Calypso

I was skeptical that I'd have the patience for an epic poem, but I was immediately engaged. Each character has a distinct style, and the verse adds an emotional and metaphorical layer to the narrative. It makes for a softer, dreamier, but perhaps more penetrating story that sings its speculations.

This is a generation colony ship sci-fi novel.

One of the first scenes introduces a Terra-formed Mars. The technological hurdles have been solved. Overcoming technical issues inherent in such a grand project is not the subject of this novel.

It is not nature but human nature Calypso struggles with.

What form should such a colony take? What toll will such a project take on its crew?

Calypso is also a literary experiment, giving different view point characters different literary styles. Including a view point written entirely in verse. I enjoyed this aspect and applaud the audiobook Producers for using distinct narrators for the different viewpoints.