Still the Sun

Holmberg (The Hanging City) sets this gripping science fantasy romp on the planet Tampere, which sits on the edge of the universe. Pelnophe, aka Pell, enjoys tinkering with machines but doesn’t think of herself as particularly gifted. So when a stranger named Moseus knocks on her door soliciting her help in repairing machines inside a nearby tower that locals have always regarded as empty and impenetrable, she finds the whole thing bizarre. Still, Pell takes the job, only to discover that tinkering with the devices gives her intense flashbacks of the planet’s past. This mystery is compounded by the presence of Heartwood, Moseus’s enigmatic companion whom Pell can’t help but feel drawn to. As Pell learns more about her new employers and Tampere, she discovers the dark truth of what the tower is and why the machines within it broke in the first place. Holmberg fans who know her for her romantic fantasy may be surprised there’s only a touch of magic in this heavily sci-fi outing. The worldbuilding occasionally confounds, especially when it comes to the specifics of the technology in the tower. Still, the suspense surrounding Pell’s flashbacks and her slow-burn romance with Heartwood propel the plot forward at a steady clip. This is a fascinating new direction for Holmberg. (July)