This is a huge science fiction book in every sense of the word. At almost 900 pages, the girth of this volume holds up against anything in the doorstop fantasy genre. More importantly, the story is as large as the length. Paolini spans worlds, races, and even humanity in his first foray into science fiction.

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars has a couple things going for it. The science part of the science fiction is fully realized and believable—especially the Markov drive and superluminal travel. These science fiction elements facilitate masterful plot development.

If there’s a drawback to be found it’s in the character development. I can see how Paolini tried to show the emotional growth of the heroine, Kira Navárez, but her response to massive traumatic events (or lack thereof) felt artificial at times. Perhaps this is a consequence of the move from young adult fiction (The Inheritance Cycle) to adult science fiction.

Read To Sleep in a Sea of Stars for a whirlwind thrill ride. This is an action film waiting to happen.

Paolini, Christopher. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. TOR, 2020. Epub.