Three Grams of Elsewhere

by Andy Giesler

Fifty years ago, a new civil war fractured the United States into a mosaic of polarized nations. Ever since, Harmony “Bibi” Cain has isolated himself: from society, from technology, from family. A powerful empath weary from the constant intrusion of others’ emotions, he’s finally cloistered in his rural Wisconsin retirement community. He hopes to find, if not peace, then at least a little quiet.

But when four impossible-seeming killings shake North America, Bibi is drawn into an investigation he wants nothing to do with. The victims were killed by motes—unstoppable drones only an empath can control—and decades ago, Bibi was an unwitting subject in the wartime program that created them: the program that weaponized empathy.

With his few remaining friends at risk, and tensions between countries of the former United States reawakening, everything may depend on Bibi's lifelong struggle with his own extraordinary ability.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Apocalyptic, Post Apocalyptic

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2023

About the author

When I was little, I fell in love with science fiction. (Andre Norton and Ray Bradbury: thank you, wherever you are.) In high school, I fell in love with fantasy. (J.R.R. Tolkien: thank you; even though you were a human, I hope you're in Valinor.)

In college, majoring in computer science made me love science fiction even more, and majoring in philosophy made me love reading a curious assortment of things.

Besides reading, I'm a writer. As you probably know, I have to talk about my author persona in third person. Sorry. I don't make the rules.

In fourth grade, Andy Giesler fell in love with writing. His debut novel, Attack of the Dinosaurs, was seventeen pages long: the heart-pounding tale of Alaskan scientists using nuclear bombs to prospect for gasoline and—as happens all too often—inadvertently waking frozen dinosaurs. Many years later while reading bedtime stories to his kids, he fell in love with writing all over again. This time, he decided to do something about it.

Andy has been a library page, dairy science programmer, teacher, technical writer, and healthcare software developer. He’s a husband, father, and nonprofit web consultant living in Madison, Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 Stars
This one had an interesting premise and start, but I found the full experience a bit underwhelming. The idea was good but the actual execution was not as interesting as I would have liked. The story was just not as memorable as I hoped it would be.

Disclaimer I received this one for review as a judge for the SPSFC.

[Desiree Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t last long. Read to 8%.

Main character grew up with Moms (plural). Uses the term “Mx.” instead of “Mr.” or “Mrs.”, etc. A character is “non-binary-bi” (um, how does that “math” work?) Confusing usage of “they” when speaking about one individual (grammar matters, people).

- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
February 26, 2025
See more book recommendations at:
https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Grams of Elsewhere is set in a fractured America, divided into a patchwork of polarized nations. Harmony “Bibi” Cain, a powerful empath with a troubled past, has withdrawn from the world and lives a technophobic retro life. When a series of murders committed by motes (killer drones controlled by empaths) shakes North America, his peaceful existence is over.

Decades earlier, Bibi was an unwitting part of the war program that created the motes, weaponizing empathy for military purposes. Now, with his few remaining friends in danger and tensions rising between the former nations of the United States, Bibi’s unique ability may be the key to uncovering the truth behind the killings.

Giesler’s writing style is both descriptive and concise, painting a vivid picture of a fractured society grappling with the consequences of its own history. Through Bibi’s journey, readers explore themes of trauma, isolation, and the power of empathy in a world where it has become a weapon.

Bibi narrates most chapters speaking to an unknown audience we don’t learn about till the end (and it matters). Readers learn about the world also through interviews conducted by a biographer after Bibi’s mysterious death, and scholarly sections dealing with the scientific study of human empathy.

At first look, such a structure feels meandering, especially since Bibi has no real agenda and zero interest in participating in the world or investigation. Bibi is in no hurry and he’s more interested in reflections about the world, religion, and technology than action. His hypersensitive empathy makes his life harder, not easier. 

If you like near-future science fiction with elements of mystery, cyberpunk, and dystopia, all tied together with a hint of metaphysics, Three Grams of Elsewhere is a book for you. It’s clever, thoughtful, with outbursts of action, but more low-key than not.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was ten days of quite a lot of entertainment, for only 99 cents. Some readers will find it slow and some will be annoyed at the plot, but it was perfect for me, because that slow pace is deceptive, and I loved the character arcs. Usually, I am annoyed by novels in which the narrative switches from past to now over and over. I am not sure how this author managed to not annoy me, but I deeply appreciate that, too. I'm really glad I took a chance on this one.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a judge on the Wayward Stars team in the SPSFC3 (third annual, self-published science-fiction competition), in the finals round. This is my own personal review and does not represent the views of the team or any other individuals other than myself.

