The Vanished Birds

Last updated
The Vanished Birds
The Vanished birds by Simon Jimenez.jpg
Author Simon Jimenez
LanguageEnglish
Genre Space opera
Published14 Jan 2020
Publisher Del Rey Books, Titan Books
Pages391 (Hardcover)
ISBN 9780593128985

The Vanished Birds is a 2020 space opera novel, the debut work by Simon Jimenez. In a plot that spans millennia, the story focuses on the interconnected lives of several characters, including a boy whose special ability may hold the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe. The novel received critical acclaim. It was nominated for the 2021 Locus Award for Best First Novel and the 2021 Arthur C. Clarke Award.

Contents

Plot

About one thousand years before the main events of the story, Earth's ecology collapses. Fumiko Nakajima is a scientist who designs space stations for a massive business conglomerate called Umbai. She chooses to leave her lover Dana behind as a privileged group of humans escapes Earth.

On the resource world Umbai-V, a young boy named Kaeda meets Captain Nia Imani. Every fifteen years, her ship visits his planet. Because of time dilation, each fifteen-year period takes only a few months for Nia. Over the course of Kaeda's life, they meet sporadically. When Kaeda is an old man, a young boy appears from nowhere, surrounded by the wreckage of a ship. Months later, Kaeda passes custody of the boy to Nia. He gives the boy a flute which was originally gifted to him by Nia.

Fumiko, having lived almost a millennium with the assistance of cryogenic sleep, hires Nia to care for the child. Fumiko believes he possesses the ability to Jaunt, meaning to travel through space instantaneously and without time dilation. Nia and her crew agree to raise the boy for fifteen years outside of the knowledge of Umbai, waiting to see if his powers will manifest. Initially the boy appears mute, but he and Nia bond through music. The boy reveals that his name is Ahro. He was a slave on a generation ship crewed by musicians before a kind crew member helped him escape. Nia raises Ahro for the next four years. He eventually learns to Jaunt, returning to Umbai-V among other worlds. Fumiko's Umbai contract prohibits her from working outside the company. When her secret research base is discovered, the company murders her workers, stranding her alone and without power.

Vaila is both a pilot on Nia's ship and one of Fumiko's former lovers. She kidnaps Ahro and betrays the crew to Umbai. Ahro is tortured by Umbai scientists as they experiment on him, trying to decipher the source of his power. He is placed in a coma so he cannot Jaunt and escape from them. Eventually, they use his blood to manufacture fast travel (FT) drives.

Fumiko rigs a makeshift power source on her research base and uses it to contact Vaila. Vaila arrives at Fumiko's base expecting a reconciliation, but Fumiko murders her and steals her ship. After FT drives become commonplace, Nia brings out Ahro's flute and plays it. The music allows them to forge a psychic connection. For fifteen years, Nia travels the universe and plays her music for Ahro, but he does not wake from his coma. Eventually, she travels back to Umbai-V. As she plays a final song for Ahro, Fumiko bombs the station where Ahro is hidden. He awakens from his coma and, sensing danger, Jaunts to Umbai-V. He and Nia finally reunite.

Major themes

The A.V. Club describes the book as "aggressively anti-capitalist". [1] The book contains many examples of the rich and powerful exploiting both humanity and natural resources. A review in Strange Horizons describes the Umbai corporation as neocolonialist; it profits from the natural resources of worlds such as Umbai-V, yet prevents their inhabitants from participating fully in interstellar society. Centuries later, Umbai-V's economy and social structures are upended because of tourism. [2] In what the A.V. Club noted was a "blunt metaphor", the Umbai company powers their FT drive with Ahro's blood. [1]

Though Captain Imani's ship is irrelevant to the plot by the end of the novel, the ship's presence in the story is used to explore social inequality, classism, and freedom. Captain Imani's crew is free to travel the galaxy, unlike the inhabitants of Umbai-V, but they are still subject to outside demands and so are not truly "free". The restrictive nature of the space freighter gives an "on the ground" view of life in the galaxy, unlike the more expansive perspectives taken by some other space operas. The spaceship also provides an enclosed space in which the author can develop the novel's found family relationships. [2]

Personal identity is explored in the novel, reflecting the author's identity as a gay, mixed-race man. Jimenez has stated that the feeling of being "caught between two worlds" was a direct emotional inspiration for the novel. [3]

Style

The novel has been described as musical in tone. The pacing varies dramatically from one section of the book to the next; sometimes months or years pass by, while at other times the pace slows down and several hours are explored over many pages. [1]

The novel is divided into three sections. The first section of the novel is divided into chapters with different protagonists; they could be viewed as a work of related short stories. In the second part of the novel, the seemingly unrelated fragments are linked together by the lives of Nia Imani, Ahro, and Fumiko Nakajima. There are still changes in focus between characters; however, all of the events take place during the same timeline, unlike the events of part one. In the third and final section, the novel follows a single unified plot line. [4]

