The Lightest Object in the Universe

A Novel

By: Kimi Eisele

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

What if the end times allowed people to see and build the world anew? This is the landscape that Kimi Eisele creates in her surprising and original debut novel. Evoking the spirit of such monumental love stories as Cold Mountain and the creative vision of novels like Station Eleven, The Lightest Object in the Universe tells the story of what happens after the global economy collapses and the electrical grid goes down.

In this new world, Carson, on the East Coast, is desperate to find Beatrix, a woman on the West Coast who holds his heart. Working his way along a cross-country railroad line, he encounters lost souls, clever opportunists, and those who believe they'll be saved by an evangelical preacher in the middle of the country. Meanwhile, Beatrix and her neighbors begin to construct a cooperative community that suggests the end could be, in fact, a bright beginning.

Without modern means of communication, will Beatrix and Carson reach each other, and what will be left of the old world if they do? The answers may lie with a fifteen-year-old girl who could ultimately decide the fate of the cross-country lovers.

©2019 Kimi Eisele (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Terrific Storytelling!

I really enjoyed this book! I like that it is both a road novel and a slow collapse novel. The way the storylines converge is very compelling -- my anticipation towards the end was over the top. I stopped the book with an hour and a half remaining to check whether the author had written a follow up (not yet it seems), because I would love more from this universe and these characters. Also another fabulous read from narrator Gabra Zackman, who is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

Reminds me of Octavia Butler

For fans of the late, great Octavia Butler here is The Lightest Object in the Universe, a tender take on the apocalypse by another female sci fi writer. I prefer sci fi by women since it generally is more about characterization and less about weaponry and this book is a prime example. It's lyrical and poetically written, without being pretentious--and has a compelling plot that drives the narrative. It's an exploration of life after a flu pandemic and other unnamed disasters shut down the nation's electric grid and government. No internet, no food, no water, no gas, no nothing. If you ever wondered how you--and the world-- would survive without electricity this book gives you some idea. Cleverly Eisele comes up with an old technology--AM radio-- as a communication device. An activist-type woman named Beatrix who believes in community starts her own radio show and figures out how to broadcast it from California (I think) A mysterious charismatic preacher named Blue takes over the airwaves and promises a wonderful life to all who take a journey to the "center" to join him. The book follows Beatrix, her soulmate Carson who starts traveling by foot from New York to get to her and a teenage girl and her grandmother who travel to the center with disastrous consequences. Even though Eisele is realistic about the apocolypse-- there are marauding gangs of teenagers who terrorize her town--she also shows how good people who want to stick together can do just that and save each other and possibly the world. Narration on this also lovely--matches the spirit of the book.

This year’s Station 11

The apocalypse has come— no electricity, no government, viral flu. But still we hang on. The story follows 3 characters: Beatrix, Carson and Rosie. Carson leaves the East to find Beatrix in California. Beatrix, who has never stayed home long enough to make contact with her community, finds that community, including Rosie, a 15 yr old. Against this is a radio broadcasting zealot promising a better life. Great character development and pace.

Okay story if you can tolerate the performance

I found the narrator to be deeply annoying. She has a pattern of nasal staccato followed by a melodious patch and back. Once you hear it, you can’t unhear it.

Almost turned it off, but persevered. It sounds like a YA novel (not sure if it is??). It draws comparison to Station Eleven, which I enjoyed more.

A kinder, gentler slow apocalypse

I tend to like the soft or slow apocalypse genre. and this was no exception. I also gravitate toward books that can tell the story and have well-rounded characters without a ton of violence. It's a rare novel that gets 4 stars out of me!