A Wall Is Also a Road
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4.9 • 7 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Bestselling author Annalee Newitz invites us to explore a large and not-so-lonely universe in this science fiction adventure about what happens when the alien becomes familiar–and beloved.
Gardenpath is a graduate student. They also happen to be an amoeba–a slime mold, to be exact–from an ancient civilization that dwells in the space between the stars. And when they turn their many eyes to researching a remote spot on one spiral arm of the galaxy, they stumble upon a discovery that will change everything they thought they knew: a mysterious planet teeming with unexpected life, language, and culture.
One of these alien animals is a creature named Murtis, who lives in a city she calls Pompeii and works in a brothel known as “the lupanar.” Unfazed when her strange visitor says she’s from the stars, Murtis takes Gardenpath into her care, introducing her to the seaside tourist town full of immigrants and shopkeepers who are just trying to get by.
Before they met Murtis, Gardenpath expected to finish their research, present their discovery, and return home to become an acclaimed scientist. But as they look into their new friend’s bizarre sensor bulbs from within the suit that allows them to survive and blend in on her surprising planet, they are beginning to wonder if there’s more to life than academic achievement.
They're not sure what it is, but they're going to use science to find out.
A thought-provoking and heartwarming novel about science, the meaning of life, and love, perfect for fans of Becky Chambers, Ryka Aoki, and Martha Wells.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Customer Reviews
A first contact story in a historical fiction
“A Wall is Also a Road” is the newly released novel by Annalee Newitz. It’s a multi-faceted work, that is a first contact story, a historical fiction, and an exploration of an alien civilization. Our protagonist is an alien known as Gardenpath. They are an amorphous being that has characteristics of a slime mold and an amoeba, and are the size of a house. They are part of a species known as the Rational People. Gardenpath is a graduate student in an extragalactic university known as the Memory.
Gardenpath has begun their fieldwork toward their doctoral degree, and they have decided to study a planet within what they call the Spigot Galaxy, and we know as the Milky Way. They have to use a protective suit that allows them to survive the crushing gravity and intense radiation in such a place. This suit can be configured to have an exterior appearance that matches local organisms. So Gardenpath is teleported to Earth, on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, near the City of Pompeii. They begin to study food webs, in this strange world of multicellular(!) organisms. Soon they come to believe that the strange organisms in Pompeii may be communicating, and creating art!
This story is quite an adventure! It has big ideas, lots of interesting information based in history, and all kinds of relationships. It also has mature themes, including sexy times! The overall story arc is positive, although there are some darker chapters. I think it’s one of Annalee’s best works to date. It certainly makes use of her research from her non-fiction book, “Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age.”
Newitz hands us another thoughtful read
I liked - reminders of academia in all its aspects, good, bad, and tedious as hell.
It took me several chapters to get involved enough with the characters that I would not want to put the book to rest for a night’s sleep. However, as I got more involved with Gardenpath, they became a remarkable reminder of where I had been. I wonder if readers who have not been in extensive higher education will have the same experience reading as those who have degrees beyond BA/BS.
The only major critique I have is that the ending seemed rushed. And I wonder: how did the human characters finally reach their ends?
The author has set up conditions for a sequel. I hope to see that happen soon.