What I admired most about "The Marionette" was the interweaving of past and present to paint the mysterious and isolated life of a scientist who regrets much of what she has done with her life. The characterization of Reed Faraday is uniquely drawn, showing the vulnerable side of genius.
The writer's dramatic flair and skillful prose are top-notch, better than the aliens-controlling-peoples'-actions-with-beams-of-light concept, which, thankfully, mostly takes a backseat to the beautifully told story about love and loss--until the climax, when it all dovetails and, admittedly, makes "sense" (operating on its own established logic).
I've recommended this story to the preteen and teenage daughters of friends and family. While it probably does not outwardly appeal to a YA audience, the strong female protagonist, both in the present as an adult and as a precocious adolescent, is certainly the kind of character I'd want my nieces to invest themselves in reading about. There's not much in the way of objectionable content, other than a briefly disturbing incident at the beginning, during which Faraday's life is saved by an alien being.
While I can see why "hard sci-fi" fans would probably be disappointed in a story like this, it's worth noting that there is a good deal of world-building toward the end. Does the whole thing shift a bit too much into different terrain then? Perhaps... After reading "The Marionette," I was surprised to see that this is a standalone piece and there are no more entries in the series, because I felt like it set us up for parts two and three of a universe. (Since it was published in 2021, I'm guessing nothing more is coming.) That said, it does not end on a cliffhanger; everything is adequately wrapped-up, and the conclusion is quite satisfying nonetheless.
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Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024
