Light

by M. John Harrison

Paperback, 336 pages

English language

Published 2013 by Orion Publishing Co.

ISBN:: 978-0-575-07403-3

On the barren surface of an asteroid, located deep in the galaxy beneath the unbearable light of the Kefahuchi Tract, lie three objects: an abandoned spacecraft, a pair of bone dice covered with strange symbols, and a human skeleton.

What they are and what they mean are the mysteries explored and unwrapped in LIGHT, M. John Harrison’s triumphant novel.

7 editions

Alex Morse reviewed Light by M. John Harrison (Kefahuchi Tract, #1)

Good prose, bad book

1 star

The characters are unlikable, which I've heard is the point. The plot where it is exists seems to be intentionally incoherent, and I see some people say that's the point. This makes it extra frustrating when you see the author has undeniable talent in prose, poetry, vibe, scene building...

I feel like this was written on a dare or because they lost a bet.

𝔏𝔲𝔠𝔞𝔰 reviewed Light by M. John Harrison

Lots of interesting and involving stuff going on, and well written—but I did not like its finale much.

4 stars

M. John Harrison's Light is a real blend of, and biting-of-thumb at, space opera, cyberpunk, horror. There are some parts of it that remind me of other space sci-fi (esp. Consider Phlebas; Harrison and Banks are friends and sometimes it feels like Harrison is poking at The Culture books specifically), but more thrilling, more clever—differently misogynist or uncomfortable in its use of race.

Odd to me that its ending seems to me to be treated with "no spoilers" kidgloves despite not being much of a solution or revelation, not promising greater plot or emotional consequence. So much of what drove me through it was its chaotic, hyper-charged far-future setting, its characters' deeply personal psycho-sexual problems—which are braided throughout the three stories, but just kinda left loose at its end? Even considered through the lens of a meta-textual argument about fantasies and "going deep," or of extreme dysmorphia and self-hatred, …

Unruly Stacks reviewed Light by M. John Harrison

Review of 'Light' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

The challenge for me here was the poetic underpinning. I found the nonsensical phrasing and open-ended scenes somewhat confusing, though I recognized how they served the tone of the story.

Daniel Andrlik reviewed Light by M. John Harrison

Review of 'Light' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

A brilliant novel with a fractal plot. It's rich with poetry and dream logic. You have to stop forcing into novel shape and go for the ride. This is really 4.5 stars for me, and I only take the 0.5 off for a minor issue I had with the conclusion.

Molly Foust reviewed Light by M. John Harrison

Review of 'Light' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Oneric, dark, original, imaginative and.. huh?.. I could describe this book, but what happened? I am not so sure. Apparently, a serial killer/quantam scientist is trailed through modern times by an alien god- like figure from the future, who misplaces his dice. There is a woman/spaceship, also a mass murder, who roams the galaxy of the future, snubbing some vague authority figures and reliving her memories of being human. There is a "tweek" guy, Ed Chainese, who is addicted to some sort of drug or virtual reality. He has lots of sex, runs from some cyberpunk witch sisters, then sticks his head into a fish tank on the suggestion of a mysterious circus director in order to be a prophet.
I am glad it is over. It would be a great book for the right reader, for me, I felt disconnected from the characters and a little too perplexed.