Member Reviews

Eli Lee's "A Strange and Brilliant Light" is a captivating exploration of the human condition in a world on the cusp of radical change. Set against the backdrop of rising automation and artificial intelligence, the story follows three young women – Lal, Janetta, and Rose – as they navigate their lives and relationships amidst societal upheaval.
Lee masterfully weaves together the personal and the political, delving into the anxieties and hopes of a generation facing an uncertain future. Lal, yearning for recognition and stability, finds herself caught between her ambition and the changing demands of the workplace. Janetta, a brilliant AI researcher, grapples with the ethical implications of her work while trying to understand her own emotions. And Rose, seeking purpose and connection, becomes involved in a political movement that promises a different path forward.
The novel's strength lies in its nuanced portrayal of these characters and their complex relationships. Lee doesn't shy away from difficult questions, exploring themes of economic inequality, technological advancement, and the search for meaning in a rapidly evolving world. While the narrative unfolds at a deliberate pace, the reader is drawn into the characters' inner lives and the subtle tensions that simmer beneath the surface.
"A Strange and Brilliant Light" is not a traditional sci-fi novel filled with action and spectacle. Instead, it offers a thought-provoking and introspective look at the human impact of technological change. Lee's prose is elegant and evocative, creating a vivid sense of place and atmosphere. The novel's ending, while open-ended, leaves a lasting impression and invites further reflection on the choices we make and the future we create.
This is a compelling and timely novel that will resonate with readers interested in the intersection of technology, society, and the human experience. It is a story that stays with you long after you turn the final page.

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I wanted to like this book as it sounded good but I couldn't get into it. I would have not reviewed but NetGalley insists on a review to keep your profile rating up even when you say you are declining to read it.

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This was not the book for me. I'm sure this will be loved by some readers but I didn't particularly love this one.

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I did like this book and especially the ideas of what will happen when everything will be done by robots. Setting it in a made up world removed it a bit from the discussions of AI we currently have, but most of the points hit home. It got me thinking about AI and their impact on our society in the long term.

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"A Strange and Brilliant Light" by Eli Lee is a captivating and thought-provoking debut novel that seamlessly blends science fiction, coming-of-age, and social commentary. Lee's narrative introduces readers to a near-future world where people are connected to a virtual reality called the "Ether." The story follows the journey of Lugh, a young boy whose journey into the Ether takes an unexpected turn.

The novel explores the themes of identity, technology, and the consequences of a digital age where the lines between reality and virtuality become increasingly blurred. As Lugh navigates this changing world, readers are taken on a thought-provoking exploration of the impact of technology on our lives and our sense of self.

Eli Lee's writing is both imaginative and incisive, crafting a narrative that not only enthralls but also challenges readers to question their own relationship with technology. The character of Lugh is relatable and endearing, making it easy for readers to become emotionally invested in his journey.

"A Strange and Brilliant Light" is a timely and relevant novel that offers a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of our digital age. It raises important questions about the price of progress, the nature of reality, and the potential consequences of our growing dependence on technology. For those who appreciate speculative fiction that makes them ponder the future and the human condition, this novel is an illuminating and absorbing read. Lee's ability to blend an engaging narrative with thought-provoking themes makes this debut novel a standout in the genre.

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This book is an in depth examination of AI and how it affects the work force and the human race. It was quite a complex and difficult read and I didn't really connect with it. The chapters are split into 3 different POVs; Janetta, Rose and Lal and while I did like these characters, sometimes it was hard to distinguish who was who. The book was a bit slow and the science was a little too much for me but overall it was an interesting read about AI and what could happen.

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Pace was a bit slow, I wanted a tad more excitement but overall the characters were well rounded and I definitely enjoyed the sci-fi plot

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Sad to say that this was just not the novel for me. I thought the topic would be cool to read about, but I just did not jive with the writing style.

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This novel explores the impact of AI on the future of work and our sense of purpose. It's a thought-provoking and nuanced story focusing on three working-class women who must face the new reality of perpetual modernity as well as a constant threat of artificial intelligence taking over the everyday life.

