The Blue, Beautiful World

A Novel

By: Karen Lord

Narrated by: Robin Miles

As first contact transforms Earth, a team of gifted visionaries races to create a new future in this wondrous science fiction novel from the award-winning author of The Best of All Possible Worlds.

“A complex story of first contact from a unique perspective that is warm, engaging, and wildly original.”—Martha Wells, New York Times bestselling author of The Murderbot Diaries

LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION

The world is changing, and humanity must change with it. Rising seas and soaring temperatures have radically transformed the face of Earth. Meanwhile, Earth is being observed from afar by other civilizations . . . and now they are ready to make contact.

Vying to prepare humanity for first contact are a group of dreamers and changemakers, including Peter Hendrix, the genius inventor behind the most advanced VR tech; Charyssa, a beloved celebrity icon with a passion for humanitarian work; and Kanoa, a member of a global council of young people drafted to reimagine the relationship between humankind and alien societies.

And they may have an unexpected secret weapon: Owen, a pop megastar whose ability to connect with his adoring fans is more than charisma. His hidden talent could be the key to uniting Earth as it looks toward the stars.

But Owen’s abilities are so unique that no one can control him and so seductive that he cannot help but use them. Can he transcend his human limitations and find the freedom he has always dreamed of? Or is he doomed to become the dictator of his nightmares?

Critic reviews

“The Blue, Beautiful World is science fiction at its best—unexpected, wise, and compassionate. We all need this book, more urgently than ever.”—Zen Cho, author of Black Water Sister

“The Blue, Beautiful World is unlike any science fiction you’ve read. It is a treatise on global diplomacy, a first-contact adventure, and a meditation on the transformative power of pop culture. Most of all, it is a gorgeous, wise tale of our shared traumatic histories and potential futures together, on a planet whose mysteries humans have only begun to explore. Step into Karen Lord’s world and be changed forever.”—Annalee Newitz, author of Autonomous and The Terraformers

“This is the thrilling, cerebral, empathetic, and hopeful speculative fiction the world absolutely needs—now and always.”—Samit Basu, author of The City Inside

“Brimming with sharp characters, action, espionage, and audacious ideas, The Blue, Beautiful World subverts the idea of first contact, and then inverts it, too—just in case. Lord delivers profound insights on charisma, identity, cooperation, and family, all wrapped up in a cracking high-stakes story of intergalactic intrigue.”—Malka Older, author of Infomocracy

“A wise, ambitious, and beautifully crafted novel of first contact, the future of Earth, and the challenges posed by survival, change, and compassionate connection.”—Kate Elliott, author of Unconquerable Sun and The Keeper’s Six

“An exquisite novel of galactic diaspora, of long-lost humankind coming home, The Blue, Beautiful World is a thoughtful and dreamlike examination of the goodness and potential in humanity. It will change the way you think about family, empathy, and the mysterious ghosts born here on our own world.”—Tessa Gratton, author of The Queens of Innis Lear

“The Blue, Beautiful World launches you into an exquisite world bursting with people and ideas that reach beyond its pages. If you enjoy large-scale, big-brained fiction with a heart of gold, this is the book for you.”—Suyi Davies Okungbowa, author of Son of the Storm

Lacks Drama

Going in I knew nothing about this novel nor the author. Someone must have suggested it to me, but I don't recall it. To me, this novel was primarily about world building. The author is spectacularly good at scenes involving characters interacting with one another, in a way that other authors can only aspire to. I was wowed again and again by they way she weaved descriptive text into the dialog. But the story reads like a historical piece, where we all know how everything turns out in the end. The story is built like that of a 17th century court piece, with kings and queens and houses and diplomacy and trade. But it lacks all of the back stabbing and intrigue. Everyone works together as a team and everyone has humanities best interest at heart. Everyone, except for the "bad guys" that is, whom we never meet. They are at best a distant, dismissed, threat. So again, where does the drama come from? There is a sprinkling of personal drama here and there, but only for characters who tend to be left behind when the story moves on. We are only told how the main characters feel. They don't experience anything for us. In general far too much is described rather than lived. I spent most of the novel wondering if I was supposed to know more about what was going on. The last chapter explained what had happened, what the consequences were, and what the future held for the characters. Need I say more?