In Ascension

by Martin MacInnes
In Ascension cover
Good Books rating 4.38
Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)
Technical:
  • ID: 228
  • Added: 2025-09-06
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9781838956264
  • Publisher: Atlantic Books
  • Published: 2023-02-02
  • Formats: 10
  • Reviews: 4
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99

Leigh grows up in Rotterdam, finding solace in the waterfront amid a turbulent family life. Fascinated by the undersea world, she becomes a marine biologist exploring ocean trenches and ancient life forms. When a newly discovered deep-sea vent in the Atlantic reveals inexplicable phenomena, Leigh's research leads her into a secretive space agency investigating anomalies at the edge of the solar system, linking oceanic and cosmic mysteries. As Leigh grapples with the choice between her family responsibilities and a groundbreaking space mission, the novel explores themes of evolution, the interconnectedness of life, and humanity’s place in the universe. Balancing scientific inquiry with psychological depth, it presents a profound vision of life’s origins and future, blending ecological thriller elements with speculative space exploration in a near-future setting.

Reviews
The Fiction Fox · 2025-09-06
ambitious 4.50

The novel is an ambitious literary and speculative fiction that addresses profound sci-fi questions through a personal lens, balancing the vastness of space and ocean with intimate human struggles.

The reviewer finds 'In Ascension' to be one of the most ambitious novels of the year, skilfully paralleling cosmic and oceanic vastness with the intimate and troubled memories of the protagonist's childhood. They highlight the novel's deep engagement with classic science fiction themes about origins and destiny, while grounding the story in Leigh's personal journey, making it a richly layered and human story amidst its speculative scope.

Quick quotes

    Spanning from the vastness of space and the abyssal deep-sea, to the claustrophobia of a tormented childhood.

    MacInnes takes on the classic central sci-fi questions of 'where did we come from and where do we go from here?'.

    What she finds instead calls into question everything we know about our own beginnings.

Shoreline of Infinity · 2025-09-06
thoughtful 4.00

The novel is praised for its high-quality writing and creative approach to human integration with the natural world, though the philosophical impact on readers is questioned.

The reviewer admires the novel's ambitious concept of a time-travel loop leading to the origin of life, executed with consistently high literary quality. However, they express some skepticism about whether the book effectively inspires the philosophical and practical shift in how we treat the biosphere that it aims for, suggesting that despite its artistic success, the book may not fully achieve its deeper activist intentions.

Quick quotes

    Has Martin MacInnes achieved ‘a case for full human integration in the natural world’? In SF terms, yes, certainly.

    The idea of a time-travel loop leading to the origin of life is not entirely new, but it’s never been done in quite this way.

    If I weren’t convinced that we do need to treat the biosphere with more respect, I doubt if *In Ascension* would convince me.

The Bottle Imp · 2025-09-06
intriguing 4.50

The novel boldly explores both the mysterious depths of the ocean and the vastness of space, blending scientific possibility with eerie, hallucinatory phenomena to create a sublime reading experience.

This review highlights the novel's compelling journey from the ocean floor to outer space, noting how Leigh's marine biology career unfolds amid extraordinary discoveries such as an abyss deeper than the Mariana Trench and a mysterious object in the solar system. The reviewer appreciates the novel's ability to weave scientific exploration with a sense of the supernatural, portraying the oceanic and cosmic mysteries as both awe-inspiring and disorienting, which adds a unique depth and intrigue to the narrative.

Quick quotes

    Leigh’s career as a marine biologist takes her to the floor of the Atlantic Ocean as she works on a vessel named the Endeavour.

    The light emissions appear hallucinatory and Leigh experiences a sensation which compares only with the sublime.

    Astronomers discover an anomalous, miles-wide and unidentifiable object moving through the solar system.

DeeDiReads · 2024-06-23
compelling 4.50

The writing is compelling and beautiful, simultaneously contemplating our place in the universe and our relationships with one another.

The reviewer was struck by the novel's ability to balance grand cosmic themes with intimate human connections. They found the writing to be both beautiful and compelling, creating a rich tapestry that invites deep reflection. The novel's exploration of our place in the universe is intertwined with a poignant examination of our relationships, making it a deeply moving read. They appreciated the way the story weaves together these themes without losing sight of the human element.

Quick quotes

    Beautifully, compellingly written, In Ascension simultaneously contemplates both our place in the universe and our relationships to one another.

    The novel's exploration of our place in the universe is intertwined with a poignant examination of our relationships.

    The writing is both beautiful and compelling, creating a rich tapestry that invites deep reflection.

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