Imagine waking on board a space ship, centuries after entering cryostasis, on the bring of creating a new world. Your role has changed, become mythical, and in your absence, a war has shaken the ship. Meet the Calypso, orbiting a new world about to become home to a new colony. Langmead's novel-in-prose is stunningly innovative, although elements at the end betray its edge. Thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have not read many novels-in-verse, but the ones I have read I often found very touching. It is always a bit of a struggle, to calm the prose-focused, information-driven mind to actually take in the melody of verse, its ebbing and flowing. (Look at me waxing lyrical myself!) However, for a novel like Calypso, which very much wants to have a debate about nature and humanity, this format works incredibly well. I was also impressed by the choice to have the verse change format on the page. Each narrator's verse looks different, flows differently, in the layout, which, along with different rhyme schemes, makes each voice incredibly distinct. I'm always here for novels which do something new and interesting, not for the sake of being edgy, but because it serves the story best. And that is true for Calypso. While the verse and layout may prove a hurdle to reading at the beginning, do not let it discourage you. It is the best way for this story to be told, if you open up to it.

Rochelle awakes aboard the Calypso, alone. Stumbling through the enormous ship, she finds Catherine, a bio-engineered, enhanced human who will bring nature to the new planet. Also on the ship is Sigmund, the one who planned all this and who set their course for this new planet. Aboard the ship are also countless other people, who have watched over them, kept the ship in shape, and dreamed of their arrival. But these others will not be the colonists, they will never step foot onto this new Earth. Instead, in bio-wombs, the colonists await their awakening. Each of our three main characters has a task. Sigmund, the creator, Catherine, the natural catalyst, and Rochelle, she who will question Sigmund's master plan. Calypso is told through each of their perspectives, including that of a fourth, the The Herald, a position inherited across centuries by the people aboard the Calypso, who recounts tales and history. Each of their POVs has a different verse format, as explained above. Because of being told in verse, you don't necessarily get the same insight into the characters' interior thoughts as one is used to from prose. Rochelle, of whom we see most, reminisces a lot, and through her memories of Earth, we must puzzle together her thoughts now. Admittedly it was Catherine who I found most interesting, human and yet not, life bringer and sacrifice. Sigmund remains distant, slightly unknowable, throughout.

As I mentioned above, I was highly impressed with how innovative the form of this novel was, and also of the choices Langmead makes, which separate Calypso from other Sci-Fi I've read lately. The concept of the novel, of a colony ship, the making of a new planet, the conflicts spanning centuries, it was all stunning to me. Once I got used to the format of the verse, I also enjoyed it very much and let myself really sink into it emotionally. Rather than looking for explanations and info, I looked for meaning in the verse, its sounds, and that gave me a very touching experience. One thing I had mild issues with, or perhaps I should say one thing that surprised me, was the rather strong religious tone that came through at the end. Rochelle, as the guiding thread of the novel, is Christian and her faith in an un-altered body is combined with a faith in a benevolent, guiding God. As she finds herself witnessing the birth of a new planet and a new peoples, some metaphors become overtly Christian. Despite being Christian myself, it struck an odd note for me and it might for other readers as well. The struggle becomes one between technology and faith, seemingly, and I didn't know how far I agreed with this opposition. However, I'm still giving this novel four starts for its ingenuity and form, even if its (seeming?) message was not one I fully agreed with.

Calypso is a stunning novel-in-verse, an exciting Sci-Fi story that encourages conversations about humanity, nature, and our impact on our surroundings. While I didn't necessarily enjoy the direction it took toward the end, I found it a rewarding read.

Just when you think you have come across every possible version and trope of the generation ship science fiction sub-genre along comes a book like Calypso by Olive K Langmead to shake the genre up. Written as a series of differently styled epic-poems, Calypso not only tells a fascinating story but raises some deep philosophical issues about the ethics of this form of space travel and colonisation.

Calypso opens with the names of four characters – Rochelle, Catherine, Sigmund and The Herald. Each has a very different role and a different style of narration, a different poetic form. The main narrative is told by Rochelle – employed by Sigmund for the journey specifically to question his decisions she has left her young family behind to be part of this multi-generational experiment. Rochelle awakens from a centuries-long sleep to find that they have arrived at their destination but her fellow engineers have all disappeared – the only three that remain are herself, Sigmund and Catherine, a bioengineer with very specific talents. The ship itself is run by a neo-primitive society led The Herald although Rochelle soon finds that there has been a schism some time in the distant past, the effects of which are still being felt.

