Palimpsest

by Catherynne M Valente
Palimpsest cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Fantasy
Technical
  • ID: 4622
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-22
  • ISBN: 9780553385762
  • Publisher: National Geographic Books
  • Published: 2009-02-24
  • Reviews: 3

In Palimpsest, Catherynne M. Valente crafts a lyrical and intoxicating narrative that blurs the lines between life and death, dreaming and waking. The story revolves around the enigmatic city of Palimpsest, a place accessible only to those who believe in its existence. Marked by a map tattooed on their flesh after a single night of passion, four travelers—Oleg, November, Ludovico, and Sei—embark on a journey to this extraordinary realm, each seeking something lost. /n/n The city of Palimpsest is a place of wonders and horrors, filled with ghost trains, lion-priests, living kanji, and cream-filled canals. Valente's prose is rich with sensory detail and eroticism, creating a world that is both grotesque and beautiful. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the power of belief, making it a captivating read for those who enjoy immersive and imaginative storytelling.

Reviews
SFF Book Review · 2017-02-27
compelling 3.50

The book is challenging to read, with a disjointed beginning and diverse protagonists. However, the reviewer found the unique and bizarre nature of the book compelling.

This reviewer found Palimpsest to be a challenging read, particularly in the beginning, which they described as disjointed and confusing. They appreciated the diverse protagonists and the unique and bizarre nature of the book, which they found compelling. The reviewer also noted that the book does not follow classic rules of plot or character development, which they found refreshing and engaging. They appreciated the book's surreal and fantastic city, which they found to be a fascinating exploration of industrial revolution myths.

Quick quotes

    This isn't an easy book to read.

    The beginning especially feels disjointed, things don't make sense yet, the protagonists are wildly diverse and ...

    It's an adult fairy tale which does not follow any classic rules of plot or character development.

Elitist Book Reviews · Shawn · 2010-07-21
exquisite 4.00

The language is exquisite and beautifully crafted, making it a highlight of the book. The reviewer found the prose inadequate to describe but deeply moving.

Shawn from Elitist Book Reviews was particularly taken with the language of Palimpsest. They found themselves inadequately prepared to describe the beauty of Valente's prose, which they described as exquisite and beautifully crafted. The reviewer felt that the language alone made the book worth reading, and they were deeply moved by the poetic and evocative writing. They also appreciated the unique and bizarre nature of the book, which they found refreshing and engaging.

Quick quotes

    The best part about this book for me was the language.

    I find myself inadequately prepared to describe in words the beauty of Valente's prose.

    The language alone made the book worth reading.

Reddit - Fantasy · 2009-02-24
captivating 4.50

The prose is lyrical and captivating, with each character's unique obsession driving the narrative. The book's intricate world-building and poetic language make it a standout.

This reviewer was deeply impressed by the lyrical and gorgeous prose of Palimpsest. They found each character's arc fascinating, particularly how each person's obsession drove them. The reviewer loved the intricate world-building and the poetic language that made the book feel like a living, breathing entity. The reviewer also appreciated the unique and bizarre nature of the book, which they found refreshing and engaging.

Quick quotes

    The prose is lyrical and gorgeous.

    Each character's arc is fascinating, I loved how each person had their own obsession that drove them.

    The book's intricate world-building and poetic language make it a standout.

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