Publication history

The first chapter of the novel was originally published as a short story before being incorporated into The Vanished Birds. [4]

Reception

The novel received critical praise. Writing for Locus, Paul Di Filippo called it "not only the best debut novel I’ve read in ages, but simply one of the best SF novels in recent memory." Di Filippo praised the evocative worldbuilding and lush prose, comparing it positively to the works of Samuel Delaney and Ursula K. Le Guin. [5] In another review for Locus, Gary K. Wolfe called it "the most impressive debut of 2020". [6] Kirkus Reviews called the novel "the best of what science fiction can be" and "a gorgeous debut". The review praised its exploration of human connection as well as the well-written characters. [7] In a starred review, Publishers Weekly wrote that the book is an "extraordinary science fiction epic... perfect for fans of big ideas and intimate reflections." [8] A writer for Tor.com said "The Vanished Birds may be one of the best debuts of 2020" and praised the way in which the plot developed and showcased the interconnected lives of the characters. [9] A Lambda Literary review praised the novel's exploration of human cruelty, the need for family, and its realistic depictions of the ways in which technology might affect human civilization in the future. [10] A reviewer for The A.V. Club called the novel "impressively ambitious" and felt that the strongest sections of the novel were devoted to the characters' interpersonal relationships, both romantic and platonic. The same reviewer found the quality of the various interludes to be somewhat uneven. [1] A review in The Nerd Daily praised the introductory section but felt that the final part of the novel did not live up to the promise of the first, stating that the plot structure is "the main flaw of this otherwise flawless debut novel". [4]

It was nominated for the 2021 Locus Award for Best First Novel [11] and was shortlisted for the 2021 Arthur C. Clarke Award. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Skeleton Crew</i> (short story collection) 1985 short story collection by Stephen King

Skeleton Crew is a collection of short fiction by American writer Stephen King, published by Putnam in June 1985. A limited edition of a thousand copies was published by Scream/Press in October 1985 (ISBN 978-0910489126), illustrated by J. K. Potter, containing an additional short story, "The Revelations of 'Becka Paulson", which had originally appeared in Rolling Stone magazine, and was later incorporated into King's 1987 novel The Tommyknockers. The original title of this book was Night Moves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Jane Anders</span> American science fiction author and commentator

Charlie Jane Anders is an American writer and commentator. She has written several novels, published magazines and websites, and hosted podcasts. In 2005, she received the Lambda Literary Award for work in the transgender category, and in 2009, the Emperor Norton Award. Her 2011 novelette Six Months, Three Days won the 2012 Hugo and was a finalist for the Nebula and Theodore Sturgeon Awards. Her 2016 novel All the Birds in the Sky was listed No. 5 on Time magazine's "Top 10 Novels" of 2016, won the 2017 Nebula Award for Best Novel, the 2017 Crawford Award, and the 2017 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel; it was also a finalist for the 2017 Hugo Award for Best Novel.

<i>Liveship Traders</i> Trilogy of fantasy novels by Robin Hobb

The Liveship Traders is a trilogy of fantasy novels by American author Robin Hobb. A nautical fantasy series, the Liveship Traders is the second trilogy set in the Realm of the Elderlings and features pirates, sea serpents, a family of traders and their living ships. Several critics regard it as Hobb's best work.

Firefly is an American space Western media franchise created by Joss Whedon and produced by Mutant Enemy Productions. The franchise includes the TV series Firefly, the film Serenity, and other media.

<i>Ancillary Justice</i> Science fiction novel by Ann Leckie (2013)

Ancillary Justice is a science fiction novel by the American writer Ann Leckie, published in 2013. It is Leckie's debut novel and the first in her Imperial Radch space opera trilogy, followed by Ancillary Sword (2014) and Ancillary Mercy (2015). The novel follows Breq—who is both the sole survivor of a starship destroyed by treachery and the vessel of that ship's artificial consciousness—as she seeks revenge against the ruler of her civilization. The cover art is by John Harris.

<i>The Falling Astronauts</i> 1971 novel by Barry N. Malzberg

The Falling Astronauts is a science fiction novel by American writer Barry N. Malzberg, first published in 1971 in a paperback edition by Ace Books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Becky Chambers</span> American science-fiction writer

Becky Chambers is an American science fiction writer. She is the author of the Hugo Award-winning Wayfarers series as well as novellas including To Be Taught, if Fortunate and the Monk & Robot series, which begins with the Hugo Award-winning A Psalm for the Wild-Built. She is known for her imaginative world-building and character-driven stories.

<i>The Changeling</i> (LaValle novel) 2017 fantasy/horror novel by Victor LaValle

The Changeling is a 2017 fantasy/horror novel by Victor LaValle.

AnnaLinden Weller, better known under her pen name Arkady Martine, is an American historian, city planner, and author of science fiction literature. Her first novels A Memory Called Empire (2019) and A Desolation Called Peace (2021), which form the Teixcalaan series, each won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.

