There Are No Countries
"There Are No Countries" by Marshall Smith is a captivating and imaginative science fiction novel, the first in the "Lucid Machines" series, published in August 2020. The story transports readers to the newly discovered planet of Dandros, a world ripe with life and seemingly perfect for colonization. Unlike Earth, Dandros has no people or vertebrate animals, yet it holds mysterious traces of civilization—a single castle and a statue of a man known as "the anomaly." This enigmatic figure, with energy resonating from its head, becomes the focal point of curiosity and exploration for scouting crews who arrive to probe its secrets.
The narrative centers on Doug, the protagonist, who finds himself thrust into this alien landscape after slipping into another reality via a splicing machine. Doug is an ordinary man turned involuntary explorer, navigating a strange yet endearing world populated by "Preforms"—semi-evolved, humanoid beings with incredible strength and a childlike innocence. These creatures care for Doug as if he were a helpless child, especially during their hibernation periods in the winter. Despite his often questionable behavior—marked by weakness, cowardice, and duplicity—Doug remains the hero of his own tale, driven by an obsession with a being called "The Goddess." His journey is one of adaptation, as he begins to accept the bizarre realities of Dandros as normal, pulling readers along into his quirky, unpredictable adventure.
Smith’s writing shines through with humor, creativity, and a touch of the absurd, crafting a world that feels both alien and oddly relatable. The novel blends elements of romance, weird fiction, and classic sci-fi, drawing comparisons to the New Wave science fiction of the 1960s and '70s for its sublime strangeness and emotional depth. Readers are introduced to a cast of eccentric characters, most of whom lack a clear sense of right and wrong, adding to the book’s charm and unpredictability. Doug’s narration, often delivered as an extended monologue, infuses the story with a lively, conversational tone, though it occasionally shifts tenses in a way that mirrors natural speech.
While the book has been praised for its originality and entertainment value—earning high marks from readers who found it hard to put down—it’s not without flaws. Some critiques highlight poor editing, with inconsistent character name spellings (e.g., Peleon vs. Pelion) and grammatical hiccups like misused words ("who’s" for "whose" or "then" for "than"). These issues slightly mar an otherwise engaging experience, leading some to cap their rating at three-and-a-half stars despite enjoying the story.
"There Are No Countries" stands out as a debut that showcases Marshall Smith’s talent for blending the bizarre with the heartfelt. It’s a quirky, thought-provoking read that invites readers to lose themselves in a world where the rules of reality are delightfully bent, making it a recommended pick for those seeking an offbeat sci-fi adventure.
You can buy There Are No Countries by Marshall Smith with my Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4l7ke8Z
The narrative centers on Doug, the protagonist, who finds himself thrust into this alien landscape after slipping into another reality via a splicing machine. Doug is an ordinary man turned involuntary explorer, navigating a strange yet endearing world populated by "Preforms"—semi-evolved, humanoid beings with incredible strength and a childlike innocence. These creatures care for Doug as if he were a helpless child, especially during their hibernation periods in the winter. Despite his often questionable behavior—marked by weakness, cowardice, and duplicity—Doug remains the hero of his own tale, driven by an obsession with a being called "The Goddess." His journey is one of adaptation, as he begins to accept the bizarre realities of Dandros as normal, pulling readers along into his quirky, unpredictable adventure.
Smith’s writing shines through with humor, creativity, and a touch of the absurd, crafting a world that feels both alien and oddly relatable. The novel blends elements of romance, weird fiction, and classic sci-fi, drawing comparisons to the New Wave science fiction of the 1960s and '70s for its sublime strangeness and emotional depth. Readers are introduced to a cast of eccentric characters, most of whom lack a clear sense of right and wrong, adding to the book’s charm and unpredictability. Doug’s narration, often delivered as an extended monologue, infuses the story with a lively, conversational tone, though it occasionally shifts tenses in a way that mirrors natural speech.
While the book has been praised for its originality and entertainment value—earning high marks from readers who found it hard to put down—it’s not without flaws. Some critiques highlight poor editing, with inconsistent character name spellings (e.g., Peleon vs. Pelion) and grammatical hiccups like misused words ("who’s" for "whose" or "then" for "than"). These issues slightly mar an otherwise engaging experience, leading some to cap their rating at three-and-a-half stars despite enjoying the story.
"There Are No Countries" stands out as a debut that showcases Marshall Smith’s talent for blending the bizarre with the heartfelt. It’s a quirky, thought-provoking read that invites readers to lose themselves in a world where the rules of reality are delightfully bent, making it a recommended pick for those seeking an offbeat sci-fi adventure.
You can buy There Are No Countries by Marshall Smith with my Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4l7ke8Z
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