The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Justin Cronin wrote an excellent world-building book in The Ferryman . This post-apocalyptic science fiction novel features a world founded by The Designer and consisting of three islands. Prospera is where the administrators, enforcement personnel, and wealthy live. The Annex is where support staff live and the third is the Nursery. Prospera’s citizens live long lives in luxury until the monitor embedded in their forearm falls below 10 percent indicating that their physical and/or mental health has deteriorated significantly. They are then retired and take a ferry ride to the Nursery where their bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped, and they restart life.

The main character, Proctor Bennett, is the managing director for District Six of the Department of Social Contracts, Enforcement Division. He’s a ferryman, who helps people through their retirement process and onto the ferry, using enforcement when necessary. But Proctor finds he has problems. He’s a tortured, but capable protagonist. Then, one day he is summoned to retire his father, who gives him a cryptic and confusing message before being forced on the ferry. Meanwhile the support staff are questioning their place in the social hierarchy and rumors of a resistance group spread.

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin combines elements of fantasy, science fiction and dystopian drama to create an absorbing story that touches upon a multitude of themes ranging from social distinctions and power struggles, the climate crisis, family and loyalty and grief among others. A running theme in this story is how one perceives life and happiness. Is a perfect life truly a life of contentment? This is a complex, layered story but not too difficult to follow. The writing is powerful and immersive. This is the first time I read from this author, and I am sure this will not be the last time I read from this author. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Blake Crouch then you will like this one as well.

This was a brilliant written story that pulls you in the world as you follow along with a rich engaging plot. The details are there in the development of the islands, the people and of course the ferryman in his tortured soul. This is what makes science fiction really good. I find I like science fiction more and more with immersive world building that pulls the reader into an interesting place to be with all the detailed descriptions to keep the reader engaged and turning the pages. This one checked all the boxes for me what I expect in a well written science fiction novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine Books for a free copy of The Ferryman for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Whoa. The Ferryman is a tough one to review without spoiling it. Let me first say that it is exceptionally well written and edited. I enjoyed some delicious vocabulary and even had to look up a few words because Cronin doesn’t take his readers for granted. After a quick read through the book’s description, I expected something dystopian, maybe with echos of Logan’s Run. It’s not. It is more The Matrix meets Inception, but isn’t those either. It is creative and held my skeptical mind at bay long enough to invest in the characters and their course.

The Ferryman is set on the island paradise of Prospera, a protected grouping of three islands where residents live their best life. It was founded by a mysterious genius known only as “the Designer.” The Designer gives the community its personality, values, and dare I say, a soul? The Designer is seen and felt in all the details while residents make time to pursue personal passions and develop talents.

Main character Proctor Bennett was easy to identify with. He was logical and naturally empathetic. All his next steps made sense to the reader, so going on his journey with him was effortless. Proctor is the Director of the Department of Social Contracts and has a satisfying career as an experienced “ferryman.” It’s his job to help people retire, to leave Prospera and the life they have created. As noted in the official description, “Prospera’s lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent.” They take the ferry to the “Nursery,” another island in the grouping, where their body is rejuvenated, their memory wiped, and they start over with a new life. It is a kindness that people don’t have to go through that process alone. As the book begins, Proctor must ferry his own father who leaves him with a cryptic message. That message starts a ball rolling which only picks up speed.

The story grows and the mystery deepens. Just when you think it’s going to crescendo, it folds in on itself. Cronin successfully does something which he writes about in the book, he gives The Ferryman a soul. The story is what it is because Cronin is the author. It’s simplistic to say that it would not have been the same book if another author had conceptualized it, but that truth is exceptionally evident by the time you are at the end of the book. The ending is 95% satisfying. Sometimes the whole happy ending isn’t the right ending even if we want it. Cronin gave it the right ending. Seriously, a great, distracting, invested, stop what you’re doing read.

My Rating: A Loved It

Welcome to the world of Prospera - citizens live long lives surrounded by luxury and are encouraged to embrace the arts and wellness….but of course, things are not what they seem.

The first half of this book was a solid five - beautiful writing, intriguing characters, compelling story. But then something happened and it was almost as if the rest of the book was written by a different person. It did not possess the same crafting and careful storytelling as the previous half of the book. Maybe that was on purpose?

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Justin Cronin, the New York Times bestselling author of “The Passage,” returns with a haunting tale of capitalism, the ecological crisis, and preservation of our species in “The Ferryman” (Ballantine Books).

For years, Proctor Bennett has served as the Director for the Department of Social Contracts, where he is assigned to shepherd the citizens of Prospera to a new life. Prospera is a hidden Utopia, where life is magical and where, upon their retirement, its citizens are ferried to the Nursery—to be reborn with a fresh existence with no memories of the past.

Proctor never gave his mildly satisfying job a second thought until he is assigned to ferry an important person to the Nursery—his estranged father, a famous lawyer and inventor. On Prospera, every citizen is sterile, and Proctor developed a close bond with his adoptive mother who committed suicide many years ago. The suicide haunts him, and his father’s indifference to his mother’s death has been the source of their estrangement. However, as Proctor chaperones his father to the ferry, things go askew. On the dock, his father panics, becomes hysterical, and babbles nonsensically about how Proctor “didn’t really know his mother.” And about Oranios, which sounds like gibberish to Proctor.

