Commentary/review

I often start to read but leave science fiction novels and sagas unfinished. They are usually too long, too self-important and inadequately heavy. This one I finished with gusto. It delivers the kind of entertainment one expects in a sci-fi novel. It is paced very evenly, tense scenes do not extend into infinity, fantastic ideas are kept within comprehension. Despite the title, the book does not attempt to be “grand”. The plot is roughly based upon the idea of scaling immense things down, not scaling small things up. It is a comforting, enjoyable premise, allowing the Author a lot of creative space.

I believe the book is not very well-known. It was first published in 2019 and as of 2025 has 4.35 stars on Goodreads. It is definitely worth a read, especially given the professional voice-acting performance by Vivienne Leheny (her presence the only reason I tried the book after all). It has female main characters but no LGBT+ themes.

A good cover, in the vintage style.

Cover Photo by Justin Mangano on Unsplash