This was such an enjoyable read for me. I'm going with 4.5/5.0 stars, which I've rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads. I feel like the sci-fi premise here is a unique one, and one I really felt had a realistic quality to it. I like to find books that make me think, that make me ask questions about myself and the world around me, and for the 2 weeks since completing this one, I have done that. On top of the interesting sci-fi premise, this had a fun mystery to it as well that I enjoyed, and a very satisfying ending. This is definitely a sci-fi book I will be recommending to friends and fellow sci-fi enthusiasts.

[Kristin Scearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I mean... just... wow.

This is such an amazing book. It takes it a little bit to get going in the very beginning, but once it does? Holy hell, does it ever! And it just doesn't let up. It's not all action--far from it--but it's such an intriguing plot, told in a nonlinear format and interspersed with personal interviews and excerpts from the Three Grams of Elsewhere textbook, and I didn't want to stop reading. I just had to see what happened next. And then next. And then after that.

I will most definitely keep my eye on this author, because if he keeps writing things like this, I want to be on the front lines as soon as they're available.

5 stars

**I received an advance review copy of this book from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.**

[Riley Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Grams of Elsewhere isn't your typical science-fiction, dystopian future mish-mash. Instead, reminiscent of literary classics such as 1984, combined with overruling governments similar to Animal Farm. Andy Giesler weaves an astonishingly intricate story surrounding the governments newfound research of the empathy bridge, and the technology linking the vast majority of the human population together. Think of Snapchat, Facebook Messenger combined with Instagram all in a conveniently user-friendly interface appearing instantly in an interface in front of you. Oh, the joys of consistently being connected.. right?

"But since you're not lynked? I am the only human being who matters, and I, myself, am the wrath of God." (Wow! Isn't that peachy?)

Instead of giving us your typical, coming-of-age story about a young adult ready to burn the government down, we have Bibi. One of the original "mote" testers and prodigies from the Mosaic Wars 50 years ago, the one who made weaponizing empathy possible.
Bibi is an old man, 70 or so, living in a retirement home. Not your typical protagonist, right?

But the story woven by Andy isn't about the woes of a restrictive government, or how technology is truly the up and coming big bad in ours lives. Instead, we're given a storyline told from multiple POVS - each with interlinking stories from the past, the present, and the future, and how important empathy is.

The seemingly disjointed POV's admittedly caused me confusion at first. There were quite a few characters that needed to be kept track of, and one of the mysterious interviewers in Bibi's story didn't remotely make sense to me until the end. Let me tell you - the ending was wonderfully crafted and genuinely surprised me. I wasn't even able to guess what it was - simply because for me, it was just that unexpected.

One of my critiques for this story is firstly - it rambled. Bibi rambles. Everyone rambles. Especially about biking up hills.
"This has got to be the most vexatious hill ever devised by an ornery god for the torment of some sad, old, pasta-legged, flabby-cored, ossified, prune-faced cyclist trying to get a little distance from all the other residents of that godforsaken retirement community."

Also, I could tell with a few mentions of Kwik-Trip, Rhinelander and Milwaukee that this obviously took place in Wisconsin. Nothing wrong with that - I live here! and I definitely relate to the summer comments. But at times it was a little much.

"I'd pass through unexpected banks of cool air in the middle of the muggy soup of southern Wisconsin's summer. I'd always loved the peace and ease of the prairie, loved feeling its peaceful, planty mind."

And Bibi. Glorius, sarcastic, nonsensical Bibi. I loved him. He was a funny, good-natured old man who just wanted to enjoy his retirement.

"It's too early for this nonsense. No murdering till happy hour."

One things for sure - this book is NOT what I expected it to be at all. I came in expecting guns blazing, and being able to understand how empathy could even be weaponized in the first place.

