My thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of this book of speculative fiction that imagines a world that is beset by barriers, not the usually ones that humans set up to keep others out, but from an alien intelligence with dark motives.

Except for my neighbor across the way I have lived on my street the longest of everyone else around me. The sad thing is except for my neighbor across the street I don't know any of the people who live here. I might recognize a errant letter, but their faces, even their dogs are unknown to me. I work odd hours, my lawn care is manage, don't go crazy, and I haven't had a pet in years. I see them walk by with dogs, kids, and nod and wave, but I wouldn't know them if I saw a picture of them anywhere. And they would say the same about me. I'm shy by nature, and small talk is what I do with customers at work, outside of work I'd rather talk about what I like, not weather, politics or gossip. This is a barrier that separates me from others. This barrier also, except for my neighbor across the street, doesn't really make me care much what happens. They are strangers, even though we live next door on a dead end street. Barriers make us not care, make us think only of our own. People who cross our barriers, well they are annoyances, or even a threat. However sometimes one has to look past obstructions to see the whole picture. Mindscape by Andrea Hairston is a story of the future, where a barrier from an otherworldly intelligence has cut the world into different parts, different parts that have to work together, or be destroyed.

Over 100 years ago ships returning from the outer planets were close enough to Earth to see the Barrier divide the world up. Not by culture or continents, but in parts that divided the world even further. Behind these barriers different groups, strong man, gangsters even religious leaders told power. The Barrier allowed travel at certain times, which lead to raids, as some places had much, some places had little. Over time people began to work with the Barrier, figure out ways of passing through without waiting for the Barrier to decide. A rough peace treaty was worked out with all the divided lands. Until the woman who worked the hardest was assassinated on the day of the treaty's signing. Elleni is one of the few who can work the Barrier, and is trying to bring together the different parts to come together. However there are many who like the division, the power it gives and the control they have. And don't want to give it up.

The book is a reprint from earlier in this century, but I think really speaks to the politics and mindset of many today. Barriers to many are good, as are tariffs, and sending people back to where they belong. There is a lot going on in the book. Philosophy, religion, race, and lots of violence. I don't know how I missed this book the first time, though I must confess I was missing from the science fiction scene for quite a while. The writing is really good, with a way of letting the characters talk that makes them unique and different. There is a lot of myth, and feelings of loss and dissociation among almost all the characters. Some try to change how they are, some how they are perceived, and a few just don't want change. Hairston has created a very unique future, one that is a bit dystopian, but one that many have embraced as good for them, and good for their people. Hairston asks a lot of questions, and the answers are quite uncomfortable in many ways.

This is the second Hairston book I have read, and I quite enjoyed this. I do miss reading this when it came out, but now, as I said it really fits the times. A dark book, but one the looks deep inside, and sees that their is still hope, and even a little magic inside to get past these barriers that seem to be erected. By ourselves or by those in control.