The Book Nook

Transcending Space and Time “The Vanished Birds” by Simon Jimenez is a beautifully written debut novel with a central theme of human connections.  While classified as science fiction, there’s a strong emphasis on people making heart-wrenching decisions with time and space playing integral roles. The story starts on a backwater planet where a ship carrying a small crew lands every fifteen years to collect the planet’s harvest.  The visitors stay only a few days before heading to their next stop and the occasion is marked with feasts and a celebratory air.  One of the planet’s inhabitants is Kaeda, a young boy excited about getting his first glimpse of humans.  When they arrive, he receives an unexpected gift from the ship’s captain, Nia Imani, and the two share an undefinable yet special connection.  Over time Kaeda will come to feel that the visits are too short and the wait between them too long. Thanks to a special technology that allow ships to travel faster than the speed of light by “folding” space, that same span of time is perceived much differently by Nia.  As she completes the cycle of planets to pick up and deliver goods, 15 years seems only like a few months.  The downside to condensed time is that everyone she knows beyond her crew has aged past her and are dead, leaving work the only consistent thing in her life. We also meet Fumiko Nakajima, a gifted engineer whose creativity will be crucial to humankind’s future.  That’s because Earth is no longer habitable and people must live elsewhere.  Some of Fumiko’s designs are patterned loosely after birds she once saw but which no longer exist, hence the book’s title.  Her brilliance is such that major career achievements are possible for such an ingenious person, but, like Nia, the choices she makes will have consequences. Finally, there’s a silent, unnamed boy who literally falls from the sky on Kaeda’s world.  He’s drawn to music, but is either unable or unwilling to explain his abrupt and seemingly impossible appearance.  His mysterious presence upsets Kaeda’s people and a solution must be found quickly to prevent trouble.  As the plot unfolds, we learn the reason for his silence and observe how his presence affects others. Difficult choices and the question of whether they can learn from their mistakes will repeatedly come into play for many of the characters as they navigate their personal and professional lives.  One will have a special talent that will be coveted and sought after, although none will be prepared for the dramatic conclusion in this thought-provoking tale. The book is divided into three sections that differ vastly from each other.  The first almost reads like a collection of short stories, albeit fascinating ones that are discernible from the others.  The second section resembles the first in that each chapter focuses on a different character, but differs in that there’s a more cohesive timeline.  The third and final segment follows one plot and timeline regardless of the voice.  While reading the third segment, I sometimes felt the pacing was rushed or too slow and there was a slightly disorienting feel from the differing section styles. That aside, there is much to recommend this novel, such as the excellent characterizations.  Each voice is distinct and given equal weight to the others.  There aren’t so many individuals that the book feels overpopulated, but enough to provide variety.  While I craved additional details to help me connect more strongly with the characters, I did enjoy the author’s exploration of the complex emotional aspect of humanity.   The portrayal of Captain Nia as someone unmoored by time was well done, as was the aspect of connections made and lost. There is a fine balance between ideas and emotion and Jimenez’s purposeful writing includes bird imagery that help those ideas soar.  He gives us a cautionary tale that addresses many issues – some topical and some eternal, such as how far greed will drive some and whether it justifies any means.  Also examined are the bonds we make and break with others and how we struggle with agonizing decisions.  All serve to provide a sometimes melancholy yet always thought-provoking look into the distant future. The prose is confident and the story richly-imagined and moving.  The author pays attention to the world-building aspect, delivering a powerful message about consequence, the complexity of relationships and the importance of family.  There’s an imaginative structure to the journey into time and space and will be appreciated by those who like stimulating fiction or a promising new voice. It will also appeal to science fiction fans who dislike authors who overexplain their worlds, leaving enough out to allow their imagination to fill in as needed.  It will also appeal to those who enjoy books with strong themes about love and family. The intelligent writing made enough of an impact that I’ll be watching for future works by Simon Jimenez, a contemplative and gifted author.