Summerland by Hannu Rajaniemi

Posted on by Lashaan Balasingam @ Roars and Echoes
summerland_coverTitle: Summerland
Series: No
Author(s): Hannu Rajaniemi
Publisher: Tor Books
Format: ARC
Release Date: June 26th 2018
Pages: 480
Genre(s): Science Fiction, Espionage
ISBN13: 9781250178923
My Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

There’s always something intimately satisfying in picking up a book that jolts your mind with refreshing ideas that only seemed inconceivable at first. Author of the critically-acclaimed Jean le Flambeur trilogy Hannu Rajaniemi returns for a stand-alone espionage story infused with a whole dose of science fiction in Summerland. Pulsating with passion and creativity, this story is the very archetype of what novelty is all about. Far from being a story focused on a typical narrative structure with an exposition that leads to a resolution, this is a story that proudly waves its firm grasp on ideas that could only have been thoroughly thought through by Hannu Rajaniemi himself.

Summerland takes place in an alternate 1938 reality where the afterlife is not a thing of fiction anymore. Following this discovery, the British Empire has expanded their power by creating a metropolis for the deceased called the Summerland. Based on a meritocracy where only those who possess a Ticket before death can access the afterlife, the world no longer revolves around the same principles as it once did. On the brink of what is to be known as the Spanish Civil War, SIS agent Rachel White however finds herself befuddled in front of an unexpected lead regarding a Soviet mole. In order to catch said spy, she will have to go through loops that will force her to do things she never thought she would.

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At heart, Summerland is an espionage story set in a world with its own rules, norms and secrets. With a woman as a lead protagonist, you can quickly comprehend the extensive strain put upon her shoulder to always perform and outdo others, while also always having the short end of the stick no matter how well she does. Her gender plays a crucial role throughout the story and is a major element to Hannu Rajaniemi’s story as it highlights the means that she will need to mull over if she wants to reach the ends she so desperately needs to reach. Although her character isn’t easy to connect with, she effortlessly captures the essence of being a spy and the difficult choices she needs to make if she wants to strive in her business.

While the spy story is the foundation of Summerland, I found myself appreciating this novel much more for its jaw-dropping conceptualization of the afterlife. In fact, my immersion was completely due to Hannu Rajaniemi’s unbelievable world-building. The ways he finds to include ectoplasm within his story and to form a whole science behind it is one of the most stunning innovation I’ve read in a while. With a whole system in place to cover any possible plot holes to his creation, he cleverly brings to life a universe where the dead are still alive, and very capable of interacting with the living thanks to ectophones and mediums. Even emotions and thoughts don’t limit themselves to the mind and body as they break loose and become much more malleable after dead, requiring even more mastery of one’s self, especially within the world of spies.

Summerland is an idea given a new lease of life. Despite its story being conventional in the espionage genre, its concepts of afterlife rejuvenates it to offer a stunning and impeccable world that only the mind can fancy. It might not be the most accessible story that you could pick up, but it is without a doubt enthralling and authentic.

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Thank you Raincoast Books and Tor Books for sending me a copy for review!
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Published by Lashaan Balasingam @ Roars and Echoes

Reader. Reviewer. Researcher. Criminology Ph.D. Candidate. Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Want to know more? Connect with him!

34 thoughts on “Summerland by Hannu Rajaniemi”

    1. Sounds like someone is keeping track of reviews for this title to later decide if it’s worth testing out or not. 😀 Thanks man. I like the ideas he comes up with and how he executes them. Looking forward to more of his stuff.

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      1. Joelendil reviewed this too and the question I asked, he said it was actually a main part of the story.
        So if I can ask a question and the author is thinking on the same lines, chances are pretty good we’ll think enough alike that I can enjoy the book.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. I love that they’ve metropolised the afterlife and the idea of needing a “ticket”. It’s really interesting that it’s an espionage story as, I feel that I would be focused on the descriptions of this afterlife more as well! I’ll definitely have to read this one!

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    1. Right? It’s a wonderful system that really leaves a lot of things to be explored by the reader, and that’s exactly what happened for me. I got immersed in the world and was amazed at all the little details regarding the afterlife and how it worked that I almost forgot it was an espionage story in the first place hahah Glad to hear your interest in it!! 😀

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  9. Hmm, I am so torn on this one. I love the concept surrounding the afterlife and the alternate reality, but am so not a fan of spy and espionage stories. Which sounds like still remains the core to this. I may have to keep it “closely” on the back burner. Wonderful review Lashaan!

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    1. I assure you that the afterlife in this story and how it blends into the real world is some of the best world-building I’ve seen! But you’ll have to have a tolerance or love for espionage/spy stories or else you’re likely to struggle with it. Hopefully some day you’ll have the chance to try it out yourself. 😉 Thanks for reading, Danielle!

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  11. You seem to read a ton of books i’ve never even heard about! This sounds pretty cool, even tho i don’t usually like stories set that far in the past. I have made an exception with this and added it on my tbr 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Bahahah It is my pleasure to help you discover them all! 😉 I like to go with the flow and pick up the books that sound awesome, and often the authors are pretty popular too. Super glad to hear that you’ll be giving it a shot someday. Hope you’ll love it, Norrie! 😀

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    1. Ahhh, you’ll definitely feel that the mere thought of equality between sexes is taboo here. It’s why having her as a protagonist AND a spy makes it so fascinating. Everything becomes so much more challenging and impossible for her.

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    1. Hahah odd, right? It is a spy story first, before all the afterlife stuff enriches it all. I was just so amazed by the concept and how it develops it to appreciate the spy stuff. It was just that good. 😀

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