December 5, 2016
Palmer’s slow-paced second Terra Ignota far-future novel revisits the setting she established in Too like the Lightning, in which wars are not remembered and communal organized religion has been replaced by private ceremonies. Readers enter into this world as it’s perturbed by a highly powerful child, Bridger, who can transform inanimate objects into living things. Where Palmer succeeds is in her rich description of a world where sexuality is an intrinsic part of politics and gender is an archaic, dying construct, as well as her allusions to breaking the connection between church and state despite those who cling to religious fervor. Her descriptive passages are many-layered and engrossing, but they overdo the futuristic terminology. The plot is difficult to follow, and the convoluted nature of the story is more apparent than in the first installment. Fans of Palmer’s will enjoy the second book, but a refresher might be necessary.