Dissolution

Binge (Ascension) combines a suspenseful plot with an inventive structure in this unnerving sci-fi thriller told mainly through transcripts of a strange interrogation. In 2021, octogenarian Margaret Webb is questioned by Hassan, a stranger, who insists that she try to remember the events that brought her to his interrogation room before “dissolution” happens in 11 hours. This setup—which is as disorienting for the reader as it is for Margaret—makes turning pages to find out what is going on compulsive. Hassan tells Margaret that her husband, Stanley, a resident at an assisted-living facility, is in danger due to his involvement in a research study, and that her memories are vital to his safety. Flashbacks to the 1950s fill in some of the blanks, starting with Stanley’s time as a protégé of Professor Waldman, who believes that “human memory possesses unlimited depths.” Binge nimbly toggles between present and past, keeping his foot on the gas as he gradually reveals what’s preceded Margaret’s interrogation. With plausible science and multifaceted characters, this high-octane outing excites. (Mar.)