So… Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff are amazing. Just want to put that out there. I’m not a big science fiction reader. The closest things to science fiction that I've read were the Rogue Squadron books and a bunch of other series from the now dubbed “Legends” Star Wars universe, and the entire Animorphs series (which to me is severely underrated).
And then there's this book, and its insane style and layout.
I’ll say this for the book: it’s more an experience than anything else. Anyone with a halfway decent imagination will understand what the book tries to accomplish. Told through several types of “media files”, the writers try to recount the events from a very intense space tragedy. Do we know who the files are addressed to? No. Do we know immediately who the story is about? Yes. It’s got transcripts of instant message conversations, interviews, reports on analyzed security footage, logs, memos… every kind of media that can be gleaned from a fully functioning capital warship.
Our protagonists? Two high school evacuees from a backwater planet colony that was attacked and destroyed by a super rich corporation for some sinister unknown reason.
The actual problem? Surviving long enough to get to the nearest galactic outpost where they can get help for their damaged ships and defense against the enemy craft in hot pursuit.
The twist? All sorts of space age problems. No spoilers, but the whole thing would make an amazing movie, or even a super cool three part television special. But nothing beats the fragmented way the book tells the story through the “attached files”. I really don't think a movie will do this book justice. You gotta compile the files for the augmented experience. Give me voice clips; give me the surveillance footage; give me the chat logs. I want these files and a chance to see the big reveal at the end where we finally find out who the files were compiled for and by whom.
Illuminae may not be for everyone, but it’s so creative that I can’t even begin to stop geeking out about it. This is me signing off, so I can read book 2.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | Series: The Illuminae Files #1
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers | Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Source: Hardcover borrowed from the library
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