The Echo (The Anomaly Quartet)
“The mystery of the Anomaly is completely compelling. ...with an added spookiness that will give readers chills.” (Library Journal)“There have been teachers in space, senators, and the wealthy who buy tickets. But never has a journalist been launched over the atmosphere. Until Smythe’s gripping novel.” (New York Post)“This is a remarkable book: a state-of-the-art spacecraft constructed from ideas, and propelled by a powerful story. Gripping, terrifying and audacious--an exploration in every sense of the word.” (Charles Yu, author of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe)“The Explorer has the dreamlike detachment of an Ishiguro novel…. reminiscent of a 1970s space movie, where the darkness of the void mirrors the darkness of the human soul.” (Financial Times)“Science fiction is best when it does what we least expect, when it transforms narrative into something you don’t see coming….It’s a trick not every writer can master, but Smythe makes a marvel of this world, and these characters, and makes this reader want the sequel now.” (Romantic Times BOOKclub (Top Pick!))“A brilliant book — funny, desperate, desolate, sad, all in equal measure.” (Chuck Wendig)“A challenging and stimulating read.” (Booklist)“The Explorer is essentially exemplary: a short, sharp shock of a story from an author who deserves to do as well for himself as he does by us. It’s perfectly plotted, smartly characterised and rife with insight and excitement.” (Tor.com)“The Explorer by James Smythe is quiet, dark book which focuses on the dark and quiet of space….It may not be a flashy…but it is a fascinating character study that could only exist in a science-fictional world.” (io9.com)“A] mind-bending, heart-wrenching, avalanche of a reading experience… an oasis for readers thirsty to find an engaging book… books like this are the kind that create fans, and I’m proud to be one.” (SF Signal)“Beautifully written, creepy as hell. The Explorer is as clever in its unravelling as it is breathlessly claustrophobic.” (Lauren Beukes, author of Zoo City)