To say much more about Calypso would be to spoil some of the fascinating, thought provoking and surprising roads that it goes down. It opens with some puzzles but as it solves them opens out into the ethical and philosophical conundrums that lie beneath them. And beneath it all is the question of whether we can leave our basic humanity behind. What is the psychological and social baggage that humans carry with them and is it possible to start again with a clean slate?

And Langmead does this all if different, engaging poetic registers. While all four are different probably the most bravura section of the text is The Herald’s retelling of the voyage of the Calypso and the internecine battle that took place halfway through the centuries-long voyage as an epic poem:

The expanse a vibrant void
bejewelled Aglitter with radiant
stars afire Was sweet
Calypso’s celestial sea Bright
With heavenly beacons to
guide her So small she
spun in interstellar space

Although close behind is the section which describes the terraforming of the new planet by Catherine using technology built into her body in text that creates pattern on the page:

…., we catalyse the island
the river blooms green and purple, flecks caught up in the wind
around our feet grasses rise, slicing our skin, drawing our fertile blood
which blossoms into flowers around us, winding themselves around our ankles
trees gushing upwards, gushing towards the sky so quick they twist, crackle creak
all that was dark and cold and wet now green but not just green, white and yellow and red

In a genre awash with authors recycling the same ideas it is increasingly rare to come across something that takes this subject matter and makes it wholly new. That gives readers another way to look at the tropes and ideas inherent in the concept of multi-generational journeys to colonise distant stars. Langmead’s Calypso surprises not just in its form but in its approach to the ethical, moral and social issues inherent in this kind of endeavour.

3.5

“Our world is a star-ship between the stars; Our world is its corridors and alcoves;
Our world is pipes and bulkheads and windows;
Our world is our memories and beliefs;
Our world is our tradition and patience;
Our world is diligence and oversight;
Our world is this crew, each other, always….

The new world will be a new paradise,
But I tell you now, my beloved crew,
That we have already made paradise,
Here, on the Calypso, with each other.”

Calypso is probably one of the most unique books I’ve ever written, an ambitious and creatively executed sci-fi novel-in-verse. There are several distinct writing styles, with each of the four characters having a different style and format. Even the way the words are set on each page changes based on the PoV, and I found it fascinating to read a story where the format and meter and even word positioning are so precise.

I would almost count the unique formatting as both a positive and a negative. While it made for a completely singular reading experience, it also made the book a bit difficult to get through. There isn’t a straightforward narrative, and the poetic nature of the books leads to it relying heavily on the reader’s imagination and reflection. There are many ideas that are explored and described in such a way that there are pages and pages on end of sensory input with no plot development. While I was okay with this, I have a feeling many readers might find themselves skimming to get to the next place where characters are doing something rather than just thinking about something.

The actual premise was fascinating, though I will say it wasn’t until around halfway through the book that I was truly invested in where it was going and what would happen. The world building and background happen very gradually, so the beginning of the book had me questioning what was actually happening and why. I absolutely loved the middle sections, though I’m still undecided if I enjoyed how the book ended.

There were several interesting themes and topics brought up for consideration, including what it means to be human, whether knowing history can prevent us from repeating it, and who gets to decide what a “new world” should look and feel like. Some of these were examined in great depth, but there were others that remained only surface level. I wish we’d gone more into some of the character motives for important plot pointsz

In short, this is a very experimental and ambitious piece of literature. It was beautiful and lush at every turn, and if you love poetry this may be an excellent read for you! If you’re looking for a quirky or fun space opera though, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.

Calypso by Oliver K. Langmead is a novel that stands out for its uncommon approach to storytelling, blending science fiction with poetic verse to create a truly unique reading experience. I've seen several reviews say that they DNF'd it due to the way it's written in verse, but I personally believe they are missing out on an incredible reading experience. While it was definitely difficult to get into at first, it only took a few pages for me to get into the rhythm. In my opinion, the verse novel format enriches the story spectacularly, allowing for a captivating exploration of themes such as nature versus technology and the ethics of colonization.

The story starts off aboard the colony ark Calypso, where the protagonist, Rochelle, awakens from cryostasis to a ship transformed into a lush forest, far from the technological utopia she expected. The ship’s interior has been overtaken by nature, and the crew is divided by their visions for the future: the engineers desire a world built on technology, while the botanists wish for a planet blooming with untouched plant life. The story is told through the perspectives of four characters: Rochelle, Catherine the botanist, Arthur the engineer, and a mysterious figure known as The Herald. Each character’s point of view is presented in a distinct style, even down to the visual layout of words on the page.

