Three Grams of Elsewhere by Andy Giesler

Source: Netgalley – Many many thanks to Mr. Giesler
TL;DR: Loved this. Pick this up if you’re a SciFi fan who wants to see a fantastic project on Empath in tech

Plot: This started small and got much bigger and the end on this was wild. You go in expecting one thing, and come out with something else entirely.
Characters: Each person, though not explored too in depth felt nuanced and unique.
Setting: The broken portions of the US along with the different timelines were great here
Tech: I really loved how empathy was the focus skill set for the tech here. And it is fantastically explored.

Thoughts:

It’s not often we see a super thoughtful exploration of empathy in Science Fiction. At least not that I’ve seen. Especially in a setting that has also weaponized the ability. Three Grams of Elsewhere tells that story. What if empathy was weaponized? We learned where it came from, how to train it, and how to use it in conjunction with technology in wartime and peacetime alike?

The story follows Bibi, an elderly man, who once upon a time was part of the military. After washing out in a what he felt was a dramatic fashion he became a detective and now lives in a small retirement community. He’s swept up in a military investigation and along the way we begin to see snips from the past, present, and how it all amounts to so much more than expected.

The story is fast paced, with only a bit of a lag in the middle. I was incredibly impressed with how the different timelines and stories wove together, and the ideas that Mr. Giesler presented. I especially enjoyed the idea of empathy, the other and self, and how technology might one day change that. This is one I plan on purchasing a copy of to reread and highlight and annotate. I’m excited to see what else we see from this author.

If you’re a scifi fan, pick this one up!