Instead, I got a book discussing the intricacies of how technology COULD impact our very future. A future where everyone is constantly connected, where simple tasks are done by robots, and the day-to-day life of in-person human interactions is diminished. Extreme government surveillance. All the secrets. I got a book discussing war, the PTSD a soldier faces after, and how empathy was weaponized. I got a book that was greatly empathetic to those who are naturally emotional, and are hypersensitive to others emotions.

Overall, Three Grams of Elsewhere was an amazing book. While it meandered, it didn't detract from the story much. It was heartfelt, touching, grief-ridden, and devastating all at once.

*I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.*

[Nancy Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am one of the judges of the special hybrid team Epic Space Stars for the SPSFC3 contest. This review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.

Status: Pending
Read: 100%

Coolio, we get a book protagonized by a character in their mid 70s! It is highly unusual to have books protagonized by characters over the age of 50, and this book takes zero punches ensuring Harmony (who prefers for everyone to call him Bibi because he hates his birth name so much) has aching knees, a bad back, and constantly has to worry about not breaking his hip when he falls off his bike while being high on some kind of drug. (Yeah, Bibi is pretty wild)

We soon discover Bibi is retired from the army due to mental damage from his field. Certain humans have evolved in such a way that they are born with a sort of emotional telepathy, also known as the ability to ken or kenning. What began as an ability in his youth to win Poker games with absurd ease, Bibi was trained in the military to mentally control killer drones with absolute precision. Naturally, the people with this ability tend to be highly empathetic people and they commonly have to be discharged due to PTSD.

This book is not 100% linear, but rather it goes back and forth in various time periods while every timeline shares the common knowledge about Bibi and his destructive ability. Some chapters are more serious, some teeter on funny (Bibi's cat frequently exudes joy whenever he falls off his bike while high on drugs), other chapters are kind of wacky and let us discover Bibi's 3 moms that raised him in some kind of hippie commune.

Now that I have finished reading the book, I am awarding it a well-deserved 4 stars. I quite enjoyed Bibi's struggles with PTSD (which is the reason why he is so adverse to all sorts of technology, including riding in a plane), his relationship with his spunky cat Eller, and the odd friendship he forms with Demelza and Dread. Dys is quite an interesting contrast as his on again off again ex-lover/business partner/thorn on the side/soulmate. It is perhaps true that opposites attract, and Bibi has always enjoyed the endless mysteries of Dys. If some people can develop psychic abilities reading people's emotions, Dys falls into the polar opposite of the spectrum colloquially known as a PADS. In our modern era, she is described to be a psychopath with zero empathy for causing suffering to other people. But contrary to Hollywood, Dys encompasses the most common traits of this population segment. Most people with antisocial tendencies are not serial killers. On the contrary, Dys is quite against murdering people. Not in the sense she has moral qualms, more like doing so runs the risk of ending up in prison, leaving her without the chance to further her life goals of doing detective work (and pushing Bibi's buttons for the sheer fun of it). Her true loyalties are only to herself, but she offers a very fun relationship with Bibi throughout the entire book.

Another thing I would like to mention is there's dozens of little red herrings sprinkled all over the book that seemingly feel like filler, but are actually cleverly placed hints of the book ending. This is one of those books where you won't fully appreciate every little breadcrumb hidden everywhere unless you read it twice.

I did feel the book meanders a little bit too much on occasion, and it could have been a tighter read. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable and rather original story. I would enjoy seeing more books with older protagonists. It felt very refreshing.

I vote yes for this book to advance to the quarterfinals of the competition.

[Athena (OneReadingNurse) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished two books today 😅 thoughts to come

Read for spsfc 3

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Three Grams of Elsewhere as a judge for the SPSFC3 contest, as part of Team Space Stars.

Three Grams of Elsewhere follows the life of Bibi, a cranky old man in his 70s who is an empath. He previously worked in the military, and now suffers from PTSD which makes him avoid all technology. This causes him problems in society, where using digital overlays has become second nature, but he in unfazed by this. The story is interrupted with interviews and discussions about Bibi with his family and friends, which is where we learn more about his past. When four murders of other empaths take place, the only way they could have been carried out is by a fellow empath using multiple drones - something that only Bibi is known to have achieved. Bibi is pulled into an investigation by the military to find out what happened.