While some readers may find the non-traditional format challenging, others will likely find Calypso to be a rewarding experience. The novel’s beauty lies not only in its lyrical prose but also in its ability to provoke thought and stir emotions. It’s a testament to Langmead’s skill as a writer and his ability to push the boundaries of genre fiction.

In conclusion, Calypso is a beautifully crafted verse novel that offers a fresh perspective on science fiction. Its blend of poetic language and speculative ideas makes it a standout work that invites readers to ponder the possibilities of human existence and the future of our species. It is truly a memorable addition to the genre, and even as someone who does not usually delve into science fiction, I was captivated by Calypso.

The nitty-gritty: Unusual formatting, a captivating story and distinct character voices make Calypso a unique treat for sci-fi fans who are looking for something different.

Novels in verse require an extra level of attention from the reader, but they can be so rewarding if the author knows what they are doing. Case in point, Oliver K. Langmead has the skills to pull it off (and he’s done it in the past with Dark Star), and so I wasn’t surprised that Calypso turned out to be a unique and memorable reading experience. Much like reading Shakespeare, it takes a little effort to pull the story out of the verse format, but once the plot of Calypso emerged, I was completely sucked in. I will mention, though, that it’s better to pick up a copy of the finished hardcover, since I started reading a digital version and struggled a little until I switched over. Bonus, the hardcover is simply gorgeous (with full color end papers) and worth every penny.

The story follows Rochelle, an engineer who has been chosen as part of the crew of the Calypso, a generation ship headed to a distant planet. The mastermind behind the Calypso is Arthur Sigmund, who has traveled all over the galaxy and has seen first hand that no matter how many times we try to start over—colonizing Mars or the Moon or Venus—humanity's problems inevitably follow us wherever we go. Calypso’s goal is to start fresh: seed a new planet from scratch and populate it with humans grown in vats, cryo-frozen on the ship for centuries until the planet is ready for them to emerge. The engineers and other crew members will facilitate this ambitious plan, each with their own important job to do.

But when Rochelle finally awakens from her own cryo-sleep, centuries after leaving Earth, the ship is in shambles. Most of the engineers have disappeared except for a few: a bioengineer named Catherine and Sigmund. Sigmund tells Rochelle that a "schism" has occurred while they were sleeping, and a rebel group has split off from the crew. Despite this, those left still have an important job to do, as they have come so far and sacrificed so much.

The plot is fairly straightforward, but what really gives the story depth are the flashbacks, where we learn more about the characters and why they decided to leave their lives behind. Rochelle’s story is particularly emotional, because she left her two young children, Benson and Ciara, in order to take the job of a lifetime. Now, I don’t get it either. I’m a mother and I would never in a million years leave my children to go on a one way trip to another planet. But if Rochelle hadn’t left, the story wouldn’t have the same emotional impact. In the first chapter, we see her say goodbye for the last time, and folks, I was in tears. Later after she wakes up, she muses on what her children’s lives might have been like. Because yes, centuries have passed and they—and their children and grandchildren—are dead. Eventually Sigmund gives Rochelle a precious gift relating to her children, and I cried all over again.

In addition to Rochelle’s chapters, we get narratives from Catherine, Sigmund and a man called the herald. Catherine is a fascinating character. She’s not quite human (and you’ll understand when you read about her adventure), and her purpose is to seed the new planet and create a flourishing world full of trees, flowers, rivers and animals. Her chapters are quite different, not only in tone (more fantasy than science fiction), but in the way the pages are formatted. Her story is a strange one for sure, but also very beautiful.

Then we have the herald, who was caught up in the revolt on board the Calypso and has an epic story to tell. Later, he tells that story to Rochelle, who is still very much in the dark at this point, having slept though all the excitement. The herald’s chapter/tale reads like epic fantasy, full of bloody battles and dramatic action, and I’ll admit I found it thrilling. We learn what happened to the rebels, and I loved the idea that so much went on while the engineers slept.

