Louise Löwenspets

Not much like the TV-show based on this book, but that in my opinion did not matter. I really liked the TV-show and I really liked this book, even though they use the same premise and develop it very differently.

The book focuses on the research team at CERN who believe they inadvertently caused the whole of humanity to get a vision of 20 years hence. During this vision everybody lost consciousness causing among other things plane and car crashes and a huge loss of life.

Much of the book focuses on the science and everyone trying to figure out what happened and then in good scientific fashion trying to recreate the experiment.

But we also have time to look at some of the characters' reactions and thoughts as to what they saw in their visions. Is it worth it to put time into a relationship you know won't last? Why did some people not see anything? Is the future fixed?

I found the story to be really intriguing and it had me hooked from start to finish (read it in one sitting).

Humanity has ventured outside of our solar system for the first time. Unfortunately we are still humans and we seem to have a tendency to bring out the worst in each other when given the opportunity.We will still be petty even when we have reached, and started to colonise, space. Thousands of new worlds have opened up to humanity thanks to the gate opened in [b:Abaddon's Gate 16131032 Abaddon's Gate (Expanse, #3) James S.A. Corey https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388202946s/16131032.jpg 17606564]. The first of these new planets about to be officially colonized by humans have already been settled by a group of Belters looking for a new home. Since they don't have an official approval to settle on said planet the company who does, wishes them to leave. Before they can sit down and resolve this some of the Belters blow up the landing pad and an incoming shuttle.To stop this from escalating James Holden and the Rocinante is sent in as mediators. And there may be something left behind by the aliens, who built the gate and the protomolecule, still on the planet.The book is a really great read, one that's hard to put down because you have to know what will happen next. Even if you hate the description of some of the humans actions because it seems far too likely that those would be the actions of some of us.There are bright points though. The crew of the Rocinante is still trying to do the right thing even if it costs them, and not every human in the book is looking out only for themselves (or their employer). Several people realise that maybe, working together is the better solution to their problems.The fact that the planet is located 18 months travel away from Earth also gives everything a more urgent feeling. Help won't be able to get there in a timely manner. When things go wrong they only have each other to lean on. Which you think they would do...Hmm, not a very coherent review.

A few of the stories left me with a feeling of ‘meh' but for the most part I really liked these stories.
Several of them were pure fluff, a few had a bit more fodder for thought.

This is a strange mix of [b:Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch 12067 Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch Terry Pratchett https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1392528568s/12067.jpg 4110990], The Truman Show and [b:Redshirts 13055592 Redshirts John Scalzi https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348617890s/13055592.jpg 18130445]. And when I say strange I mean strange, but in a really good and fun way.People who can't laugh at Christianity or [a:L. Ron Hubbard 33503 L. Ron Hubbard https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1195072218p2/33503.jpg] should probably steer clear though.

Rating is for The Darkest Angel only.