The Outside

By: Ada Hoffmann

Narrated by: Nancy Wu

Humanity's super-intelligent AI gods brutally punish breaches in reality, as one young scientist discovers, in this intense and brilliant space opera.

Autistic scientist Yasira Shien has developed a radical new energy drive that could change the future of humanity. But when she activates it, reality warps, destroying the space station and everyone aboard. The AI gods who rule the galaxy declare her work heretical, and Yasira is abducted by their agents. Instead of simply executing her, they offer mercy - if she'll help them hunt down a bigger target: her own mysterious, vanished mentor.

With her homeworld's fate in the balance, Yasira must choose who to trust: the gods and their ruthless post-human angels, or the rebel scientist whose unorthodox mathematics could turn her world inside out.

©2019 Ada Hoffmann (P)2019 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Hoffmann confidently layers morality and disability rights into a breezily told adventure that bursts with sheer fun.... This beautifully smart, uncynical space opera will charm fans of Charles Stross and Lois McMaster Bujold." (Publishers Weekly)

Interesting perspective on consciousness and reality

Interesting perspective on consciousness, reality and religion. One of possible futures with conscious AI overseeing humanity

Another toothless take on cosmic horror.

I have no idea if this was the author's intention or not, but the Eldredge means from outside the universe have about as much overall impact on me as a reader as hearing that a character passed gas.

I get the idea is that the protagonist actually works with them, so they can't be some sort of inherently evil thing, but even so there's just no personality to them.

the overall depictions of Madness in this book seem more like minor mental health issues in the grand scheme of things, spoken as a person with several of them chronically.

if you're expecting any sort of cosmic horror out of this book, don't pick it up. if you want a slightly different science fiction take on creepy monsters from outside our dimension, maybe this will work for you.

A unique strange sci-fi

Gripping from the beginning. I love sci-fi that touches upon the weird, unexplainable and uncanny, and this is one of those. I didn't know it was a series, but now looking forward to seeing more. Enjoyed the creativity and the characters - all complex, with their flaws and good qualities.

Wow!

I put this down for months; just couldn't get into it. But I'm so glad I picked it up again, because it really drew me in and held me fascinated throughout. Also, great narration.

Too much

Too much interior monologue covering the same ground over and over. Found myself thinking--OK, I get it. Please move on. The narrator played the same vocal notes over and over as well, but I think she did the best with what she had to work with, and in that sense, the narration was a 5. But the protagonist was a bit two dimensional and the rogue scientist taking on the gods was a bit of a cypher to be honest. Anyway, I surprised myself by finishing it, While parts of it were reasonably compelling, it would have benefited from some skillful editing. Without issuing a spoiler, there was one scene towards the end, right before the denouement, that felt completely gratuitous and utterly endless. And the epilogue? Don't think I would sign on for more of the same if, in fact, there is a sequel.