Book Reviews

World's End and the Sea Angle

In this unique novel, graduate students David and Emily feel an instant connection from their first meeting at the University of Colorado at Boulder. David, the son of Italian and Irish parents, and Chinese student Emily share a sweet and passionate love. “This converging of their souls was sweet and mellow, which made them excited and intoxicated.” As they get to know each other, they discover how much they have in common through extended philosophical conversations about a plethora of subjects. The two discuss such ideas as interracial relationships of personal, political, and societal natures. They also have long discussions on philosophy, art, aliens, the nature and meaning of life, and the universe, to name but a few of the many subjects they explore. The book concludes with a poignant story about Wuhan, China.

"Their deep love had kindled their love for the entire world and all its people. This love was the noblest of human emotions."

Not only is this the story of David and Emily’s love, but it is also a time travel fantasy in which David is transported to the distant past, and both are propelled into the future. The intense conversations between David and Emily are certainly an interesting technique to present the theories and ideas in the book. The many philosophical ideas brought to light are fascinating explorations of both ancient and modern thought. From genetics to ecology, there is no shortage of topics in these talks. Still, these discussion sections flow a bit unevenly and at times seem forced to get the point across. However, the book contains so much information on history and philosophy that it could be considered a good teaching tool for those wanting to understand the subjects discussed. The last section about Wuhan is riveting with much information about the coronavirus. Lovers of fantasy with a philosophical twist will likely find this a work of interest.

REVIEWS

"Their deep love had kindled their love for the entire world and all its people. This love was the noblest of human emotions."

The book contains so much information on history and philosophy that it could be considered a good teaching tool for those wanting to understand the subjects discussed. The last section about Wuhan is riveting with much information about the coronavirus. Lovers of fantasy with a philosophical twist will likely find this a work of interest.

— Kat Kennedy (US Review of Books)