Sigmund makes a shocking decision at the end of the story, although it was his plan all along. I found the last chapter to be surprising and emotional and perhaps a bit over the top, but who cares, it worked for me. The last few pages were pure magic, as Rochelle finally seems to have come to terms with her past decisions. Thoughtful, poignant and stirring, Calypso is a book you need to experience.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

A uniquely, weirdly beautiful book
This is a unusual quirky novel, looking at a young woman who has travelled on a spaceship to a distant planet with plans to make that planet habitable. She wakes up initially, only finding two other people on the spaceship, and the story progresses from here
I liked the way the pages were set up in the Kindle and the artwork. It’s always good to know when you’re reading an electronic version what exactly the book will look like in physical form, but if it’s anything like this, it will be extremely pretty.
The formatting of the words on the page in this novel, is strange, this is rather weird novel at times. It’s rather like reading an Epic poem at times .
Different sections are formatted differently, some sections formatted in the more naturalistic way, particularly when the section was talking about those people responsible for reanimating, a dead planet,
There were a few sections where the font was very tiny on my Kindle version, and I struggled to read because of the formatting with Kindle didn’t allow me to enlarge the font. These were any sort short sections, and were the sections related to the people who were more interested in science than nature.
I liked the way that some very naturalistic sections particularly relating to the history of the story were into woven with the more obviously sci-fi elements
I loved the ethical dilemmas about what a virgin population of humans, living on a newly terraformed planet would need to know would they need to know about the history of humanity would they be best trying trying to reinvent the wheel as it work
This is a very unique novel. The author writes in an unusual, but weirdly enjoyable way. I suspect that there will be people that don’t like this novel. I would recommend it to readers who like a literary novel and are willing to try something a bit different. I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw this novel on the booker prize Long list traditionally, they always had a novel within the long list collection which was unusual in the way that this novel is unusual.

I read an early copy of the novel on Amazon, UK. The book was published on the 2nd of April 2024 by Titan books.
This review will appear on NetGalley, UK, Goodreads and my book, blog, bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.com and on Amazon, UK

Calypso was a bit of a mixed bag for me. Some things worked, some things didn't, but I still feel like overall I am glad I read it, so we have to consider that more good than not, right?

What Worked For Me:

Can you even imagine leaving everyone and everything you have ever known, tossing yourself in cryo, and hopefully waking up in a new world, centuries away? I mean that alone is compelling! When we meet Rochelle, she's just woken from cryo, realizing that things on the ship are not as she'd expected. So that's intense. She also realizes that everyone she's ever known and loved is long since dead, which... oof. That has to be rough, even if you knew it was coming. Also, the writing style is definitely cool, even when I struggled at times to "get it", I was still able to appreciate that it was doing something different and unique, which I am always here for.

What I Struggled With:

There is this subplot of the story which I simply did not understand. It takes kind of a.. strange turn, and I honestly did not know whether it was actually happening, whether it was supposed to be metaphorical, or whether it was some batshit cryo-induced dream. That could be on me, I don't always do so well with more abstract themes. But I also felt like whatever the case, Rochelle felt quite disconnected from it all, or at least, devoid of emotions. Look, ma'am left her children behind to jump on this lifeboat, and she's just... Idk, kind of emotionally robotic about it all.

Bottom Line: I think people who are better with deciphering themes and such may appreciate this a bit more than I did, though I did enjoy the concept and the uniqueness!

Calypso is unlike any science fiction book that I have ever read. Written as an epic poem, I found the language to be just as beautiful as the cover.

I find poetry in general to be extremely impressive, but Langmead has put together such an imaginative story in this format that I am blown away. The actual scifi elements of Calypso are amazing and I loved the world-building. The nature & plant elements of this book were especially vivid to read.

So where did Calypso lose a star?! I unfortunately couldn’t connect with the characters how I wanted to. For such beautiful language, the characters felt cold and at odds with the story and how it was being told. I’m sure this was done with intent but I think I would have felt more impact from this story with a bit more emotion put into play.

Overall - very impressed with Calypso and will be checking out more from this author in the future! Check this one out if you like poetry, nature, science fiction, and the stars with a little bit of horror sprinkled in.

**Thank you to Titan Books for the gifted copy of this unique title!!**

Calypso is a book that I'm going to have to talk about in two parts, the story, and the presentation, because this is not your average book; not by a long shot. A story written in poetry form is unusual enough in itself, and something that I myself have only read a couple of times. However, Calypso goes even further than this, and uses the very structure of the words on the page to add to its story.

