As a big Mike Chen fan, this is top three for me. The Photonic Effect feels like a great Star Trek episode with the action, the ethics, and the twists and turns. I’ve already gotten the book for my dad! Keep reading this book review of The Photonic Effect for my full thoughts.
Summary
After ten years trapped across the expanse of space, Captain Demora Kim and the crew aboard the Horizon are finally home. Only it’s not the home they know. The Cluster, formerly a peaceful cooperative between planets, is on the verge of collapse due to a civil war.
A way to end the conflict may lie in the limitless energy that trapped the Horizon crew halfway across the galaxy and the engine they crafted to bring them home. But that means going back to the pocket of space they’ve only just escaped.
Demi isn’t sure she’s up for the task. She fulfilled her promise. She brought her crew home. Maybe it’s time to walk away. However, leaving everything behind won’t be as simple as she thinks. Conspiracies are afoot, loyalties will be tested, and Demi’s choices could shake the foundation of the galaxy.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Photonic Effect is a story about ethics, about trauma, and about what will do to do the right thing. It’s about being a survivor, about wondering if our sacrifice is worth the galaxy. If we fall in line when we should or if we stand out. Faced with these ethical conversations, The Photonic Effect asks us if we’re just bodies for someone else’s war. There’s confusion, shifting loyalties, and science fiction adventure. I loved the thrill of the action and the questions about who we should believe. I’d love to read more stories in this world!
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We see the ways that there isn’t one way to see the world. How there’s this discontent, this unhappiness, and the power within the systems. It’s a twisty space story with a deeply original and stunning world. Even weeks after finishing, I’m still turning over some of the betrayals and twists. The Photonic Effect is perfect for SF fans! Find The Photonic Effect on Goodreads, Storygraph, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.