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Avant-Garde: A Sci-Fi Adventure Novel
Ir Neva lives on the harsh planet Grad. There, the population builds homes underground, gets their water from the air, and the only fauna is flies. The locals and their worldviews match the surroundings—they are mired in hard work, withdrawn, and completely stopped dreaming.
Ir wishes to explore the magnificent Noom system with more than a hundred inhabited planets, each with a unique environment and culture. Instead, she wastes her health in the mine, extracting gradian—the essential commodity for interplanetary travel, and her time, staying with the guy who can not confess his feelings to her.
After a dreadful accident, Ir's world turns upside down. On her home planet, she faces the death penalty and is forced to flee and possibly say goodbye to her beloved forever.
Embarking on a compelled journey amidst the crumbling peace between neighboring planets, Ir will have to learn how to deal with dictators and stand up for herself, how to remain human in inhumane conditions, how to use energy to predict the future, and how to find her calling and treat homesickness. But will her love keep the world from collapsing?
Ir wishes to explore the magnificent Noom system with more than a hundred inhabited planets, each with a unique environment and culture. Instead, she wastes her health in the mine, extracting gradian—the essential commodity for interplanetary travel, and her time, staying with the guy who can not confess his feelings to her.
After a dreadful accident, Ir's world turns upside down. On her home planet, she faces the death penalty and is forced to flee and possibly say goodbye to her beloved forever.
Embarking on a compelled journey amidst the crumbling peace between neighboring planets, Ir will have to learn how to deal with dictators and stand up for herself, how to remain human in inhumane conditions, how to use energy to predict the future, and how to find her calling and treat homesickness. But will her love keep the world from collapsing?
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2023
4 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 24, 2023
A thought-provoking sci-fi adventure novel that kept me on the edge of my seat.
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What I appreciated most about this book was how it was able to paint such a vivid picture of a completely different world. Bergwald's descriptions of the planets, their inhabitants, and their cultures were so thorough that I felt like I was there. The Noom System is so different from our own, but everything is described in such detail that it all felt believable.
The main character, Ir, was also a highlight for me. She's not your typical protagonist - she's not pretty or conventionally attractive, but she's strong, brave, and determined. Her journey is filled with hardships and loss, but she never gives up, and her story is truly inspiring.
One of the things that I loved about this book was the seamless way that Bergwald was able to weave in important themes and ideas. Avant-Garde is thought-provoking and asks important questions about the relationship between humanity and technology, and the price of freedom.
Overall, I would highly recommend Avant-Garde to anyone who loves sci-fi with a strong female protagonist, or anyone who enjoys thought-provoking dystopian novels. This book was fast-paced, engaging, and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I can't wait for the next book in The Noom Series!
!
What I appreciated most about this book was how it was able to paint such a vivid picture of a completely different world. Bergwald's descriptions of the planets, their inhabitants, and their cultures were so thorough that I felt like I was there. The Noom System is so different from our own, but everything is described in such detail that it all felt believable.
The main character, Ir, was also a highlight for me. She's not your typical protagonist - she's not pretty or conventionally attractive, but she's strong, brave, and determined. Her journey is filled with hardships and loss, but she never gives up, and her story is truly inspiring.
One of the things that I loved about this book was the seamless way that Bergwald was able to weave in important themes and ideas. Avant-Garde is thought-provoking and asks important questions about the relationship between humanity and technology, and the price of freedom.
Overall, I would highly recommend Avant-Garde to anyone who loves sci-fi with a strong female protagonist, or anyone who enjoys thought-provoking dystopian novels. This book was fast-paced, engaging, and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I can't wait for the next book in The Noom Series!
June 15, 2023
5 stars
This novel is amazing in so many ways.
The inclusion of unfamiliar animals, vegetation, and food in the Noom system adds an intriguing element to the world-building. These elements contribute to the sense of wonder and immersion, further enhancing the readers' experience as they encounter a truly alien ecosystem. Additionally, as the protagonist moves from planet to planet, the book explores the challenges faced by migrants, highlighting universal themes of displacement and adaptation.
One of the main conflicts in "Avant-Garde" revolves around the protagonist's complex relationship with her homeland. Despite recognizing its flaws and the harsh realities of life there, she harbors a deep attachment and love for her homeland. This internal struggle adds depth to the narrative, exploring the complexities of identity and the deep-rooted emotions associated with one's origins. Overall, I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this novel and I would recommend it to anyone that likes this genre.
This novel is amazing in so many ways.
The inclusion of unfamiliar animals, vegetation, and food in the Noom system adds an intriguing element to the world-building. These elements contribute to the sense of wonder and immersion, further enhancing the readers' experience as they encounter a truly alien ecosystem. Additionally, as the protagonist moves from planet to planet, the book explores the challenges faced by migrants, highlighting universal themes of displacement and adaptation.