The two different storylines were a little confusing at first, and made the story a little hard for me to follow. But as the book progresses, the two plotlines converge. I found there were lots of clues that I had missed and had to go back and re-read them now I knew the significance.

Bibi himself is certainly a different kind of main character - he is grumpy, preferring his own company due to his empathy. It was great to read a book from the perspective of a very different character - it's rare we see someone over the age of 50 represented as a key character. The sections about his aching back and legs were well-written (and entertaining in places, such as when he gets himself stuck when sitting cross-legged on the floor). He is also a drug addict, using drugs to block out the constant noise from others around him. His interactions with his cat were quite entertaining! And while it's understandable why he is so adverse to technology, I couldn't help with sympathise with him on this.

Bibi has a complicated relationship with Dys, who he has an on-again off-again relationship with and she is his ex-business partner. Dys is known as a PADS, but what we would describe as a psychopath - the total opposite of Bibi, this makes her very self-serving. She is one of the few people that Bibi can't read any emotions from. This made Dys an interesting character as, like Bibi, we were never sure what she might do next.

I marked this down one star as I felt that the story was a bit slow in places. There is a lot of foreshadowing in the interviews but it felt like it took a while for the story to really 'get going'.

But overall this is a good read. I enjoyed a lot of it, especially the interesting elements to Bibi's empathy abilities and the way this is described felt very realistic. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a book from an older character's perspective, or doesn't mind a slower burn to a story.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often we see a super thoughtful exploration of empathy in Science Fiction. At least not that I’ve seen. Especially in a setting that has also weaponized the ability. Three Grams of Elsewhere tells that story. What if empathy was weaponized? We learned where it came from, how to train it, and how to use it in conjunction with technology in wartime and peacetime alike?

The story follows Bibi, an elderly man, who once upon a time was part of the military. After washing out in a what he felt was a dramatic fashion he became a detective and now lives in a small retirement community. He’s swept up in a military investigation and along the way we begin to see snips from the past, present, and how it all amounts to so much more than expected.

The story is fast paced, with only a bit of a lag in the middle. I was incredibly impressed with how the different timelines and stories wove together, and the ideas that Mr. Giesler presented. I especially enjoyed the idea of empathy, the other and self, and how technology might one day change that. This is one I plan on purchasing a copy of to reread and highlight and annotate. I’m excited to see what else we see from this author.

If you’re a scifi fan, pick this one up!

[LindaS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A folksy, meandering story of the history of the main character Bibi. Set in the near future, Bibi lives in a low-end retirement community where his empathic abilities means he’s bombarded by his neighbours emotions. Although in his 70s, Bibi becomes targeted for his unique abilities. As political tensions rise in a fractured America, will he and his friends survive the machinations of governments bent on winning the impending war?
This book is full of interesting, well-developed characters, tech advances that seem just around the corner, a strong theme of interconnectedness . A thought provoking read that, while not an edge of your seat thriller, kept me hooked. Thanks NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’ll be looking for other books by this author. Highly recommend.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 - Stars

As my reading for the SPSFC-3 competition is nearing its end. Three Grams of Elsewhere by Andy Giesler was my second to last finalist to read. I bookended my final four reads starting with the biggest page count, then read a mid-range, now a nice break with a smaller page count. This leaves only the second largest page count after this one.

A brief reminder that the review and scoring below are strictly my own opinions and do not reflect the final competition scores for team Peripheral Prospectors or the competition in general.

This certainly felt like a fairly fast paced story. I'm not sure if this was due to it being one of the smaller page count novels I've read recently or not. There were plenty of ebb and flow going on. This wasn't non-stop active or anything like that. At the same time, there didn't seem to be many, if any, moments I would describe as working through a slog. There was a good mix of names used in this story both for characters and locations. Nothing of note to mention as far as struggles with the names that were chosen. Some were a bit tongue in cheek humor as well. The only item I struggled with a little bit was the timeline transitions of the story being told and who the dialog was with when it came to Bibi. This is eventually explained but I had made note a little over half way indicating my frustration wondering who Bibi was talking with.

The world building was nicely done. This was a nice futuristic North America for the most part. The layout is considerably different as new countries are established from prior conflicts. The future tech was very intriguing. There was some tech speak early on that seemed like system overload but it didn't take too long to become comfortable with it and just let the world develop. There was also a nice bit of overlap between technology and religion in this read as well. The fact that this aspect can change based on which character's point of view may be describing the relationship, was a nice touch.

