In Ascension

"This deep dive into humanity's place in the natural world and the cosmos fits Barack Obama's interest in expansive, thought-provoking narratives that explore complex human experiences and societal implications."

"Shortlist"

"Yes, this is a literary entry on the list. It’s as much about the family relationships and personal experience of our hero as it is about scientific exploration. There’s plenty of hard science in here, but it’s used not so much for boisterous adventure, as for a meditation on the wonder and strangeness of biological life. Not that there isn’t adventure. We follow Leigh, a biologist, first on a deep-sea dive and then on a space mission, both perilous. But the perils are uncertain and mysterious, and never become battles or action sequences. In space, Leigh’s role is the provision of fresh growing plants on board for the small crew to eat. Space itself is of secondary interested to her – in her own words, ‘“Life is already alien, is already rich and strange…We don’t need to say it arrived seeded on a meteor to make it more so.”’ This is a book to re-awaken your wonder: the Times Literary Supplement described it as “a primer to marvel”. Well, that’s sort of the point – Leigh isn’t making time for her mother, while her sister stays behind with her. So we reflect on their differences as people, their different childhoods and difficulty connecting with each other. It’s not two separate strands; all of this is blended into Leigh’s experience of the world."

"It was also named the Blackwell’s Book of the Year . One of their judges called it “a science fiction novel fit for the 21st century.” I think it’s the most Clarkeian book on the shortlist, with adventures deep under the sea and ventures into outer space. It’s also got a bit of a Gravity vibe at times, although one of the judges would like to see Denis Villeneuve adapt it for the big screen after Dune . If memory serves, MacInnes has come close to being shortlisted before, but like all this year’s shortlistees is new to the Clarke. This is a page turner, but it doesn’t sacrifice characterisation or big ideas."