City News

Blackfish City is a sci-fi dystopian novel that revolves around the four main characters: Ankit, Kaev, Fill, and Soq. The setting that these 4 characters are placed in for a majority of the novel is the floating city of Qaanaaq, created because natural disasters and social revolutions had caused most of the world to become uninhabitable. Qaanaaq is operated by software and is controlled by wealthy shareholders and landlords. Gangs also populate the streets of Qaanaaq. Each main character lives different lives in the city, and each works towards a different goal. Ankit seeks to help her mother escape from a fortified mental hospital. Kaev seeks meaning in his life after his fighting career stalls out. Fill contracts the breaks, a fatal, sexually transmitted disease that causes a person to relive the memories of those previously infected. Soq, a courier for a gang leader, is recruited to become a spy. However, things change within the city after the arrival of the orcamancer, a female warrior with a bonded orca and a chained polar bear. With her arrival and subsequent actions, the four main characters find themselves enveloped in chaos within Qaanaaq, while simultaneously learning about themselves, their past, and their connections with one another. 

Sam J. Miller crafts a story that is filled with so much despair yet has so much hope. Each chapter switches between the different characters, developing their stories and intertwining each character to each other and the city of Qaanaq. Since Miller spends time developing each character, it allows for suspense to build up in the book, as certain events in each chapter drive the characters to make story-altering choices. The system that runs Qaanaaq and the people who control it are revealed as the story progresses, adding another layer of complexity and interest into the story. 

One of the strong points of this novel is the setting. Qaanaaq is a complex and unforgiving city, hardening its citizens into survivors and ruthlessly removing those that are unable to adapt. The city itself is given the feeling that it is a separate character, changing and adapting along with the main character. Another likeable aspect is the characters that Sam J. MIller creates. Each has interesting and distinguishable personalities that are believable in a post-apocalyptic setting. For those who appreciate inclusion within stories, Blackfish city has characters of different genders and sexual orientations, which helps each character stand out from one another. The buildup of the story pays off in the last fourth of the book, where every storyline comes full-circle and questions that the reader may have are answered. 

There are a few weak points in the novel. The first three-fourths of the novel is very slow, much slower than I anticipated. Miller takes his time developing the story and the characters, but that comes at the cost of excitement and thrill. Readers who enjoy fast-paced stories and lots of action might have trouble staying engaged. The storyline can be confusing at times, with storylines converging at awkward times. The orcamancer, one of the driving forces of the plot, feels unrealistic and plain sometimes. She is used for combat and chaos, and she is not a very dynamic character until the very end. 

For those who enjoy post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels, Blackfish city is certainly worth a read. The setting of Qaanaaq and the characters create an interesting reading experience. However, if you are not a fan of slow and developing plots, this book may be slightly unenjoyable at first. Overall, Blackfish city is a great book, and is a solid addition in the sci-fi genre.

Check out Blackfish City from the Newport Beach Public Library.