The character development was solid. There are a lot of twists and turns along the way for our main protagonist Bibi and some good arcs for some supporting characters too. At times I may have felt a little lost as to what was going with some of the characters and eventually I found myself falling into that feeling of not being able to trust any of the characters including Bibi. It was still a wild ride to see unfold though.

This book turned out to have some underlying human nature thoughts develop and allow the reader to reflect on them This was a really nice touch to such a futuristic science fiction story.

When all is said and done, I rather enjoyed this read. It was certainly different form not only anything else in this competition I've read, but also any of my usual reads.

I would certainly recommend Three Grams of Elsewhere to fans of science fiction looking for something on the shorter side for page count and a rich imaginative world with some interesting characters and relationships.

[Michael Mammay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exceptionally good science fiction. Well written and filled with the kind of wonder and imagination that makes it stand out in the genre.

If you're a fan of science fiction that pushes boundaries, you should read this.

[K.D. Marchesi]

RTC SPSFC3

[Alex Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Military sci-fi meets murder mystery in this riveting story of mind-controlled drones and powerful empaths.

Our main character is a retired military "mote" pilot, the high-tech drones that sync with their pilot. One of the first users of the first prototypes of motes and a living legend, he is called out of retirement for a final mission. Still dealing with the trauma of his final bad sync, the wars, and a frequent user of substances -- he searches for the powerful group using an advanced version of the motes to murder the competition.

With a strong voice and a rich backstory, it's hard not to immediately feel empathy (no pun intended) for our grizzled, aged main character. He's got snark, wit, but remains caring and human. Secrets and history unfolds chapter by chapter, driving the plot ahead and leaving you wanting more.

This unique story is a must read!

SPSFC3 Judge

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will probably have to add more to this later as I am still processing all of my FEELINGS, but this book was excellent.

I haven’t read anything quite like Three Grams of Elsewhere and really enjoyed the writing format(s) and the future that feels eerily spot on. There was a lot to take in, but I was able to put things together through context clues, so it didn’t stall the pacing at all and really allowed me to get into the story. The details are so impressive, the world-building is excellent, and….. I definitely have to sit with the book and think about it all.

Definitely recommend. I am excited to read more by this author.

[Otis Doss III · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that gives you the background story and technical details in a piece meal fashion. I read this book during a time when I was somewhat distracted by outside events, so it took me longer than usual to finish it. As a result, I had some trouble following the story. And I'm not sure that I really grasped the whole bridge, lattice, empathy, etc. phenomenon. I think I would've enjoyed it more if I could've read it over a few evenings. I did like the characters, and it was well written. I do recommend it.

[Sarah Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the privilege of reading an advance copy of Three Grams of Elsewhere with no expectation to post a review.

Andy Giesler seems to have the innate ability to bring his visions of dystopian societies to light in his novels and this is certainly no exception, it is written in a way that is captivating and easy to read without being simple or unoriginal. I have found myself thinking of the story often, it is incredibly memorable.

Three Grams of Elsewhere is reminiscent of classic dystopian novels, like 1984, in that it paints a picture of the ramifications we could face as a nation if we continue on the path we are on. There is an excellent blend of encouraging the reader using context to parse out what changes have occurred over time, while also providing enough information that you can easily track the story and not get bogged down in the details.

On a grand scale, the book’s idea of division and separation throughout America is becoming eerily imaginable, which allows you to feel an even greater connection to the story. On a smaller and more personal scale, Bibi’s journey focuses largely on the concept of empathy and how the exploration and understanding of it can impact one’s life. The ideas presented on the possible evolution of empathy are conceivable yet unique. All of Andy’s characters are complex and dynamic, which only further supports the flow of the book.

I can’t recommend this read highly enough and am looking forward to the day where it is listed among the great American classics.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the near future, the old USA has fractured into four distinct countries. Everybody has a bit of empath in them, some more than others. There are a handful of powerful empaths and then there is Bibi who is so empathic he isolates himself from people and technology. Then someone kills the four most powerful empaths in the world and then there is Bibi who unwittingly weaponized empathy.

