tl;dr: 3/5, twisting plot filled with time travel, philosophical & physical dilemmas against a backdrop of a global pandemic
Review
Emily St. John Mandel’s Sea of Tranquility explores time travel, existential questions, and the ripple effects of a pandemic. The story weaves together multiple characters, but Olive—a novelist on a book tour for her fictional pandemic novel—stands out. As she travels, a real viral outbreak unfolds, and Gaspery, a fugitive from the Time Institute, attempts to alter history by warning her.
I found myself bouncing off this novel, partly due to summer distractions, but also because I never felt fully immersed. The COVID-19 influences are clear, and while the concept is compelling (I love time travel and sci-fi), the execution didn’t quite hook me. The narrative is clever, but I struggled to connect with the characters and the story’s emotional core.
If you’re interested in pandemic fiction or philosophical sci-fi, it’s worth a look. For me, it didn’t leave a lasting impression, perhaps a different season or mood would have changed my experience.