Truth of the Divine
A Novel
-
-
4.2 • 58 Ratings
-
-
- $11.99
-
- $11.99
Publisher Description
USA TODAY BESTSELLER
Truth of the Divine is the latest alternate-history first-contact novel in the Noumena series from the instant New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestselling author Lindsay Ellis.
The human race is at a crossroads; we know that we are not alone, but details about the alien presence on Earth are still being withheld from the public. As the political climate grows more unstable, the world is forced to consider the ramifications of granting human rights to nonhuman persons. How do you define “person” in the first place?
Cora Sabino not only serves as the full-time communication intermediary between the alien entity Ampersand and his government chaperones but also shares a mysterious bond with him that is both painful and intimate in ways neither of them could have anticipated. Despite this, Ampersand is still keen on keeping secrets, even from Cora, which backfires on them both when investigative journalist Kaveh Mazandarani, a close colleague of Cora’s unscrupulous estranged father, witnesses far more of Ampersand’s machinations than anyone was meant to see.
Since Cora has no choice but to trust Kaveh, the two must work together to prove to a fearful world that intelligent, conscious beings should be considered persons, no matter how horrifying, powerful, or malicious they may seem. Making this case is hard enough when the public doesn’t know what it’s dealing with—and it will only become harder when a mysterious flash illuminates the sky, marking the arrival of an agent of chaos that will light an already-unstable world on fire.
With a voice completely her own, Lindsay Ellis deepens her realistic exploration of the reality of a planet faced with the presence of extraterrestrial intelligence, probing the essential questions of humanity and decency, and the boundaries of the human mind.
While asking the question of what constitutes a “person,” Ellis also examines what makes a monster.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The situation with intelligent extraterrestrials on Earth grows ever more complex in bestseller Ellis's brilliantly considered follow-up to Axiom's End, which finds human Cora and alien amygdaline Ampersand navigating a political minefield. While the world's governments debate how many rights, if any, to extend to the amygdalines, unrest builds in the United States due to the lack of public information about the aliens. Out of the turmoil rises the Third Party, advocating a Third Option, a "proposed law that would create an entirely new category of personhood" and severely limit the amygdalines' ability to function within the U.S. without a human chaperone, essentially classifying them as second-class citizens. As the party's extremists grow increasingly violent, things are further complicated by the arrival of yet another amygdaline, this one determined to fulfill a suicide pact with Ampersand. Meanwhile, Cora and Ampersand cope with PTSD amplified by their dynamic fusion bond—and Cora realizes that Ampersand has been less than honest with her. Ellis draws skillful parallels between her science-fictional politics and real world issues, gracefully navigating the difficult topics of discrimination, violent extremism, mental health, and addiction. This thought-provoking novel will linger long in readers' minds.
Customer Reviews
The Question of Personhood…
“Truth of the Divine” is the second novel by Lindsey Ellis, and the continuation of her Noumena Series which began with “Axioms End.” It’s a different type of science fiction novel, which technically can be classified as alternative history, and first contact. It’s a character-driven story, with exciting action, and emotional impact. It’s set in an alternative 2008 America, where the significant departure from our world involves aliens.
Our protagonist is Cora Sabino, who was a linguistics student before an alien appeared in her home. This the story of Cora, and the being called Ampersand. This relationship is really at the heart of the novel. It is the story of two radically different beings, coming to try to communicate with, and eventually to understand and maybe to trust each other. It is a story of communication, assumptions, learning, and growth.
This novel also expands the story of the advanced fugitive biomechanical beings that have escaped an genocide perpetrated by their own alien “super organism.” Information on their existence is beginning to be known to the public. Both humanity and the aliens have to decide about the personhood of the other. This question is at the heart of this volume of the series. I’m now awaiting the as yet unnamed third novel in the Noumena Series.
Startlingly Believable
This is a novel that very carefully crafts its narrative and events in ways so believable, you'll look at the news afterwards, half expecting the book's events to be happening. Ellis's excellent writing style is matured here into a vicously explicit and tangible form that shapes every scene, peaceful or violent, into something that always connects your mind with precisely the intended imagery. The action is visceral and terrifying while the scheming is so diabolical that it can sometimes hit too close to home. That being said, some of the parallels to real-world events might be a little on the nose, and can cheapen some scenes from my perspective. Not enough to stifle a 5 star rating, but its worth noting nonetheless. This is a story about living with mental disorders and also about aliens, and every messy, kinky, horrifying detail that goes into both of these things. Reading this at work was somewhat uncomfortable sometimes, but in a good way. Ellis doesn't pull any punches and that's precisely what makes every emotional moment connect. A phenomenal sophmore effort, definitely an author whose merits are proven.
Simply Excellent
A wonderful read, and a great sequel to her first book.