Enthusiastic book reviewers often want to tell others when they have enjoyed a book immensely, discovered something special, a narrative that provoked deep thought.
EXILES
by Mason Coile
So what’s this book about?
It’s 2030
The
human crew sent to prepare the first colony on Mars arrives to find the new
base half-destroyed and the three robots sent ahead to set it up in disarray.
In the
four years since they arrived, the machines have formed alliances, chosen their
own names and picked up some disturbing beliefs. Each robot must be interrogated.
But
one of them is missing.
As the
astronauts close in on the truth, it dawns on them that in this barren, hostile
landscape - where even the machines have nightmares - none of them is safe.
This
slim novel punches well above its word count. It has heft in terms of provoking
thought and stopping you in your tracks to ponder upon the ideas, themes and
emotions it evokes.
There
is a tragic finality in the climax - one that grips the mind.
Presented
as a Science Fiction Thriller, it is actually a philosophical exploration of
what it means to ‘exist’. As worthy as that may sound, it stretches the edges
of this futuristic scenario into a cerebral examination of loneliness and why
‘humans’ and ‘non-humans’ behave in the ways they do when mentally and
physically isolated.
Read the Full Review HERE
The
climax caused me to put the book down and sit in silence, lost in my thoughts
as I gazed at the stars glittering in the infinity of the night sky.
I
felt alone and insignificant.
The writing was so assured and evocative it came as no
surprise to discover that Mason Coile is a pen-name of the award-winning Canadian
Author Andrew Pyper.
The novel’s melancholic theme is matched by the sadness in the knowledge that Exiles
is his final novel. It was published posthumously as Andrew Pyper tragically passed away earlier
this year aged 56.
He dedicated his final novel to his wife.
I was fortunate to meet Andrew during Bouchercon 2013 held
in Albany, New York State – where we discussed his incredible Horror
Novel The Demonologist – which would be awarded the International Thriller
Writers [ITW] hardcover novel of the year [in 2014].
If you’ve not read Andrew Pyper / Mason Coile – here’s his bibliography
Kiss Me (1996)
Lost Girls (2000)
The Trade Mission (2002)
The Wildfire Season (2005)
The Killing Circle (2008)
The Guardians (2011)
The Demonologist (2013)
The Damned (2015)
The Only Child (2017)
The Homecoming (2019)
The Residence (2020)
Oracle (2021)
As Mason Coile
William (2024)
Exiles (2025)
More information > https://andrewpyper.com/
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