The story takes readers into a distant future, where the character of Rochelle wakes up on the colony ship Calypso. Rochelle has been in cryo-sleep for the long journey to the moon of Terra Nova, a place that humanity is hoping to colonise, but does not wake to find the promise of peace that was given to her. Instead of having this new world ready for her and the other passengers of the Calypso, she finds the ship in chaos. It turns out that most of the other passengers have died, and that she is one of a small number of survivors. But, she is the last to wake, and the other survivors are scattered and hiding on a ship that has been transformed.

The ship has been taken over by monstrous tendril of sentient plant life, a forest that has grown inside and throughout the ship. With no idea how things could have become this way whilst she slept, Rochelle begins to piece together the history of Calypso, and the events that happened before she awoke. She learns of conflict amongst those living on the ship, rivalling philosophies that cannot co-exist, and have driven those that believe in them into war. Now Rochelle has to find her place in this new structure and, if she can, bring peace to the Calypso.

The story feels familiar in a number of ways. There have been many science fiction stories of people awaking from long journeys to discover that things have spun out of control whilst they were asleep. From something as simple as waking to find you're not where you're supposed to be, as in Alien, to discovering a ship full of horror and mystery as in Pandorum. It's a popular theme that doesn't get used all that often, as such each time it's told there's a chance to put a new spin on things. And this is something Oliver K. Langmead does in spades.

And this brings me to the second main talking point of Calypso, the structure of the book itself. I've already mentioned that the book isn't written in traditional prose form, and instead uses verse to tell its story. This really comes into its own when we follow different point of view characters, each of which has their own distinct structure on the page. Words will be in different positions on the page, and each character has their own form of rhyme and meter that gives each person their own voice that becomes instantly recognisable.

This structure is also used to convey certain parts of the story, presenting things in unique formatting to enhance moments or deliver a certain feeling. There's a part where two characters are arguing, speaking over each other. Both people are presented on the page, their words sharing the page but split down the middle. You can read each one in turn, or reader them together. Reading them in turn makes them clear, you can understand their points, but if you read them at the same time, working across the page as normal, it becomes confusing, disjointed, and hard to understand; presenting the notion of people yelling over each other in a way that puts you in that moment yourself. There are other parts of the narrative that include illustrations, and broken, almost disjointed words on the page that are some of the more beautifully presented and more interesting moments in the book.

Whilst I am singing the praises of the book that doesn't mean it's the easiest read. If you're unused to this style book it can be hard to get into to begin with, and the structure of the story does become a little confusing, though this is also likely by design as there is a central mystery to unravel across the book. There are many books that people describe as being a 'work of art', and prose novels are certainly art; but it's an artform that many of us are intimately familiar with. It's comfortable, it has rules, and whilst the content of the stories can take risks it often feels like the presentation and structure can't.

But Calypso very much does that. It's not just the story that is important here, but the way that story is presented. It matters where a word is placed on the page, it's important how you read it, and the thought and intention of the structure along with the story comes together in what it very easy to describe as art. Calypso is the kind of book that you're going to want to talk about, it invites discussion and dissection. Very much a one of a kind, Calypso is a stunning piece of work.

4/5 stars
Recommended if you like: speculative fiction, weird fiction, novel in verse, sci-fi

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 2/23, my blog as of 2/29, and to Instagram on 3/9.

This was....interesting, to say the least. I will start by saying this is almost a novel in verse. I don't quite know if I would call it "in verse," but before going into it readers should be aware that the author experiments with the text structure and layout as an aspect of the story. It's definitely interesting, but I hadn't been expecting it and so it threw me off. Each narrator has a different banner to represent their POV, and each POV has a different text structure. I do think it was a really interesting way to write a book and I think it does well adding to the weirdness of the story and everything going on. But I don't know if I'd read something like this as more than a one-off kind of thing. A novelty, but not something I'd want in every novel.

Rochelle is ostensibly the main character, though there are four POVs in total. She's an unenhanced human in a world where that is a vanishing rarity and has religion in a world where that's nearly unheard of. Many of her interactions are framed based on these two things as well as her experiences with her family on earth. She is brought aboard the project because she and its leader, Sigmund, have opposing ideas and Sigmund thinks her challenging him will be helpful. I did kind of get annoyed with her at one point for not being able to recognize straight propaganda when it's said to her face, like come on. Aside from the thrill of helping to create a new earth and a new society, I struggle to understand why Rochelle chose to join the mission. I mean, she had a life and a family on earth and decides to go on this trip to another galaxy and when she wakes up centuries have elapsed on earth, and we never get an explanation as to why she chose this. In the end, it almost seems like she regrets it. I feel like we get a lot of background on Rochelle's life without ever truly understanding what motivated her to Calypso.