<i>To Sleep in a Sea of Stars</i> 2020 novel by Christopher Paolini

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a 2020 science fiction novel written by American author Christopher Paolini and published under the Tor imprint of Macmillan Publishers. The book is unrelated to his Inheritance Cycle series. In an interview, Paolini described the book as adult-oriented as opposed to the young adult genre of his previous books.

<i>The Forgetting Moon</i>

The Forgetting Moon is a 2016 grimdark epic fantasy novel by Brian Lee Durfee, published through Saga Press.

<i>Sisters of the Vast Black</i> 2019 science fiction novella by Lina Rather

Sisters of the Vast Black is a 2019 LGBT science fiction novella, the debut novella by Lina Rather. It features a group of spacefaring Roman Catholic nuns performing charity work across the galaxy; eventually, they discover a conspiracy that will test their faith.

<i>Dragon Pearl</i> Novel written by Yoon Ha Lee

Dragon Pearl is a middle grade novel written by Yoon Ha Lee and published on January 15, 2019 by Disney Hyperion under their "Rick Riordan Presents" publishing imprint. The book is a mix of Korean mythology and science fiction as the main character travels the galaxy. A short story by Lee about the characters in the book was featured in the anthology book The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities.

<i>The Empress of Salt and Fortune</i> 2020 fantasy novella by Nghi Vo

The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a 2020 fantasy novella by Nghi Vo. It is the first book of the Singing Hills Cycle and was followed by a sequel, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain, in 2021. The plot focuses on a cleric who listens to stories about the recently deceased empress. It won the 2021 Hugo Award for Best Novella and was nominated for the 2021 Locus Award for Best Novella.

<i>The First Sister</i> 2020 space opera novel by Linden A. Lewis

The First Sister is a 2020 space opera novel, the debut novel by Linden A. Lewis. It centers on conflict between the Icarii and the Geans, inhabitants of Mercury and Venus as well as Earth and Mars, respectively. It is the first novel in The First Sister Trilogy, and was followed by The Second Rebel in 2021 and The Last Hero in 2022.

<i>Hench</i> (novel) 2020 superhero novel by Natalie Zina Walschots

Hench is a 2020 superhero fiction novel by Natalie Zina Walschots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akemi Dawn Bowman</span> Asian-American author

Akemi Dawn Bowman is an American author, best known for her William C. Morris Award Finalist young adult novel Starfish, which follows a Japanese-American teen named Kiko Himura who grapples with a toxic home life and attempts to find a back-up plan after being rejected by her dream art school. Bowman's earlier work centered around realistic fiction, but now writes across genres, starting with her sci-fi series The Infinity Courts which released in April 2021.

In 2020, the following events occurred in science fiction.

<i>The Spear Cuts Through Water</i> 2022 fantasy novel by Simon Jimenez

The Spear Cuts Through Water is a 2022 fantasy novel by Simon Jimenez. The novel contains a frame story about a grandchild listening to stories of the Old Country; it also tells the story of two men who journey across the Old Country with a dying goddess. It is Jimenez's sophomore novel. In 2022, Kirkus Reviews named the book one of the best science fiction and fantasy books of the year.

Simon Emmanuel Jimenez is a Filipino-American writer of speculative fiction. His novels include The Vanished Birds and The Spear Cuts Through Water. Jimenez's works have received critical praise, with his debut novel being nominated for the 2021 Locus Award for Best First Novel and the 2021 Arthur C. Clarke Award. Jimenez himself was nominated for the 2021 Astounding Award for Best New Writer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Samantha Nelson (14 Jan 2020). "The Vanished Birds' bittersweet love stories span time and space". The A.V. Club . Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 Abigail Nussbaum (3 Aug 2020). "THE VANISHED BIRDS BY SIMON JIMENEZ". Strange Horizons. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  3. ↑ Agnes Constante (28 Jan 2020). "Fil-Am's debut sci-fi novel has imprint of his heritage". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Ankara C (6 Feb 2020). "Review: The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  5. ↑ Paul Di Filippo (16 Jan 2020). "Paul Di Filippo Reviews The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez". Locus. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  6. ↑ Gary K. Wolfe (20 May 2021). "Gary K. Wolfe Reviews The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez". Locus. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Vanished Birds: Kirkus Reviews". 14 Oct 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez". Publishers Weekly. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Martin Cahill (14 Jan 2020). "A Debut With Music and Heart: Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez". Tor.com . Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  10. ↑ Michael Graves (9 July 2020). "The Vanished Birds is a Well-Crafted Science Fiction Debut". Lambda Literary. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  11. ↑ Molly Templeton (26 June 2021). "Announcing the 2021 Locus Awards Winners". Tor.com. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  12. ↑ Slan Bayley (30 June 2021). "Six debuts shortlisted for Arthur C Clarke Award". The Bookseller . Retrieved 20 July 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.