Book Review | Ascension by Nicholas Binge

The sudden appearance of an enormous snow-covered mountain leads a group of scientists to investigate this strange phenomenon. But the higher they go, the less things make sense. Time moves differently, their memories jumble, and a slithering creature lurks in the shadows. This expedition will threaten not just their physical selves but their minds, as they search for answers and the key to humanity’s survival.

Perhaps his work had driven him to madness and these letters were nothing more than the final ramblings of a lunatic.

But perhaps there is also truth to them.

Ascension has influences from the films Arrival and Interstellar, with a dash of Lovecraft, C.S. Lewis, and Greek mythology. To me, it resulted in an identity crisis. On one hand, it wants to dive into philosophical discussions of faith and humanity along with metaphysical concepts of different dimensions. On the other, it’s a bunch of people shooting at creatures while trading dialogue straight out of a campy horror B-movie. Both sides don’t mesh well, leading to an uneven tone throughout the book. The story is framed in an epistolary format that doesn’t work as well as it should because the main character is writing to his young niece but the content is frankly not suitable for a child.

The main character is Harold Tunmore, a former medical doctor now a renowned physicist who is compelled to join the expedition because he found out one of the people there is his ex-wife, Naoko. There’s a dark history between them and their flashbacks to me are the best parts of the book because they feel genuine and painful in ways that matter. He is forced to reckon with his choices and why he is the way he is. His encounter with other characters in the expedition provide interesting conflicts where difficult choices must be made.

But that human connection is swallowed by the gigantic, larger-than-life ideas that lead to an absurd third act. One late reveal of an antagonist is quite laughable, like a juvenile joke that doesn’t land. The book seems intent on asking questions – about free will, predeterminism, religion, time – but doesn’t want to settle one way or the other. I’m left pondering what could have been.

Ascension bites more than it can chew, but its sincere complexity will appeal to die-hard fans of speculative thrillers.

I received a copy from the publisher and Times Reads for review purposes.

About the author: Nicholas Binge

Cover photo by Paxton Woebler