Catherine is one of the other engineers on the project and is an enhanced human that seems to be enhanced beyond what is typical. There's an interplay between her and nature, and the two are deeply intertwined in a way that's interesting. If I were meeting her as a stranger, like Rochelle, I might be a little wary of her. I did expect something to come up regarding Catherine and her underlying creepiness (I felt something Not Right under the surface when she was around and when she narrated), but nothing ever did. I did end up liking Catherine, she was interesting and I wish we could've gotten more time with her.

Sigmund is the type who seems friendly at first, but over the course of the book I did start getting a feeling that something was Off with him as well (at least in this I was not wrong). He definitely has a man's understanding of things and a man's solution to it. Nothing on earth or Mars or Venus satisfies him and his solution is to simply create a new world where the humans on it are completely ignorant of earth/Mars/Venus and their own humanity. I do think Sigmund is meant to be the villain of the piece, even though for most of it he isn't technically doing anything wrong.

I requested this book because I saw it was compared to Jeff VanderMeer's work and I have to say I disagree. While it is speculative fiction and it does get weird and verge into ideas about humanity and nature and humanity's connection to nature, I would say 1) VanderMeer does weird better, and 2) this book felt kind of empty. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to think or even think about regarding this book. Is it about the ambition of man? About how a fresh slate for humans is impossible? Is it about faith? We touch on these things in the book without any of them really being the focus, so I can't quite grasp the deeper meaning of the book.

Overall this was a book that I can't really put my finger on. It was interesting enough, but I feel like Rochelle doesn't have a strong motivator for being involved, Sigmund just kind of sucks, and the interesting character, Catherine, doesn't get nearly enough page time. I wanted something more creepy and weird and with a little but more substance under the surface. Calypso is an entertaining read, and I think the use of text format to help tell the story is interesting.

Letting my inner nerd out I adored when we had to study the epic poems and tales during my uni days. I loved the Narrative poems of the likes of Marlowe, Shakespeare, and Tennyson but sadly these are seemingly not produced as much today and different not in other genres I like such a horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. Enter Langmead. In Calypso they capture the old style of lyrical prose and epic poetry to weave together a tale of deep space. But it’s so much more than that. We have comments and meditations on religion and science, death and life and of course humanity.

While I do believe the stories could be told in prose or novel format I think it would loose so much of the character Langmead as created. It’s a powerful tale, told with passion and in such a way you are bound to remember it long after finishing.

Calypso was a beautifully written, mesmerising space opera told in verse. The poems throughout were really beautiful & I liked how they added to the overall story. However, because of the way the story was written we didn’t get a lot of character insight, especially into the MC and there wasn’t much growth for her either - well there was but it just felt a bit disjointed. The pacing in this story was also an issue for me - it was quite slow at first but at one point it just ramped up a bit too much too soon & then we were at the end. I liked the inclusion of religious themes in this story but for me I would have liked more exploration.

Overall I enjoyed this book & would recommend it if you enjoy space operas but want something with a bit of a twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is such a delightful little surprise.

What could have been a fairly typical space exploration story (woman wakes up from cryostasis to find out something went wrong on the ship) is made anew by the verse format. To be honest, at first, the verse format seemed unnecessary to me. I thought I would prefer the story in a more normal novel format. But then, for whatever reason, it clicked. I really enjoyed the poetry of it all, and I can’t imagine Rochelle’s story told any other way.

Calypso is such a beautiful blend of meditations on science and religion, life and death, and humanity, at the end of the world and at the beginning of a new one.

This is a book that probably needs to hit you at just the right time. I’m lucky that I picked this up when I needed it.

I am not quite sure how to feel about this story but I have certainly thought about it a lot since I finished it, so that's got to mean something. One thing for sure it was absolutely very interesting and different from anything I've read before. The structure of the book itself was so very unique - a science fiction story written in verse form! You wouldn't think it would work, but it surprisingly does and makes the whole thing sort of philosophical. Just like one of the characters in the story was redefining humanity and creating a whole new planet, it did feel like the author was attempting similar with the science fiction genre.

It is a fascinating story and will get you thinking quite a bit.

