Ajax Penumbra 1969

3.5 stars

In principle, recommended to anyone who loves books and likes reading about the love of books. In practice, probably more satisfying to people who've already read the companion novel (which was written first, but whose events follow the novella's chronologically); this is more of an origin story than a full-fledged, standalone story. All that said, I found it a very fun read, and at this length it only took about 90 minutes to whip through, and I'm eager to read he companion novel. Do with that what you will.

Ajax Penumbra is a reserved, unassuming, WYSIWYG kind of guy, saddled with a very weighty name that says a lot more about his parents than it does about him--which he knows, and which Robin Sloane is sure to explain to readers in detail. But like a lot of reserved, unassuming, WYSIWYG people, he loves books, and that love of books opens up a world he never knew existed and gets him into an adventure taking him to the libraries, shadowy bookstores, and BART tunnels (currently under construction) of 1969 San Francisco.

There are several interesting ideas that I reflected on as I read--the function and social role of libraries vs bookstores, what "value" means relative to historical artifacts, the quirky side effects of radical technological progress; quite a lot, really, for a little book. There is also a handful of fun characters, though in such limited space they aren't terribly well developed. I suspect at least some of them make a bigger appearance in the companion novel.

Full disclosure: I received this book as part of a First Reads giveaway. The opinion expressed is my own.