One of the main conflicts in "Avant-Garde" revolves around the protagonist's complex relationship with her homeland. Despite recognizing its flaws and the harsh realities of life there, she harbors a deep attachment and love for her homeland. This internal struggle adds depth to the narrative, exploring the complexities of identity and the deep-rooted emotions associated with one's origins. Overall, I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this novel and I would recommend it to anyone that likes this genre.
May 27, 2023
Great Sci-fi Read
This well written and thought out book. You will follow Ir through a dull and hard life on her dystopian planet on the other side of the Milky Way.
The story follows the main character as she ventures away from home, traveling to nearby planets with better living conditions. In doing so, she leaves her lover Stan.
The romance between them is strained as Stan, like most of his race, struggles with expression of feelings.
The book tells the story of several planets, each with different environments, advantages and disadvantages. Ir's home planet is ruled by a cruel and power hungry Emperor and he ends up attacking a neighboring planet who was not guilty of wrong doing.
This book addresses issues of social class, human rights, interracial frictions - so many things humans deal with now.
It's a great page-turner that draws you in--- and a cliffhanger ending!
This well written and thought out book. You will follow Ir through a dull and hard life on her dystopian planet on the other side of the Milky Way.
The story follows the main character as she ventures away from home, traveling to nearby planets with better living conditions. In doing so, she leaves her lover Stan.
The romance between them is strained as Stan, like most of his race, struggles with expression of feelings.
The book tells the story of several planets, each with different environments, advantages and disadvantages. Ir's home planet is ruled by a cruel and power hungry Emperor and he ends up attacking a neighboring planet who was not guilty of wrong doing.
This book addresses issues of social class, human rights, interracial frictions - so many things humans deal with now.
It's a great page-turner that draws you in--- and a cliffhanger ending!
August 5, 2023
"Avant-Garde" is a captivating story about home, love, and migration across the stars. The novel delves into the human condition in a foreign setting as it unfolds in the exotic Noom system. The world-building is impressive. Flaws notwithstanding, the protagonist is well-rounded because of her affection for her native country and her long-lost boyfriend. If you like science fiction, I think you'll enjoy this book.
July 15, 2023
space-age Gulliver’s travels
As the protagonist travels from one world to the next, the book delivers a great deal of social commentary. The world-building makes this worthwhile. It is a heavy handed approach to social commentary, and read slow in places.
As the protagonist travels from one world to the next, the book delivers a great deal of social commentary. The world-building makes this worthwhile. It is a heavy handed approach to social commentary, and read slow in places.
December 5, 2024
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book starts off as a dystopian sci-fi story about a society living under a totalitarian regime on a very grim and barren rock of a planet.
So good so far, sounds like it will be a very serious and intense story. But the more it develops, the more it turns into a melodrama.
The main character in the story actively questions the way things are, but I find that the character development is missing. Has Ir always been suspicious of the government, or had she started seeing the problems after she has traveled to a different planet? Also, as for that journey in the very beginning of the book, I found it a bit off-putting that we don't get to learn anything about it, aside for the space travel.
I am really conflicted about the story, on one hand the author obviously has a decent understanding about how dictatorships work and I had a very specific dictatorship of the past in mind while reading the book. On the other hand, the story is very "tell" and not "show" and also pretty simplistic. Things sort of happen in the book seemingly out of nowhere, there were multiple times when I thought something was either too convenient or too matter-of-fact.
The story also started losing momentum the more it continued, and the ending was a bit too melodramatic without a sufficient build up to make me care more about it.
I think the story has lots of potential, but I do not feel it's been told in a way that does it justice.
The book starts off as a dystopian sci-fi story about a society living under a totalitarian regime on a very grim and barren rock of a planet.
So good so far, sounds like it will be a very serious and intense story. But the more it develops, the more it turns into a melodrama.
The main character in the story actively questions the way things are, but I find that the character development is missing. Has Ir always been suspicious of the government, or had she started seeing the problems after she has traveled to a different planet? Also, as for that journey in the very beginning of the book, I found it a bit off-putting that we don't get to learn anything about it, aside for the space travel.
I am really conflicted about the story, on one hand the author obviously has a decent understanding about how dictatorships work and I had a very specific dictatorship of the past in mind while reading the book. On the other hand, the story is very "tell" and not "show" and also pretty simplistic. Things sort of happen in the book seemingly out of nowhere, there were multiple times when I thought something was either too convenient or too matter-of-fact.
The story also started losing momentum the more it continued, and the ending was a bit too melodramatic without a sufficient build up to make me care more about it.
I think the story has lots of potential, but I do not feel it's been told in a way that does it justice.