The reason why I am not giving this book a 5 stars is because the plot itself didn't have a great payoff. I really enjoyed and appreciated the inquisitive journey but all the questions were left suspended in space (pun intended) which in turn pushed the book into that poetic philosophical category more than the mystery science fiction genre.

Still very much worth the read. Probably best doing it in one setting to keep track and stay adjusted to the unusual format.

Calypso by Oliver K. Langmead is lyrical prose which is a contemporary evolution of such epics as the Iliad, but has it's own, unique style. I absolutely loved this piece as it was insightful, pushed boundaries, experimented with the genre and nurtured the narrative, growing it into a whole new species (I lreally like the term "richly lyrical eco-fiction as described in the description)

The prose follows Rochelle who has been asleep in cryo-stasis and awakens generations later, at which point, she is revered as a deity. The conflict between technology and ecology is a fascinating concept that reflects our world and takes speculative fiction to a whole new level

Absolutely recommend

Thank you to Netgalley, Titan Books and the author Oliver K Langmead afor this incredible ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

This is a science fiction told in verse. We essentially follow three main characters. There are; Rochelle, Catherine, and Sigmund. They are living on a generation ship that has traveled to a barren planet with the intent of humanity starting over. Rochelle is said to be Sigmund’s balance. Someone who could oppose him if he threatened to harm the mission. Catherine is an enhanced human, basically a new “Mother Earth”. The blurb mentions that there has been a war and several people are gone. However, that doesn’t seem to have a huge impact on the story.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much of a plot and the characters fell flat for me. We literally only had those three humans and the crew acted together as a chorus, not distinct people in their own right. I also felt the format felt clunky and was difficult to read at times.
A possible saving grace is that the writing could be really beautiful.

“When he dreams he dreams of reaching up to the sky and plucking stars as if they are pieces of fruit. In those dreams he cups the stars between his worn hands and watches the light leaking between his fingers.”

There were some interesting themes as well. Sigmund thinks back to the first time he visits Mars.
“The marginalized living in shelters. I suppose I thought that Mars was perfect: a Distant, flawless, fresh utopia, As if Mars was Heaven and Earth was Hell. My friend’s stories were a revelation. There were homeless people living on Mars; Some mentally unwell, others addicts, Displaced by an indifferent culture Capable but unwilling to help them; As if autonomy is a virtue; As if a man should help himself alone: As if a woman is only worthy of her health if she earned it by herself.”

This passage really spoke to me. How peoples’ indifference to others’ plights can do so much harm. This helped a great deal in understanding Sigmund’s motivations. He is the character that is the most fleshed out.

However, the ending felt bonkers. The pace ramped up out of nowhere and while I can’t go into details without spoiling it, I felt the very last part didn’t seem plausible at all. Writing in verse cost the author a chance to show more character growth. This feels more style over substance. If you like surreal, stream-of-consciousness, and/or experimental sci-fi, you might love this. I know this book will be 5 stars for some but it wasn’t for me.
I am grateful to have received an ARC (advanced reader copy) from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review and the book will be published on April 2, 2024.

Not a format of writing I've been familiar with but I did like it though. Fast read so thank you netgalley for this Arc

DNF at 15%

THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN IN VERSE
There. I said it. It wasn't so hard. And it is also something that is not said clearly anywhere. Mind me, there is the "verse" word on the page you can request it on NetGalley, but I misunderstood it (because, frankly, it was quite easy to do) and here on Goodreads, it is not written anywhere. But saying that it is "delivered in a uniquely compelling form" is just a tad too vague. Now it it not.

It is true that I would not have requested it if I had known. But still, once I started it and I discovered that all the book was in verse form I wasn't happy, but I decided to try it all the same, because why not? But it is just not a proper fit for me. I didn't enjoy the writing. It wasn't lyrical for me. It was quite plain. And sure, this made things easier to follow, up to a point, but I had a hard time keeping my attention from wandering, and even if I think that the author did a good job in describing his characters, I also wasn't moved by them. My experience up to the 15%, where I decided to just let this book go, was pretty boring and, from time to time, confusing.
This is simply not a good fit for me.

DNF @ about 15% - Very experimental and interesting. I really wanted to like Calyso, and have been excited about it for a long, long time. Unfortunately, the formatting made this a little difficult for me and I couldn't get into the story.

Jeff Vandermeer meets Tracy K. Smith's Life on Mars plus S.A. Barnes' Dead Silence mixed in for good measure. A wild read, in all the senses of the word. Loved it.