Gnomon

By: Nick Harkaway

Narrated by: Ben Onwukwe

A Best Science Fiction Book of 2017 - The Guardian

From the widely acclaimed author of The Gone-Away World and Tigerman, comes a virtuosic new novel set in a near-future, high-tech surveillance state that is equal parts dark comedy, gripping detective story, and mind-bending philosophical puzzle.

In the world of Gnomon, citizens are constantly observed and democracy has reached a pinnacle of "transparency". Every action is seen, every word is recorded, and the System has access to its citizens' thoughts and memories - all in the name of providing the safest society in history.

When suspected dissident Diana Hunter dies in government custody, it marks the first time a citizen has been killed during an interrogation. The System doesn't make mistakes, but something isn't right about the circumstances surrounding Hunter's death. Mielikki Neith, a trusted state inspector and a true believer in the System, is assigned to find out what went wrong.

Immersing herself in neural recordings of the interrogation, what she finds isn't Hunter but rather a panorama of characters within Hunter's psyche: a lovelorn financier in Athens who has a mystical experience with a shark; a brilliant alchemist in ancient Carthage confronting the unexpected outcome of her invention; an expat Ethiopian painter in London designing a controversial new video game, and a sociopathic disembodied intelligence from the distant future. Embedded in the memories of these impossible lives lies a code which Neith must decipher to find out what Hunter is hiding. In the static between these stories, Neith begins to catch glimpses of the real Diana Hunter - and, alarmingly, of herself. The staggering consequences of what she finds will reverberate throughout the world.

A dazzling, panoramic achievement, and Nick Harkaway's most brilliant work to date, Gnomon is peerless and profound, captivating and irreverent, as it pierces through strata of reality and consciousness and illuminates how to set a mind free. It is a truly accomplished novel from a mind possessing a matchless wit infused with a deep humanity.

©2018 Nick Harkaway (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Gnomon is an extraordinary novel, and one I can’t stop thinking about some weeks after I read it. It is deeply troubling, magnificently strange, and an exhilarating read.” (Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven)

“Opening a novel by Nick Harkaway feels like stepping into a theme park for the mind - every page you turn brings new delights for the mind and the senses. Gnomon is brilliant and terrifying, full of pleasures big and small. Basically, everything I want in a book.” (Charles Yu, author of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe)

“Beguiling, multilayered, sprawling novel that blends elements of Philip K. Dick-tinged sci-fi, mystery, politics, and literary fiction in a most satisfying brew.... Fans of Pynchon and William Gibson alike will devour this smart, expertly written bit of literary subversion.” (Kirkus, starred review)

It’s excellent.

It’s so refreshing. It’s smart and exciting. The characters are robust. What more could one want.

I’m starting another of Nick Harkaway’s books in 5 minutes.

P.S. the narrator is fantastic.

Complex story, if the narrator doesn’t lull you into sleep

I ended up reading the ebook because the narration was so dull I would listen for an hour and not be able to remember anything that happened.

Chicken Fight as Ersatz Intellectualism

Harkaway has a brilliant skill with complex ideas. His stories are multi-layered composites drifting dreamlike back and forth from one reality to another. This means that you must work hard to discern the story from the word salad. I imagine the thesaurus tab is always open, next to the Child's Guide to the Gods.
In any case, after a while you can recognize these side trips as the literary sounding equivalent of the chicken fight scenes in Family Guy, fun for a bit and then just tedious. But, as with Family Guy, you soon enough get back to the good stuff.
It's challenging to get through these novels and the writing at times borders on pretentious, but it's worth it for the ideas that are presented. I do wish he would dial back the chicken fights...

Confusing and impressive

It's hard to characterize this book. In many ways, it reminds me of some of Thomas Pynchonss oeuvre. I got lost sometimes, and drifted off sometimes, but I never considered giving up. I am in awe of the mind that created this novel.

I can't say enough good things about this book

imaginative. thought provoking. poetic. colorful. complex. brilliant. I listened to it twice and purchased the Kindle edition to read afterwards. one of the best novels i've ever read.

A lot to swallow

In the end, I’m glad I listened, glad I have this story in my head. There are chapters of brilliance (Ghost books! My gods I could dissect that concept for days.) and chapters so twisty and loosely held together that I maddeningly had to relisten again and again. This book is a commitment. It was worth my commitment.

Dizzyingly Complex

This is an extremely deep story. Sadly my mind is too shallow to follow it all the way down.

Hang On

Bizarre and imaginative, with a performance to match. I think I will re-listen to this one. Multiple narratives come together. Ben Onwukwe has such a resonating rich voice.

Headline

Full. Intellectual. Pleasing. Inspiring. Hopeful. Comedic. This title is definitely a reread. Enjoyed every moment.

Delightfully Deep Well

I Loved it, re-listening immediately. It is a many faceted 4D Mobius deep dive. Yum