Why people recommend it
In Ascension by Martin MacInnes is a sprawling contemporary science fiction novel that follows a marine biologist investigating a deep ocean trench before embarking on a profound interstellar journey. During an episode of The Ezra Klein Show in September 2024 titled On Children, Meaning, Media and Psychedelics, guest Jia Tolentino recommended the novel during the show's final segment. Tolentino mentioned that a friend had recommended the book to her, noting that it will appeal strongly to anyone who enjoys the speculative fiction of authors like Ted Chiang or Jeff VanderMeer. She described the work as a grounded, beautiful, enigmatic, and slightly schematic piece of science fiction that she genuinely and deeply loved. The novel weaves together the vast mysteries of the deep sea with the infinite expanse of outer space, grounding high-concept cosmic exploration in deeply human emotions, scientific rigor, and philosophical inquiry about humanity's place in the universe.
Who recommended it
- Jia Tolentino Recommended
Jia Tolentino — 1 mention
“I really like this book in Ascension that our friend Max Reed recommended to me it's sort of if anyone is in the sort of Ted Chang Jeff vandermeir kind of thing it's like that kind of grounded beautiful enigmatic slightly schematic sci-fi really loved it”