Caitlin R. Kiernan
The Dry Salvages (2004)
Author: Caitlin R. Kiernan
Genre: Science Fiction
Plot Summary:
The book opens in 24th century, the Earth is in ruins, and humanity is looking towards the stars for other planets to inhabit. Audrey Cather is writing her memoirs about her trip into deep space fifty years previous. She is one of four astronauts that went to study a planet similar to Earth, Piros. The astronauts were to meet with a shuttle orbiting the planet, but Cather’s team finds half the humans are dead and the others have gone insane. Artificial Intelligence has taken over the ship and are programmed to keep other humans from attempting to land on the planet. The humans retake the shuttle and land on Piros. The four experience hallucinations and leave the planet. Cather believes that a dark shadow spirit inhabits the alien planet and may follow the astronauts through space. Cather has sworn an oath to the government to never speak of the incidents. Yet, she is growing old and anti-government people are approaching her, wanting to know the truth about what happened on Piros. The abundance of pre-21st century references (William Blake, Van Gogh, the Beatles, and 17th century pianists) mar the future feel of the setting.
Geographical Setting: Paris/ Deep Space: planet Piros around the star Gliese 876 (about 90 trillion miles from earth)
Time Period: 24th Century
Appeal Characteristics: Short novel, slow-paced. Space Travel. Character-driven
Read-alikes: Christopher Pike’s “Season of Passage” for Horror and space travel
Red Flags: short allusions to Graphic Violence
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