It's hard to write a summary as the book is full of science that I only sort of get. But that's just the way I am with science. You say why it worked and I say ok, I'll trust you on that. This was very good as politics play the six countries of North America against each other. The populace is divided between those who have empathy and those who don't. Then there are those trying to bring about world peace through empathy. This was a slow read for me but one I dived deep into. Certainly worth reading if you like dystopia or science fiction politics.

[The Reading Ruru (Kerry) · Rating 5 out of 5]

100% read for SPSFC3 and thrilled to see in the finals.
4.5 stars or 9/10 for SPSFC3 - opinion and rating are my own and not necessarily reflect my team mates nor is the rating the final one.

Wonderful change of pace from other finalists. Love the narrator, I want more crotchety old people as MCs in my SFF.
Love the start of each chapter - who thought a text book could be exciting 🤷.
Great concepts and Giesler pulls them all off. I know this won't be a number of people's kind of SF - it's not too action packed, nor full of space pirates but it certainly is a book that is makes one have internal debates. Sadly I could see some of this book becoming a conceivable future - scary shit.

[Azrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

[This review can also be found on my BLOG]

**I read this book as a judge for the third annual Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC), this review is solely my own and does not reflect the opinions of the whole team**

CW: violence/gun violence, blood, murder, death, war, mental health themes (ptsd), drug use/addiction
--

In a future where America has split into a number of smaller nations and human empathy has been weaponised, the unexplainable murder of 4 high class empaths raises tensions worldwide.

Harmony “Bibi” Cain is a retired veteran and powerful empath who has been trying to find a semblance of peace by living his life unlinked from the hyperconnected technology of the world when he is pulled into the fold of the Dapper Day investigations. This happens to be because the victims were killed by specific drones from the program that Bibi helped to initiate back in the day and he may be the only one who can help find who’s responsible.

This is a slower paced story in terms of action than you’d expect from the way the synopsis frames it, with the direction and overall message also diverging from what you’d initially think. The bulk of it is delivered through Bibi recounting events of “5 years ago” with an unknown addressee and you quickly learn that he was pretty reluctant to be involved with anything from the get go.

The narrative sticks on the periphery of most of the investigation and wider politics and we follow Bibi cycling around his neighbourhood, worrying about his cat and the toll aging has on his body, hanging with his neighbours, all whilst being prone to every emotion from those around him due to his powers but seldom forming a true connection with them all.

There is this slight domestic vibe to it all but I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a cosy read as there is still a lot of tension. The tone is more on the reflective side with an old man giving his two cents and telling his story the way he wants it to be told.

The worldbuilding overall is really interestingly put together. Alongside Bibi’s ramblings there are also present day interview chapters (being conducted by another unknown individual) as well as textbook excerpt chapters providing more details on the science behind human empathy in the book and I really liked how the further along we read, these allowed us to slowly understand more about Bibi’s background and the power/technology systems too. Whilst you’re never in the thick of it Giesler has really vividly brought this dystopian world to life.

With a captivating narrator that you’ll definitely grow to love and some notable support characters too this is a book that dives deep into the philosophical side of things. If that side of sci-fi intrigues you and you don’t mind non-linear narrative formats then definitely give this one a read!

[Nicole (bookwyrm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned early on with this book that there were going to be a lot of things I didn't understand as I read them, things that would only make sense later in the book. (Some of those things didn't make sense until the very end.) There were also two timelines in the book, "now" and "five years ago," plus excerpts from two different texts. It was, at times, a bit much to keep track of. However, trying to find the ways that the main storyline (the "five years ago" part) matched up with the rest of it was interesting, even if I couldn't always find the connections.

I'm not sure how to review this book. I don't want to describe the plot too much, because part of the experience is in discovering the story as it happens. As a very basic description of the plot, though: at some point in our future, it is discovered that there is a part of our brain which is telempathic—in other words, our brains can read the feelings of those around us. For some empaths, this also means they are able to remotely control drones. One of the early drone operators is now living in a senior community, and gets called out of retirement to help his government with an investigation.

Personally, I enjoyed the main timeline part of the book best. I felt that some of the textbook excerpts slowed down the pacing too much, and something about the personality of the interviewer put me off, so I didn't like those sections as much either. (I figured out why I didn't like the interviewer later, when I learned who it was.) Having Bibi tell "me" his story just made sense. (No, I didn't know who it was he was really telling the story to until the very end. But it worked as if he was telling me, and that worked nicely.)

