A spy story set in a world with access to a kind of afterlife. Although not all mechanisms are fully known or explained, they add enough complexity to make the intrigues more complex and more baroque. Using some historical names in contexts very different than original adds to the style of the book. The characters feel strong and real, even if their (sometimes traumatic experiences) are related to the fictional mechanisms. More clear and understandable than other works of the same author which shows good versatility and skill. ( )

I had never heard of or read anything by Hannu Rajaniemi until I received a copy of his latest work, 'Summerland'. Looking up his name, one of his novels, 'Quantum Thief', showed up and yes, that cover rang a bell.

'Summerland' is a novel of various aspects: historical fiction, uchronic, spy-novel, ... The story is set in 1938, before World War II and during the Spanish Civil War with Franco, who's firmly ruling his country. However, the story is not an exact retelling of history, but a uchronic version, a "what if?". Great Britain and the Soviet Union are the sole, grand political powers in Europe. France and Germany don't play a role, or rather a minor one.

The British discovered a parallel world, Summerland, one where deceased people can continue their lives whilst keeping the age they had when they died in the real world. However, one must be of proper descent to have the means (vim, luz, etc.) to survive in that world; when those are depleted, one "dissipates" if personal levels are not recharged. To have access to that world, one needs a Ticket. Such souls can return to the real world via the bodies of real people, who offer their services as host; a sort of crown/halo serves as connector. Connection with Summerland occures via ecto products: ectophone, ectomail, ectotanks, ... Everything is 'ecto' in Summerland. As mentioned on Wikipedia: "(...) a prefix from Greek έκτός (ektós) meaning 'outside'."

The Soviet Union, Great Britian's enemy, also wishes to explore that world, but GB will do everything in its power to prevent that. Hence Rachel, working for the Winter Court, having to investigate the suspicious activity, as spies of the Summer Court have entered Summerland. Unfortunately, it was very unclear to me what these courts were, who/what was Winter Court, who/what was Summer Court, what they represented. If I recall correctly, this was not explained in the story. As Genesis used to sing: Land of Confusion. And there's more that soon enough became blurred for me: the various characters and who's who.

While a wide range of characters comes along, including political figures, you have to keep your mind to it, as there is no dramatis personae. Not every name is mentioned often enough. Some examples: C (which is a pseudonym, the real name was mentioned only a few times), Unschlicht, Shpiegelglass, West (prime minister?), ... Their names are mentioned a few times, though without a proper explanation of their roles. Especially later in the story such reminders are vital, yet very much absent. And they're all men, as you can see. It was a men's world, women were regarded as inferior. Rachel had to work harder than her male counterparts/colleagues. Not that she had other battles to fight, like her husband suffering from shell shock or generally described, his experiences in World War I. He can't and doesn't want to explain it to her, even refuses help. In the end, he'll even go back to the army to fight, the urge is too big. The late George Carlin once used Joe's condition in one of his performances. See here.

Rachel's and Peter's story lines will ultimately come together in a sort of all's well that ends well. And yet...

I may have overlooked something, maybe some actions/events went over my head - I won't deny that external circumstances might have influenced my reading, but still... -, maybe something was lost in translation - I did find the style a little burdensome, to be honest -, but I had a hard time "seeing" what was going on, connecting the dots, and why Spain was important. Apparently (as read in an other review), the British were not sure whether to root for Franco or for Joseph Stalin, who saw his political ambitions thwarted by Lenin, therefore seeing Spain's situation as a new opportunity.

Long story short: The original premise of a parallel world influencing the real world looked very interesting, I even thought of Iain Pears's recommended 'Arcadia' (see my review here). Unfortunately, how Mr Rajanimi put his story to paper didn't really convince me, despite my liking for historical fiction and uchronic stories. A proper explanation of the various characters, a little more (historical) background information on the political events, and other details would have made 'Summerland' all the more attractive, in my humble opinion.

P.S.: For an excellent novel set during the Spanish Civil War, even if it's an allegory, I recommend Terre de sang et de sueur (La Machine, #1) by the Belgian author with Spanish roots, Katia Lanero Zamora. See my review here. Book 2 is to see the light of day in spring 2023.

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I was sent this book by Éditions ActuSF for review. Many thanks to them for the trust. ( )

Steam punk spy story ( )

Amazing worldbuilding. I mean seriously, he has thought this one through!

But it is TOO SHORT. The main plot is a more than little cliche and is only a device to introduce the many mindblowing ideas. Any of whom I would've enjoyed reading more about, but the book progresses too quickly for that.

4 stars in the hope that this is an appetizer, not an entree. ( )

3 and a half stars. set in an alternate 1938, spiritualism has discovered the secrets of the afterlife, and in London MI6 has used them to create a necropolis of the elite dead, Summerland, available to those who have tickets. meanwhile the Spanish Civil War continues, the second World War approaches, and various double agents jostle to support Stalin or some other figure. it's ambitious and ingenious, and yet it all feels a bit drab, more muted than the subject matter suggests, perhaps because it also adopts the style of a period spy novel. ( )