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Advances in the Art of Being
Advances in the Art of Being, by Chris Barnardo, is a Science Fiction Space Opera with world building at its heart.
Earth, 2199 and three close friends, St Mungo, Gundel, and Arkil, are on a mission to save the lives of seventy-eight scientists, a thousand light-years out of Earthside, who have been partially terminated in a seemingly pointless and unprovoked attack on the edge of the Colony Line.
As they sift through the debris, they realise that the attack was anything but pointless, rather it's the last moment of a century-long war being fought over control of our galaxy. As they uncover more, they begin to understand that their actions are being controlled by a secret group of ultra-fast machines, called the and only then do they realise that their designated role has always been to bring home one of the most destructive appliances ever built.
PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Earth, 2199 and three close friends, St Mungo, Gundel, and Arkil, are on a mission to save the lives of seventy-eight scientists, a thousand light-years out of Earthside, who have been partially terminated in a seemingly pointless and unprovoked attack on the edge of the Colony Line.
As they sift through the debris, they realise that the attack was anything but pointless, rather it's the last moment of a century-long war being fought over control of our galaxy. As they uncover more, they begin to understand that their actions are being controlled by a secret group of ultra-fast machines, called the and only then do they realise that their designated role has always been to bring home one of the most destructive appliances ever built.
PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
469 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the extreme pleasure of gaining an advance copy of this novel. Thank you to Chris for this honor.
Chris Barnardo’s Advances in the Art of Being is an ambitious, cerebral work of science fiction that feels both classic and strikingly modern at the same time. From the opening pages—where a seemingly simple walk through a futuristic London reveals layers of technological and philosophical depth—it becomes clear this is not just a story, but a carefully constructed universe with ideas at its core.
The novel carries the imaginative richness of Ray Bradbury, the conceptual precision of Isaac Asimov, and the sweeping, speculative scale reminiscent of Cixin Liu. Barnardo blends these influences into something uniquely his own: a narrative that explores free will, determinism, technological evolution, and the uneasy relationship between humanity and its creations.
What stands out most is the book’s intellectual backbone. Concepts like predictive timelines, machine intelligences competing to forecast reality, and societies divided between technological integration and deliberate disconnection are handled with impressive depth. Yet, despite the complexity, the story remains engaging through vivid characters like Mukarne and the intriguingly self-aware “Courier,” whose existential reflections add an unexpected emotional layer.
There’s also a subtle philosophical tension running throughout—are we shaping the future, or merely playing out a script already written? That question lingers long after you’ve put the book down.
This isn’t a fast, action-driven sci-fi novel. It’s thoughtful, layered, and rewards readers who enjoy unpacking big ideas. If you appreciate science fiction that challenges you while still delivering immersive world building and compelling characters, this book is well worth your time.
Highly recommended for fans of intelligent, idea-driven sci-fi.
Chris Barnardo’s Advances in the Art of Being is an ambitious, cerebral work of science fiction that feels both classic and strikingly modern at the same time. From the opening pages—where a seemingly simple walk through a futuristic London reveals layers of technological and philosophical depth—it becomes clear this is not just a story, but a carefully constructed universe with ideas at its core.
The novel carries the imaginative richness of Ray Bradbury, the conceptual precision of Isaac Asimov, and the sweeping, speculative scale reminiscent of Cixin Liu. Barnardo blends these influences into something uniquely his own: a narrative that explores free will, determinism, technological evolution, and the uneasy relationship between humanity and its creations.
What stands out most is the book’s intellectual backbone. Concepts like predictive timelines, machine intelligences competing to forecast reality, and societies divided between technological integration and deliberate disconnection are handled with impressive depth. Yet, despite the complexity, the story remains engaging through vivid characters like Mukarne and the intriguingly self-aware “Courier,” whose existential reflections add an unexpected emotional layer.
There’s also a subtle philosophical tension running throughout—are we shaping the future, or merely playing out a script already written? That question lingers long after you’ve put the book down.
This isn’t a fast, action-driven sci-fi novel. It’s thoughtful, layered, and rewards readers who enjoy unpacking big ideas. If you appreciate science fiction that challenges you while still delivering immersive world building and compelling characters, this book is well worth your time.
Highly recommended for fans of intelligent, idea-driven sci-fi.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review