The characters are a mixed bag. I liked some of them a lot, some of them I was kinda indifferent to, and others I disliked. My favorite characters were some of the side characters, honestly; Claude and Maya, Dred, Demerra. Eller the cat. I did usually like main character Bibi, though he had some habits or beliefs that I didn't enjoy as much. The worldbuilding was interesting as well, and sadly believable in many respects.

All told, this book was an interesting personality study that sometimes verged on the philosophical and had some fast-paced action scenes interspersed throughout. While that blend of pieces might not appeal to everyone, it worked for me. If you are interested in reading that kind of story I do suggest picking this one up! It frequently left me guessing in the best of ways.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I read this book as part of the judging process for the 3rd Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC3), and I was provided a review copy for judging purposes. My opinions are my own and do not reflect the thoughts of my SPSFC3 team or the competition as a whole.

[Alex Lennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this book is destined to become a classic. I read a lot of books, mostly sci-fi, and the very best exemplars are generally in what I think of as the "old school" of sci-fi writing, the sci-fi masterworks. If you haven't heard of the sci-fi masterworks collection I would heartily recommend you investigate as there is much joy to be found in this corpus.

The very best writing, in my humble opinion, takes a "twist" on something, on society, on reality, and explores how things would be different if this change occurred. Time travel, aliens, biotech, AI, parallel universes, the list goes on.

One of the greatest joys for me is to read a science fiction book that presents me with a new concept and then goes to explore what this might mean. This is what Andy Giesler achieves with "Three Grams of Elsewhere".

I do not think there are many, if any, books I could class this alongside. Mx Giesler links science and spirituality in a way that for me draws on concepts of presence and connectness that appeal to me from Buddism and Mindfulness practice. I might perhaps grok that it comes from a similar place to Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land".

At times it was a slightly hard read, the writing style is different, non-linear, and changes in an attempt to subtly convey what is going on before the grand reveal.

But that is a minor gripe, I have hugely enjoyed encountering this work and thinking about what it means. I feel sure this is one of the very few books I will re-read in future (as a 51 year old man working towards the state the main protagonist finds himself in, I will no doubt take other thoughts from this book in another 20 years if I am still around).

Bravo. Highly recommended - there is only the next choice!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting because the main character is an older man - like quite old. Think retirement home age. This was interesting in itself, as Bibi is a fun mix of cantankerous and wise, an older dude that has seen things but also isn’t interested in talking about it that much. He just wantS to live his life. The other characters, particularily Dys, were fun and worked well with and against his attitude.

The world-build is really interesting. We have a fractured United States, a world where everyone is linked up via implants, and people who are empaths and can basically read minds. Except, Bibi doesn’t want to - it’s too loud. I felt that haha. The way the world functions is laid out without a need for copious exposition, and its future enough to feel quite sci-fi but not be outlandish.

The story itself is well executed, with little hints dropped here and there about the ending that you don’t really think about until you get there. The plot itself is unique, and the trajectory doesn’t often go where you expect.

I will say though, the story does drag at times, quite considerably. I found myself jumping ahead at times to see how far I had left in a chapter and I wasn’t overly excited to pick it back up agian. Once I was reading it, it was good, but I wasn’t drawn to it. It just has a lot of meansdering, especially in Bibi’s sections.

Yet, overall it's a solid, entertaining, interesting read for anyone who likes their sci-fi less “in space” and more contemplative. Recommended!

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book via Goodreads giveaways.
This is what I want out of a sci fi book. It had interesting characters, future-set but still grounded in a familiar setting that made it an interesting dynamic. The pacing and revealing of the story over time was well thought out. I enjoyed the silly little meditations, alongside interesting textbook chapters. Overall this story was very creative and thoughtful. It was well balanced. I really enjoyed it and will read it again.

[Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a copy of this from Netgalley for an honest review.

This was a nifty sci-fi that explores aspects of what it means to be human and empathy between people. Everyone (in this reality) has part of their brain, The Bridge, that connects them to emotionally to those round about them. The Bridge can also be used to make a connection to some technology. There has been an attack, using "motes" (drones controlled via Bridge tech) and Bibi is brought in to help get to the bottom of what happened.

