Book Review
Dec. 23rd, 2018 07:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
by Claire North
This clever and compelling speculative fiction novel is told form the point of view of Harry August, born in 1918, who is an ourobouran/kaklchakran, a person who lives their lives over over again. Their memories and knowledge come with them from life to life, and while they can do things drastically differently from one life to another, changing the course of history is complex enough to make it both difficult and dangerous. However, in Harry's 11th life, he receives a warning from another of his kind that the world is ending. This sets him on mission to save the world, but first he must find the origins of the apocalypse.
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is a brilliant combination of time loop and espionage, mixed with a timely warning about the perils and pitfalls of recklessly pursuing technological advancement. The first third or so of the book is a little slow, but in retrospect, the slow build is necessary to really understand how being a kalachakra really works and how that affects Harry's approach to and attitude towards living. Once the plot really gets going, it's a very engrossing cat and mouse game, and gives new meaning to playing a long game.
by Claire North
This clever and compelling speculative fiction novel is told form the point of view of Harry August, born in 1918, who is an ourobouran/kaklchakran, a person who lives their lives over over again. Their memories and knowledge come with them from life to life, and while they can do things drastically differently from one life to another, changing the course of history is complex enough to make it both difficult and dangerous. However, in Harry's 11th life, he receives a warning from another of his kind that the world is ending. This sets him on mission to save the world, but first he must find the origins of the apocalypse.
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is a brilliant combination of time loop and espionage, mixed with a timely warning about the perils and pitfalls of recklessly pursuing technological advancement. The first third or so of the book is a little slow, but in retrospect, the slow build is necessary to really understand how being a kalachakra really works and how that affects Harry's approach to and attitude towards living. Once the plot really gets going, it's a very engrossing cat and mouse game, and gives new meaning to playing a long game.
