Permafrost

Starred review from March 1, 2019

The newest novella from Reynolds (Revelation Space) has a simple premise: return to the past to save the future of humanity. The mission's objective involves the retrieval of genetically modified seeds, those strong enough to grow on Earth in 2080. The complication, as always, involves the effect of time travel on an ever-changing time line. Retired schoolteacher Valentina is the first to connect successfully with a future host named Tatiana through the use of a molecular-level consciousness paradox that Valentina's mother invented. This connection between past and present host are part of her mother's discovery of the relationship within a Luba pair, all of which is well explained as the adventure unfolds. Valentina's time travel produces unexpected complications that both hinder and help the mission, causing her to withhold some findings from the team. During subsequent consciousness transfers, she's forced to ask whether the motives of her fellow scientists and the AI brothers who assist the project are still aligned with the goal of preserving humanity. VERDICT This is Netflix's Travelers series meshed with Jeff Vandermeer's "Southern Reach" trilogy, and it's outstanding.--Tina Panik, Avon Free P.L., CT

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2019
Reynolds departs from his hard-sf milieu and explores time travel in this novella. In 2080, the World Health Organization tries one last, desperate attempt to avoid world catastrophe and a time-paradox disaster. They have discovered a way to send pilots back to hosts in the past in order to cache seeds that can withstand the ecological vagaries of the present. In 2028, a young woman undergoing brain surgery begins to experience a presence attempting to direct her body. As she struggles to decide whether to resist or help her pilot, other pilots experience the same kind of struggle with someone from beyond 2080. As always, compelling characterization drives a suspenseful adventure in Reynolds' masterful style.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)