Book Review: Particle Horizon by Selso Xisto

  Particle Horizon by Selso Xisto ★★★★★


Let me start out by saying right off the bat that I don’t read a lot of Sci-fi, and when I do it usually takes the form of a novella or short story.
At over 300 pages, 49 chapters and a surprising amount of characters Selso Xisto’s debut novel Particle Horizon, is neither of those things.  What it is is an intricately detailed, and epic space opera.

What I dislike most about sci-fi is not at all present in Particle Horizon, so many sci-fi books seem to assume you have a degree in physics or rocket science, they go into great detail about molecular fusion, particle acceleration, string theory, rocket propulsion etc that the layperson reader begins to wonder if they might be reading a text book.

There is almost none of this in Particle Horizon, there is a bit of it of course, I mean it takes place in a distant future on a planet that is a hollowed out asteroid, there are going to be a few scientific terms, and some of them you may not be familiar with.  However when it comes to the descriptions of the machines, processes and theories of this world, they are very much written for the reader with only a limited amount scientific understanding.

I found the book a bit difficult to get into at first, though it has a very quick pace, it is a very meaty book, not one to be devoured in one or even two sittings, I found that I had to read it slowly, in little bites, allowing myself to absorb and digest it as I read.  

The characters are incredibly developed, even minor characters are given a three dimensional aspect that makes you interested in them as actual characters rather than scenery or filler.

Particle Horizon takes place in an unnamed time frame on an asteroid planet called AngelHaven, we are quickly thrown into the action of an invasion of religious zealots known as the Legion of the LightBringer infiltrate and begin a systematic and bloody purge on the people of AngelHaven.

We meet a number of characters in the first few chapters, in fact the first 10 chapters or so are devoted mainly to character introduction and set up, thankfully there is story progression through out, you won’t find a five page description of a room, or a long winded set up to a short scene, and even as we are learning about each new character there is plenty of action going on and around that description.

We find out a few chapters in that there are two sharply divided factions in this Universe, there is the UFW (United Free Worlds) who have denounced the existence of all deities, and there is the Legion of the LightBringer.  The Legion is viewed by most as a dangerous cult, born from the religious exiles on the desert planet of New Jerusalem the Legion has been systematically attacking UFW communities in the attempt to eradicate those who would eradicate God.

The action starts in the very first chapter with the Legion’s invasion, setting the tone for the rest of the book.  We first meet a cast of body gliders who are staging a dangerous counter attack against the Legion, and a bloody battle ensues.

Meanwhile in a tower high above the killing taking place on the ground, we meet AngelHaven’s greatest mind and his ‘daughter’ a cybernetic woman, known as Una.  Una was created to facilitate and help with unraveling the code behind something called  “the particle horizon” and has recently completed the final string of that research. Unbeknownst to her, this final string completes the research, and allows her father access to a power that could make him a god and destroy the Universe.

Unbeknownst to all is that Humanity has reached its evolutionary apex, and will soon be judged accordingly.

I very much enjoyed this book, the subject matter was similar to other sci-fi books in a lot of ways, but the voice and telling is fresh and original. It kept me guessing and surprised me on a number of occasions.

I recommend this book to all lovers of sci-fi, if you want a story that sucks you in and holds you tight, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with Particle Horizon.