Review: Ambitious
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 5, 2013
There is a lot of promise in "Known Afterlife", which bursts with ideas, and it only lacks a bit of polish. The book could be categorised as sci-fi, but the principal themes are religion, enlightenment and environmental symbiosis.The plot revolves around "the Provider": a Gaia-like alien planet, which interacts with its native lifeforms in complex ways. Fans of "Avatar" will be familiar with a similar premise. Steffor is one of the Provider's inhabitants who is most attuned to its powers and influence; this allows him to participate in the extreme sport of diving, but more importantly he is charged with protecting his culture and its spirituality. I found the chapters about him quietly moving.Another character, Stalling, is prominent in the book, but he is a scientist and not a mystic. His exploits first appear to be orthogonal to Steffor's, until the surprising connection becomes clear. Don't expect a conclusion to the overarching story in this volume, but do expect a thought-provoking and entertaining journey through exotic worlds.