This book was recommended to me by a bookclub friend. “Lesbian scientists!” she said. “There’s a drug that makes people see God (or Gods or G-d),” she said. It sounded like a cool idea, reminding me a little of Nexus by Ramez Naam or some post-William Gibson kind of thing about our modern technology gone just a little too far.
My overall experience of reading this book was just “meh.” The concept did sound pretty interesting and it begins with a character who is a lesbian in a mental institution, so I realized pretty quickly it wasn’t an average sci-fi book. The first few chapters are about her getting out and coming back to her life on the outside, and about her past in working for a drug company startup that manufactured a chemical that would make the users see God. What is interesting is the withdrawal from the drug; a teenager in the beginning kills herself because she no longer has access to the drug and God goes away from her. But then the heroine of the book goes on a journey to find out who is manufacturing this substance based on her company’s original design, and it wasn’t a particularly interesting journey to me.
Afterparty dabbled in philosophy but didn’t really make any real decisions, and it sort of ends up just being a bit of a road trip/heist story. There was nothing that felt super original to me, maybe because I’ve read so many books before that feature genetic engineering, near future, cyberpunk stuff.
You seem to have hit a string of disappointing sci fi stories (I’m catching up on reading reviews, and going backwards). I hope you find a good one soon! Why is sci fi always so hit or miss?
Good question – I think sometimes books are sold on concept and not every author has the chops to back up their concept. Also I think I need to keep track of who gives me recommendations of books I actually like!