The Echo

Set primarily in the depths of space, the second novel in Smythe's Anomaly Quartet (after The Explorer) picks up 23 years after the disappearance of spaceship Ishiguro as identical twins Mira and Tomas Hyvonen are put in charge of the latest expedition to outer space. As Mira leads a team to the anomaly, Tomas is left behind to run the mission from Earth, and a subtle resentment beings to build between the brothers as a result of their various roles. Yet just when the spaceship reaches the anomaly, the mission begins to go off the rails. Mira must battle with his desire to learn about the anomaly, save his crew, and please those on Earth who funded the mission, all the while trying to get back alive. Told from Mira's perspective, we become enthralled with his increasing paranoia and frustration with his perfect mission going awry. The anomaly presents the fascinating mysteries we expect from space and opens up the story to morally ambiguous choices for the characters. We may learn very few nuances about the anomaly, but there is more to come. (Jan.)