A fantastic, page-gripping book which takes all of my favourite elements of a great sci-fi novel and pushes them to the next level in a way that feels very relevant.
The universe is complex and immersive but not overly complicated. The 'science' is well grounded and laid out. Concepts like transmatter, downshifting, neural implants, and nanotechnology are fun, and balance physics and fantasy very well but don't let them become distractions.
The 'fiction' is even better. The story is engaging and punchy and plays with your expectations. The protagonist, Temper, is deep and relatable, but challenges tropes (none of the technology he relies on seems to work). His friends (and enemies) often don't do what you would expect. The way the settings are beautifully laid out but also rely on your imagination the way good sci-fi should.
You can tell the author is well versed in this genre, and they artfully play with many different 'big' sci-fi motifs. At times it felt a bit like the best of 1960s sci-fi, with politics, culture and society handled like Phillip K. Dick or subjectivity and consciousness like Stanislaw Lew. A lot of the time it feels like reading a classic, but one published in 2025 and engaging with the modern world.
If you like sci-fi and want something that will challenge you in just the right ways, make you laugh, but also illicit some deep thought, I would highly recommend Broken Interstellar.