The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler is a piece of speculative fiction that delves into the world of interspecies communication, synthetic minds, and what it means to be a conscious being amidst a strange and often dangerous world. i’m reminded of Dune and The People in the Trees—two excellent works of fiction—and i am delighted. 

a triumphant exploration of a potential future, The Mountain in the Sea takes the isolation and indifference of our present day and amplifies it tenfold. every part of this novel fits together like a sprawling puzzle that, in the end, depicts a startling commentary on loneliness, accountability, and hope. i was unable to put this down; i quickly became lost in its technologically advanced world.

Nayler’s writing is utterly transfixing. there is a rhythm in his words, a poetry in his details. the key point of his writing, and the novel in general, is an overwhelming sense of empathy and love. this is not just a story about an intelligent species of octopus—it is a story about humanity’s persistent need for connection. it is a story about how, despite this need, it is also humanity’s greatest fear.