Situation Normal

Leonard Richardson

O.R.S.

An absurdist galactic romp featuring multiple characters in a somewhat dystopian, corporate-capitalist empire war involving biological warfare, humour, and creative alien species. Told through multiple third person perspectives

How much did you like it overall?

Situation Normal is a confusing book in many ways. It has all the hallmarks of great sci-fi read in the vein of Vonnegut (others have said this too.) The big interesting ideas, the absurdist nihilism, the self-reflective but not wholly unenjoyable deadpan joy the third person omniscient narrator exhibits when things happen funnily. So in many regards, it stood out. Yet in other ways, it felt like the author didn’t quite have it all under control, and that the overarching book book was assembled like a series of TV episodes. I liked it as a collection of anecdotes quite a bit, as a book, it didn’t quite come together. There were many, many thoughtful, original concepts about race, technology, and xenoanthropology, taken to their somewhat logical, though unexpected, conclusions (that’s a good thing!) That said, there were other concepts, about brands, for instance, that seemed to be of great import to the characters and author, but as a reader, I just wish I was let in on the party

What did you like most?

So many interesting ideas–about multi-identity species. And details–like the simultaneously moving airsuits. None of these will make much sense unless you read it. But the construction of the alien races, the details and the realness with which the author would set up situations and then follow the logic–like how do you torture or brainwash a multi-identity alien, or how would a sentient Brand (as in a marketing brand) act? The tone of the writing was also quite fun, you get this mix, as discussed above, of Vonnegut like absurdity mixed with a little bit of Douglas Adams-y whimsy. And the gender fluidity and species fluidity of it all was treated with a nonchalance that was quite refreshing. Also, two of the lead characters, Churryhoof and Becky Twice, just have cool names and behave in interesting ways. The fact that the plot also bumps along in somewhat random ways allows the characters to have asides (in my head, almost like sidequests) that may not move the plot along very effectively, like Becky’s romance with her erstwhile captain, but allows us to get a better feel for the characters.

What did you not like about it?

The whole Brand subtheme was just poorly explained, and perhaps not as well thought through as it could have been. In addition, it’s not the greatest architecturing of the different perspectives–most of the time, the storylines, which are meant to exist in a Dunkirk-ian fashion (i.e.multiple levels of zoom from planetside to intergalatic empire war,) do not cross in interesting ways, and there were definitely some characters more interesting than others. Also, the way in which the conspiracy, so to speak, or underlying motivation of the empire war, is revealed diminishes the investment I had in where this was all heading. About 90% of the way in, I had the feeling it was the lead up to a sequel, and while I was really happy the author tried to tie it together (go standalones!,) I also felt the rush of “and then yada yada yada, ending” happening, blergh

Any favorite moments?

I really enjoyed the scenes with the multi-identity alien–almost a Vandermeer like twisting of logic that should be applauded. Also some of the conversations between alien species felt real and had stakes.

Where do I put it on The Shelf?

Probably in the middle. As a beta of a possibly tighter book.

Any closing thoughts?

This really is an odd book – it’s both bigger than it feels and yet feels incomplete and not altogether a narrative. I didn’t leave with any grand ideas or inspirational rush to read the next, but I also admired and really dug individual moments.

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