Most stories will feature a main character/chosen one that is teenage, or at the least in the prime of their life. So it makes a refreshing change for a sci-fi story where they are an old age pensioner. They have a richer back story, their past experiences colour their current actions and situation, and most importantly... they aren't entirely clueless! (or for that matter falling into silly love triangles).

It was a great story, admittedly got a little heavy handed with the empathy discussions in a couple of places, but I would definitely still recommend it!

[Marius · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had a strong start but I just got bored really fast by the end. I felt like the story loses it's focus on the plot. Maybe it was not for me. I enjoyed the writing style though.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER - I received a free copy of this book to review for the 2023 Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC).

Three Grams of Elsewhere begins with a mother telling her son, Bibi, a story. “Once upon a time, there was a man called Bibi. One day, something strange happened, so Bibi went on a great adventure. Then, over and over, Bibi did what he felt was right. The end.” It turns out that that story sums up what happens in this book. Oh, and that the only thing you can choose is what you will do next.

Three Grams is unlike any other book I have read for the SPSFC. It is not hard science nor is it fantasy. The story is set in an apocalyptic future beginning with the year 2032. A philosophical and spiritual tale, Three Grams spans seventy-three years, and is full of action, suspense, killing, politics, friendships, sex, and much of the story takes place in the Marquez Family Farm Golden Grove Senior Celebration Cozyminiums.

I enjoyed just about everything in this book. The characters in Bibi’s life are all fascinating, enjoyable, complex, and yet somehow exactly who you would think would live in a senior complex. There are people you will like, some you will hate, others you will have trouble relating to, and a few you would like to be your best friend. Of course, as with any good adventure, not everyone is as they first appear to be.

Three Grams has a story in a story in a story, has an occasional poem, and it jumps around in time from 2032 to 2104. This book is best read when you can give it your full attention and have a few hours to immerse yourself in Bibi’s tale so that he can quickly become your favorite septuagenarian.

[Jay Brantner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is based on an advance copy given in exchange for an unasked-for promise of an honest review.

The whole “powerful [x] reluctantly drawn into an investigation after four people are inexplicably murdered” tagline gives you certain expectations about how a story will go. In this case, my expectations were not accurate. So I’ll start with two points:

(1) this is a book with a message. The main character, and thus the whole narrative, is deeply concerned with empathy, healing divisions, and stopping the cycle of hate. As he will tell you, frequently.

(2) the character “reluctantly drawn into an investigation” is not actually a very good investigator and does very little active investigative work. Instead, he relays a lot about his mostly uneventful life as a technophobic old man in a cruddy retirement community, along with the parts of the investigation he gets to see, and the bits his life that made him of interest in the first place. The story is far from plotless, and it’s clearly going somewhere, but it’s not going there in a hurry, and not driven by the lead.

So what we have is a lot of folksy narration from an old man who wants to tell his story, has plenty of time, and has very clear concerns he wants to communicate. And is also central to the plot, even if he’s not always active in it. Interspersed are interviews from others in his life, or snippets from fictional academic texts on empathy-based technology.

And if you enjoy a story with a strong narrative voice that doesn’t feel the need to rush through things, and you like the lead character, that will probably work very well for you, as it did for me. The whole book is skillfully told, and the lead’s voice is impeccable. And though the story doesn’t rush, it’s never boring, and it comes together for an interesting and satisfying conclusion. It’s a conclusion that serves the book’s theme, but it doesn’t feel pat or contrived—it’s a strong finish.

If you don’t like hearing an old man tell stories, with all the digressions that come with that, this probably isn’t the book for you. It’s simply not paced or voiced like the cyberpunk thriller its premise may evoke. Additionally, the “hating the outgroup is bad, actually” message may strike some readers as simplistic. I think they’re wrong on that, but well…this is a theme-heavy book, and I’m personally very sympathetic to the theme. If you’re not, maybe you’ll be convinced, or maybe you’ll be annoyed.

At any rate, I immensely enjoyed my time with Three Grams of Elsewhere, and I hope other readers will too.

First impression: 17/20. Full review to come at www.tarvolon.com