Neom

The book takes place in a distant future where Neom is an old city obsessed with all things new. Humanity has colonized much of our solar system, and it seems that city-states are the norm. Neom is located in the Arabian peninsula, and we spend nearly all of the book in and around this city and the desert that surrounds it. The story follows a few humans whose lives intersect with several robots who are changing the future for robot-kind. I found the world of the book to be extremely compelling — it feels lived-in and realistic, while also managing to be very creative and unlike any other sci fi world I have read about. I look forward to reading other stories the the author has written in this world.

I finished the book in two sittings — it felt more like a novella than a novel, and it almost seems to be setting up other works. I gave it three stars rather than four for the following reasons. The characters and the plot were a bit thin — it felt like we were building towards an action that never came, or perhaps will come in a future book. I also felt that the writing felt unfinished in places — the author would write a compelling scene in “real time” and then in the next sentence or paragraph, weeks will have passed. I found this a bit jarring and it also made it difficult to connect with any of the characters.

However, the author does an excellent job of setting the scene and making you curious about this expansive world he has created, so I am excited to follow the author going forward!

Every time I turn around Lavie Tidhar has published another novel. I've only had the chance to read [b:Unholy Land 39791736 Unholy Land Lavie Tidhar https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531831184l/39791736.SY75.jpg 61518815], which I loved, but each book he puts out sounds imaginative and entirely original. With Neom, Tidhar returns to the world of his most popular book, [b:Central Station 25986774 Central Station Lavie Tidhar https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1460506349l/25986774.SY75.jpg 45899481]. Having not read it, I was unsure if I'd be missing the proper context to evaluate this one, but Neom works perfectly well as a standalone story.Neom is (or at least was) a techno-paradise in the Arabian Peninsula, surrounded by remnants of the endless wars that once ravaged the desert. We're introduced to several inhabitants of Neom and its surrounding environment. These folks, both human and robot alike, grapple with surface level post-war scars/memories and ones that must be, both literally and figuratively, dug up.This was superb and I'm in awe of Tidhar's vision. He's conjured up a futuristic city that feels simultaneously ultramodern and also run down. The rich histories of the region and its cultures are seamlessly interwoven into the fabric of this fully-realized world. Tidhar writes beautifully, as well. The chapters fly by as the seemingly disparate lives and motivations of the characters tidily intertwine, as Tidhar explores the nature of belief, memory, and love.I'll surely seek out more of Tidhar's back catalog, including Central Station, as well as whatever he thinks up next. He's clearly producing some really outstanding science fiction right now.See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.