Sublimia Syndrome

by Exurb1a

In the distant future, humanity has floundered among the stars for almost a million years. With Earth forgotten, and the secrets of nature decoded, only one great unknown Who were the Big Sisters?

On countless worlds we find their ornate ruins and impossible universe factories, time-travelling mountains, and dictionaries of the exactly-right-words. Who created these things and why? Surely they were a cousin of humanity, some long-forgotten offshoot of our species. Yet their absence is as much a mystery as the miracles they left behind.

From the collapsing halls of the galactic social engineers, to the nebula laboratories of the cosmic whales, Sublimia Syndrome is the story of five seekers, separated by millennia, desperate to reconcile with the once-great true adults.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2025

About the author

Exurb1a likes fiction with a metaphysical backbone. He enjoys trying to write that kind of stuff himself.

He also runs a subpar YouTube channel of the same name.

Reviews

[ZoS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not very good with words, nor will I try to be, but it’s a beautiful book. It’s still felt weird to have a happy ending (sort of) from him, but that’s something I adore. There are also numerous hints to other works (perhaps) by him that, for those who follow him closely, would be appreciated. Anything more than this would spoil the thing, but if by chance someone is pondering the thought of whether they should read this. I’d say just forget what you’re so sure of and embrace the uncertainty; you’ll have a great time reading it, I promised.

[Noahtnm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Exurb1a’s writing.
No other author has me rereading passages this often.

Sublimia Syndrome is a novel about the human condition, about our incessant need to make sense of things, and the almost impossible task of making peace with not knowing.

What first seems like a problem only scientists and philosophers wrestle with turns out to be a problem of consciousness itself. Sublimia Syndrome feels real in that sense. When you truly stop and ask what the hell we’re doing here, where “here” even is, what “now” even means, you realize we don’t know a damn thing.

Humanity has been trying to fill that gap forever: religion, science, and philosophy are all desperate attempts to make sense of the senseless.
But Sublimia Syndrome asks the more pertinent question: Does it even matter?

It poses that question, and all the ones before it, in the most quintessentially Exurb1a way possible: with prose you’ll find nowhere else, stories no one else could write, and characters you won’t forget.
While the writing occasionally feels a bit on the nose, it never feels unearned.

At its heart, it’s a story about the scariest thing that exists, and somehow, it leaves you comforted.

I can’t recommend this enough.

[Adwitiya (অদ্বিতীয়া) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was like reading a spiritual text for me. All of my petty worries and hatred seemed so small for the duration of the little while I spent in exurb1a's world. I have been following him since my adolescence and his philosophies and musings always hit too close to my soul.

~ 19 December 2025

[Abe · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Exurb1a (and others)

This is one of the rare ones that speaks truth into being through fiction. Thank you. This is without a doubt a brilliant work of science fiction that deserves more accolades than it may ever get and, that is truly a shame. It is a shameful testament to the mass market garbage that gets all the attention and accolades these days because it will be a guaranteed sale.

If you've never read a book by this author know that he is one of the greats. His imagination and skill make me honestly a little jealous. Every one of his books are worth reading at least once, but this one is by and far the best of them. His use of language, plot, and metaphor are on another level here, and I challenge anyone (especially a parent) to get to through it without being moved.

Finally, to all that may read this, really, really think about what this story is saying. When you read it some thing(s) happens in your mind, and that is something few authors could ever pull off. Truly only the greats can do what's done here in this text!

I will impatiently await your next release...

-GA

[Sam Lippincott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feels like a conglomeration of all his past works. Particularly a revision of my favorite

[Anca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant work, as always! wish I could re-experience all the books as if reading for the first time again, it's truly a sense of Sublimia.

"Not the heart, but the mind. We were told that minds are made of neurons and atoms and quarks and loops. None of these are the case. Minds are made of ideas, and ideas are made of words. And in the subtle manipulation of those words, one either dominates or liberates a person or an entire culture. The first technology was language.”
“I think the first technology was fire...” I murmured.
“Because you’re an idiot.”

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

fye per usual, a mind trip but very engaging. Definitely need to have to have a good energy to follow, but I really enjoyed it. Was cool to see the previous characters come back in the final chapter, which kind of ties everything together on the theme of the book. The last chapter being a reverse of the son and father was very revealing (i’m sure there’s a term for that) and was just overall a joyous experience. I’m sure i’ll read again someday (although I’d imagine i’d read the fifth science again first).

[Bryan Frantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I saw into my bones and my heart and found two new truths waiting there: that people are flawed, and that some things will always be beyond understanding. And I knew that if we could all live with those horrors, then the rest of life would be ours since no disaster could ever come by surprise, and no revelation could ever disappoint us with its failure to materialise. It would always be now, and we would always be lost, exactly where we should be: in the dirty broken perfect of the mystery of the world.”

[Matthew Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It kind of expands on perhaps my favorite story from the fifth science, with the idea that some very advanced knowledge can be too much for human brains to handle. There are plenty of sci fi concepts you're probably familiar with done in a slightly different way, plenty of bizarre scenarios that almost feel more like fantasy than sci fi, and overall pacing and characters that make it a thoroughly enjoyable book from start to finish.

[James W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth its Weight in Gold

Exurb1a’s best work, in my opinion. We seek final answers to questions we haven’t even asked yet. Always yearning and wanting more, never satisfied. Does it go on forever or do we eventually mature and learn? This book seeks to offer the writer’s views on this topic through 5 individuals wondering the same. It’s wonderfully well written and incredibly insightful

[Innireads · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great read. the whole time I was reading it I couldn't help but make connections to Exubr1a's "Then Next Comes" video. I was super surprised to see Metodi making an appearance. I finished "The Fifth Science" just as this book was announced so it was a welcomed surprise. looking forward to his next drop.

[Adam Miauczyński · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another masterpiece by exurb1a, took me on five thrilling journeys and left me speechless by the end.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the best "extreme sci-fi" world building I've read.

[Catarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Reminder to reread the last chapter🙏

It felt so different from the others, maybe more personal idk. Undoubtedly fun and he always leaves me inspired.

[Tony Cruise · Rating 4 out of 5]

As promised, it was more pretentious than the last ones and I hope the next one is even more pretentious. 4.5/5

[Samuel Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it, Exurb1a’s writing continues to intrigue me and make my mind wander into unknown space, looking for the source of my own inspirations and the things that make life worth living❤️

[Marshall Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible as always I love exurb1a.

Leaving me questioning life

[Leann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this author after reading a few by author qntm.

Amazingly original scifi book. I could not put this book down and will be recommending it to every one I know.

[Karl Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It’s hard to find an original view of humanity's future. Interesting technology and fascinating story. I wish Exurb1a, was as prolific as Stephen King and maintain his quality. Can’t wait until the next one!