July 12, 2023
The book is a science fiction novel that explores the themes of social injustice, interplanetary conflict, personal growth, and love. The protagonist, Ir Neva, is a young woman who escapes from her oppressive home planet and travels to different worlds, facing various challenges and dangers along the way. She also discovers her own talents and passions, as well as a surprising connection to the fate of the Noom system.
The book is fast-paced and engaging, with vivid descriptions of the different planets and cultures. The author creates a rich and diverse universe, where each world has its own history, religion, technology, and politics. The plot is full of twists and turns, as Ir uncovers secrets and conspiracies that threaten the balance of power in the system. The characters are well-developed and realistic, each with their own motivations and flaws. Ir is a strong and sympathetic heroine, who grows from a naive and rebellious girl to a mature and courageous woman. She also faces moral dilemmas and ethical questions, as she learns more about the complex reality of the Noom system.
Overall, the book is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read, that offers a fresh and original perspective on science fiction. It is suitable for readers who like adventure, romance, mystery, and social commentary. It is also a book that challenges the reader to think about their own values and choices, as well as the consequences of their actions on others. The book is a promising debut for the author, who shows great potential and creativity in writing.
The book is fast-paced and engaging, with vivid descriptions of the different planets and cultures. The author creates a rich and diverse universe, where each world has its own history, religion, technology, and politics. The plot is full of twists and turns, as Ir uncovers secrets and conspiracies that threaten the balance of power in the system. The characters are well-developed and realistic, each with their own motivations and flaws. Ir is a strong and sympathetic heroine, who grows from a naive and rebellious girl to a mature and courageous woman. She also faces moral dilemmas and ethical questions, as she learns more about the complex reality of the Noom system.
Overall, the book is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read, that offers a fresh and original perspective on science fiction. It is suitable for readers who like adventure, romance, mystery, and social commentary. It is also a book that challenges the reader to think about their own values and choices, as well as the consequences of their actions on others. The book is a promising debut for the author, who shows great potential and creativity in writing.
September 15, 2023
Dark and depressing
First off, this book has a very slow pace with lots of telling. The primary point appears to be a social commentary. It often has awkward phrasing, poor world-building, and inconsistent imagery. For example: “Inhaling sharply she compressed her lungs”… inhaling explains lungs! There is no rain on Grad, yet the heroine says she’ll return “at the beginnng of the second thunderstorm season.” It is many chapters later that you learn there are dry thunderstorms, yet Ir dresses in a raincoat! What’s the point of a raincoat without rain??? Give this book a miss, unless you want an endless slow-paced political commentary.
First off, this book has a very slow pace with lots of telling. The primary point appears to be a social commentary. It often has awkward phrasing, poor world-building, and inconsistent imagery. For example: “Inhaling sharply she compressed her lungs”… inhaling explains lungs! There is no rain on Grad, yet the heroine says she’ll return “at the beginnng of the second thunderstorm season.” It is many chapters later that you learn there are dry thunderstorms, yet Ir dresses in a raincoat! What’s the point of a raincoat without rain??? Give this book a miss, unless you want an endless slow-paced political commentary.
March 1, 2023
The story follows Ir and Stan in the world of Grad. Ir and Stan are affectionate, but there becomes a strain in their relationship and an incident that leads to Ir's journey across neighbouring worlds. As a result, life Ir knows has changed. The extremely descriptive narrative and world building are immersive and Ir's character is detailed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 29, 2023
Really enjoyed reading this book! Vivid narrative, cool characters, sharp twists. Exciting reading for those who like reflecting on philosophical issues.
June 14, 2023
Feminism on the wrong planet
Although I sympathized with the woman Ir, I felt that I was trapped in a science fiction world where the battle of the sexes was competing with the battle between two planets in a system that evidently had been colonized by humans long ago—so long that they evolved differently on each of the planets in the Noom system. Like the competing nations of Earth, each planet had its own rules and its own gods. It’s a perfect setup for constant struggle, with the most militant planet rewarded with victory. Ir’s problems with her soldier boyfriend are representative of the struggle between worlds. Although this is not my favorite kind of novel, it did remind me of some of the great Ursula leGuin’s books. Check it out.
Although I sympathized with the woman Ir, I felt that I was trapped in a science fiction world where the battle of the sexes was competing with the battle between two planets in a system that evidently had been colonized by humans long ago—so long that they evolved differently on each of the planets in the Noom system. Like the competing nations of Earth, each planet had its own rules and its own gods. It’s a perfect setup for constant struggle, with the most militant planet rewarded with victory. Ir’s problems with her soldier boyfriend are representative of the struggle between worlds. Although this is not my favorite kind of novel, it did remind me of some of the great Ursula leGuin’s books. Check it out.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews