddenly having access to those thoughts and experiences.
Hive minds are clearly in the ether at the moment. It is the central conceit of the science fiction series Pluribus (coincidentally Latin for ‘many’). They have been generally seen as a negative (a good example of this are the Borg in Star Trek) – a metaphor for a loss of individuality. But Neuvel wants to put a more positive spin on this idea to ask the question: in a world riven by artificial divisions what would happen if we could all just live in each others’ shoes? While the book, and particularly its conclusion, doesn’t work as well as Neuvel might like it is still an interesting way to consider this question.
The first host of the alien intelligence that crash lands on earth is a tick. When that tick bites Carole she unknowingly shares its consciousness which encourages to bite local baker Booker. Soon the two find that they share each others’ thoughts and memories. Booker, while still out of control and operating partly as Carole, infects Carole’s husband Shivanish and then the three hatch a plan to include the local doctor Evelyn. Things feel stable as a mind-sharing foursome until a shocking event throws out the balance and the ‘infection’ starts to spread.
The Many, if nothing else, is one of the most idiosyncratic zombie narratives of recent times. Yes, there is transmission by biting. But rather than becoming a ravenous horde, those who are bitten reach a new level of consciousness and understanding. They bite not for pleasure or for food but because they want everyone to be part of the hive mind. And Neuvel does focus on the positives of this sharing of knowledge and understanding. When people literally live the lives of others it does away with things like discrimination, hatred and violence.
In this respect, The Many is a little too Utopian. It is unclear how young children would handle suddenly having the experiences of adults. The main way readers are asked to consider this is through the eyes of Booker’s teenage child Layla. But Neuvel never really explores the impact of young people suddenly having access to those thoughts and experiences.
Hive minds are clearly in the ether at the moment. It is the central conceit of the science fiction series Pluribus (coincidentally Latin for ‘many’). They have been generally seen as a negative (a good example of this are the Borg in Star Trek) – a metaphor for a loss of individuality. But Neuvel wants to put a more positive spin on this idea to ask the question: in a world riven by artificial divisions what would happen if we could all just live in each others’ shoes? While the book, and particularly its conclusion, doesn’t work as well as Neuvel might like it is still an interesting way to consider this question.
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