In a future world where interstellar travel is possible but time dilation leaves colonies stranded, 'The Vanished Birds' follows the story of a woman mathematician hoping to revolutionize space travel, a boy with a mysterious genetic mutation, and a spaceship crew navigating vast distances through time and space. The novel delves into themes of trauma, dehumanization, and the consequences of greed, offering a poignant exploration of love in its various forms amidst a backdrop of capitalism, colonization, and corporations.

Characters:

The characters are vividly drawn, diverse, and deeply complex, exhibiting a range of human emotions and relationships that resonate with readers.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is beautifully lyrical, employing a mix of poetic prose and character-driven narratives that evoke emotional responses from the reader.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around deeply emotional connections between characters, set against a backdrop of corporate exploitation and societal dilemmas, while navigating through complex timelines.

Setting:

The setting is a rich, imaginative universe that balances the grandeur of space exploration with familiar human conflicts and environmental themes.

Pacing:

The pacing of the novel is uneven, with a deliberate, slow build that allows for deeper character exploration while culminating in tension-filled moments.

He was born with an eleventh finger. A small bead of flesh and bone beside his right pinky. The doctor calmed the worried parents and told them the nub was a harmless thing. “But still,” he said, unla...

Notes:

The Vanished Birds is not a typical science fiction novel, combining literary elements with sci-fi tropes.

The story features spaceships, pocket space travel, and a critique of corporations and capitalism.

It uses an omniscient narrator who provides multiple viewpoints, enhancing the emotional depth.

One key character, Kaeda, grows while the ship's captain, Nia, stays nearly the same age due to time dilation issues.

Music plays a significant role in the narrative, symbolizing connection and communication among characters.

The novel explores different kinds of love, including platonic, romantic, and maternal, across its characters.

Fumiko, another character, is a brilliant mathematician from a dying Earth and designs the space stations.

The story raises questions about corporate greed, environmental sustainability, and what it means to be human.

Jimenez aims to depict flawed, relatable characters with real emotional struggles and journeys.

The book incorporates themes of resilience and the search for connection in difficult circumstances.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes of corporate violence, loss, and emotional trauma that may be distressing for some readers.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance, with various forms of love explored throughout the novel.

From The Publisher:

A "highly imaginative and utterly exhilarating" (Thrillist) debut that is "the best of what science fiction can be: a thought-provoking, heartrending story about the choices that define our lives" (Kirkus Reviews, Best Debut Fiction and Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year).

FINALIST FOR THE LOCUS AWARD

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TORDOTCOM AND KIRKUS REVIEWS

A mysterious child lands in the care of a solitary woman, changing both of their lives forever.

I expected many things from this trip. I did not expect a family.

A ship captain, unfettered from time. A mute child, burdened with unimaginable power. A millennia-old woman, haunted by lifetimes of mistakes. In this captivating debut of connection across space and time, these outsiders will find in each other the things they lack: a place of love and belonging. A safe haven. A new beginning.

But the past hungers for them, and when it catches up, it threatens to tear this makeshift family apart.

Praise for The Vanished Birds

"This is the most impressive debut of 2020."-Locus

"This extraordinary science fiction epic, which delves deep into the perils of failing to learn from one's mistakes, is perfect for fans of big ideas and intimate reflections."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A lyrical and moving narrative of space travel, found families, and lost loves set against an evocative space-opera background."-Booklist (starred review)

"The Vanished Birds finds an intimate heartbeat of longing in a saga of galactic progress and its crushing fallout. . . . A novel of vast scope that yet makes time for compassion, wonder, and poetry."-Indra Das, author of The Devourers

Ratings (4)

Loved It (1)
Liked It (2)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (54):

Read It (4)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (41)
Not Interested (8)

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About the Author:

Simon Jimenez is the author of The Vanished Birds. His short fiction has appeared in Canyon Voices and 100 Word Story's anthology of flash fiction, Nothing Short Of. He received his MFA from Emerson College.

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The Vanished Birds

Simon Jimenez