If you imagined The Da Vinci Code but with a sense of playfulness and fun, gave it to a much better writer, and changed it from an exploration of religion into a love letter to books, you might end up withMr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, an absolute joy of a novel about secret societies, the joys of research, the changing face of publishing, and so much more. Penumbra starts simply enough, with a laid-off graphic designer taking a job at an odd bookstore, but as he begins to watch the patterns of some of the store's more consistent customers, he begins to discover that there's more to the store than he once realized. Penumbra is the first book by Robin Sloan, but you wouldn't know it; this is an assured, confident debut, one that's willing to mix in social satire about the tech world, character depth that delights in its details, and odd details about the book world, all while telling a story that unfolds wonderfully as it goes. More than that, though, Penumbra is the odd book that's both in love with paper and physical books but also willing to acknowledge that technology can be an incredible thing, and that willingness to straddle both worlds is part of what makes the book so successful. Rather than feeling like a screed for or against either side, it feels like a book that's more optimistic about the future without feeling like it needs to turn its back on the past - a feeling that nicely informs the plot as well, as the characters dive into a centuries-old puzzle using every tool at their disposal. Penumbra absolutely flies by, and feels like a joy as it does it; it's optimistic but thoughtful, funny but emotional, complex but character-driven, and all in all just a real treat of a book. I absolutely loved it, and the more of a bibliophile you are, the more you'll love it too.
- Josh Mauthe
- Josh Mauthe