It's a character-driven narrative that asks the question - can we live in symbiosis with AI? This intriguing, engrossing story poses challenging questions of automation, loss of jobs and the uncertain future among rapidly developing technology.

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Not one for me sadly, just couldn’t get into it, couldn’t connect with the story or characters at all.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

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This is a novel I struggled with. I enjoy literary science fiction but I got confused with the characters though the premise was good.

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I struggled to finish this book, parts were truly fascinating and then other parts didn’t work for me and I struggled to finish.

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I found this story really interesting but somehow I felt a little let down in the end. I think I went into this expecting a lot more on the actual AI front, whereas really it was a focus on the people involved in the situation and their personal experiences. I was curious about the world and the ideas, but it felt like something was missing for me.

Bits I liked:
- diverse characters with an LGBTQIA+ element
- strong social and political elements that felt well explored
- interesting idea of the future with exploration of how real people would be impacted
- believable personal struggles and hopes, with thought-provoking elements and deep questions

Bits I liked less:
- I found a lot of the characters not particularly likeable, apart from one who we actually didn't get to see much of for a while
- more about people than about the AI element itself, though I really liked the choice at the end
- the quote said it was "mind-bending" which I think gave me a different expectation to what the book was really like

Overall I did enjoy the book, but felt left wanting more, and wasn't sure if it was really for me. I like science fiction but feel this was more of a contemporary sociopolitical fiction with sci-fi elements. Well-written and intriguing, just not quite for me.

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Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of the debut novel A Strange and Brilliant Light by Eli Lee.

Auts are slowly replacing people in the tasks that they do, and this is where we meet Rose, Lal and her sister Janetta. Lal leaves her managerial role in the store that she works at with Rose to take a job with Tekna who produces all the AI that will replace people in their roles.

As the story progresses we discover how people feel about the auts, and not just about the fact that jobs have been taken away from people. It's about living in a society that is monitored.

Without giving anything away, I really loved that the ending shows that people will do the right thing when it matters most. People do the right thing even under great pressure not to.

I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading future books by Eli Lee.

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A poignant and timely look at AI, automation and the world of work. How replacing human workers effects lives is at the forefront of this speculative literary novel. It focusses around three women - the workers who, historically, are most marginalised - and includes some queer representation. These three women offer different viewpoints on and relationships to the AI taking over their world. With very descriptive prose this makes for an interesting book.

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DNF @ 30% - I try my best to finish each book I am offered to review but unfortunately I started this months ago and just couldn't force myself to finish it. I was quite intrigued by the concept of AIs within our society and the conversations around them but this book left me quite bored. I struggled to connect with any of the three main characters. I liked Lal to a certain degree but Rose and Janetta just didn't feel as if their characters had proper depth to them. The book also seemed to go on and on and I was counting the pages until the chapter was over so I could put it down again (which is never a good sign). Overall, this concept had a lot of potential. It might have even worked better as a novella. But ultimately I just could not finish reading this book which is a shame. I will be keeping an eye out for Eli Lee's next project though.

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I never really got into this one I'm afraid. The characters didn't ring true at times and I found it difficult to care about them.

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This book was utterly fascinated. I love science fiction because of its ability to pose ethical questions, and this book absolutely delivers. Thank you for this thought-provoking ARC!

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A novel about automation and AI replacing humans in all areas of work. Centred around three women, Rose who works in a Slurpee store, her friend Lal who used to be the store manager and goes to work for Tekna, the parent company that is busy automating all its workers and Lal’s sister, Janetta working on a PhD studying conscious AI. There’s lots of interesting ideas here, but many of them have been done better elsewhere. I think I would’ve preferred the book to be set in the real world somewhere and not a made up place, more obvious social satire for example.(I did get some The Circle vibes later in the book as Lal gets promoted at Tekna). There’s nothing about the type of government or wider society that they live in, though later there is some nods to the way capitalism throws people on the scrapheap so easily in the name of profit. Overall I felt it was too long and the relationships overdone, I found Janetta an unbelievable character particularly. But it’s not bad, I just wanted more.

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Unfortunately, this was a very forgettable read. It was ok while reading it but a couple of days after I couldn't remember many of the details of the book. It is a very interesting premise but the execution didn't grab me!

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