Axiom's End by Lindsay Ellis

 

Axiom's End is the debut novel of Lindsay Ellis, a YouTuber who I guess is popular?  I am an old. Anyway, this book was absolutely terrible and I guess that New York Times bestselling status on this book is merely a product of her fanbase.

This book has an amazing premise. Cora, daughter of a rabblerousing whistleblower, is the first person on the planet to be able to communicate with an alien. Fun and hijinks should ensue! Instead what ensues is a very, very tedious examination of the US bureaucracy and a low-level stress over the fate of two dogs.  

I always expect new sci-fi to reject the great white men narrative and am shocked when they don't.  This book, with its clunky dialogue and overarching love of the FBI and CIA, could have been written by Asimov or Heinlein, despite its young female author. What's even more disappointing is that the book is superficially anti-alphabet agencies, with the screeds from the rabblerousing father, but it's absolutely clear in the book that the father is the bad guy, so that obviously leads us to believe that folks in law enforcement are the heroes. Gag.  

The plot is boring, the characters incomprehensible, and the writing is serviceable, but dull. I would not recommend this book and I won't be checking in with Ellis' YouTube channel or podcast anytime soon.