Proctor’s life spirals into a deep dive when the government investigates the incident. The government discovers that Proctor has been dreaming, which is forbidden in Prospera. His fashion designer wife leaves him. His best friend betrays him. He loses his job, and he is on the run from the murder of a guard who tried to Taser his father at the scene. The plot kicks into high gear as Proctor runs for his life and becomes witness to the other side of Propera—the Annex—where the unhappy laborers live and are planning to rebel against their wealthy suppressors.

These events cause Proctor to reconsider his life and choices, and propel him along an unexpected path. What was his father talking about? What is Oranios? And why does the hierarchy desire to suppress any knowledge of it? What do his dreams mean? A recalcitrant teen named Caeli appears to be the key to solving the mystery, but she, too, has disappeared. Can Proctor find her?

Justin Cronin is a master storyteller. His unique world building immediately draws the reader into a complex sci-fi fantasy, where the people are beautiful, everyone is happy, and no one is ever ill. He’s created Prospera as an archipelago of contradictions. Superficially, Prospera appears perfect, but chaos is simmering beneath the surface. Across the causeway in the Annex, people are starving, underpaid, and live in squalor. Prospera is a world divided by wealth and opportunity; and whether you are born Prosperan or human.

The third act of this complicated story, Cronin transforms it from a techno-thriller into a true science fiction nightmare for Proctor. Readers will stay up late to turn the page as he searches for Caeli, deals with his past, and helps determine the future of a dying society.

In Shakespeare’s “Tempest,” Prospero, the Duke of Milan and the main character in the play, said, “We are the stuff as dreams are made of, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.” Clearly, this evocative phrase served as Cronin’s inspiration for “The Ferryman”. His characters appear to be trapped in a “Ground Hogs Day” cycle as they relive life after being reborn in the Nursery. Proctor, the ferryman, Thea, the art dealer, Elise, Proctor’s wife, Caeli, the teenager, and Elise’s powerful mother, Callista—all live multi-dimensionally, defying time and space in this sci-fi opera.

In “The Ferryman, “ Cronin takes his characters and the readers on an intriguing dreamlike journey through space and time. And he presents a chilling warning about our own future, if we do not preserve our planet and respect our fellow man.

I’m a fan of Justin Cronin, he’s a master at his craft and I loved The Ferryman. I’m a fan of dystopian sci-fi and have been so let down recently, so I was delighted when TF was a page turning multifaceted piece of brilliance that I’ll be raving about until his next masterpiece.

One of the things I loved was how utterly complex yet understandable the plot is; this is no small feat to pull off in a sci-fi. Getting lost in the tech details or extreme (insert boring) world building can ruin a book for me, not so in this case. The entire world of Prospera is one giant fascinating tale with mind blowing twists that kept me riveted and engaged.

Just, Bravo to this wholly unique and extraordinary story.

The Ferryman is a lyrical, moving story of time, perception, and grief. Set in world where the haves and have nots are separated by an archipelago of islands Prospera. One class lives in a utopian society, while the other toils endlessly serving their daily needs. The ‘haves’ ease through a life filled with art, music, literature, beauty. When their monitors indicate a low number they are sent to the ‘Nursery’, a separate island for rejuvenation. Here they receive a new, younger, healthy body, a wiped memory, and start life fresh hosted by a family as they learn what children normally would. The working class continues to experience life, birth, illness, and death.
Proctor is a Ferryman. He accompanies people when they have either decided to move on to the Nursery, or it is decided for them and he must take them. A dystopian death doula, it’s an emotionally difficult job, where many in his class lack empathy, but he is good at it. Proctor has always felt different, and from a very young age he dreamed…something that was often viewed as irregular, undesirable, in his class. There’s been an unrest recently, an unsettling in the balance, and things threaten to become more violent between the classes.
Cronin expertly balances a story that’s moving, propulsive, holds the reader close, and yet slightly off kilter. The further the fabric of Prospera tears apart, the more confusing it gets. Who/when/where are these people? Are the dreams metaphors, premonitions, memories? There’s a tipping point where you get a much clearer picture and it’s a mind-bender, so hang in there!
I highly recommend reading when you can power through, leaving as few gaps as possible. It helps keep continuity in a story that requires much of the reader. The payoff is outstanding and well worth it. It’s a great choice for a buddy read or Bookclub as there’s a lot to pick apart on choices society makes ‘for the greater good’.
I received an early review copy from @randomhouse and @jccronin via @netgalley

Well, that was a rollercoaster! The Ferryman is my first Justin Cronin book, so I don't know how it compares to his others, but as a newbie to his writing, I clearly have been missing out! The Ferryman is a sci-fi adventure full of so many twists and a couple of odd turns! Reality may not be what it seems! At the heart of it is a deeply devastating tragedy that guides the storyline. I'm not typically all that excited about sci-fi, but this one fits into a lot more genres than the one. Loved it and highly recommend!

TW: I won't say here as it may be a bit of a spoiler, but I imagine others have mentioned why there would be a need for a trigger warning, so investigate if you feel you need to!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Justin Cronin's Passage series so when I got the opportunity to read this book, I jumped at it. To say that it left me never quite sure what was "real" and what was part of a dreamworld is an understatement. At first, I was reminded of George Orwell's "1984" with two totally separate classes of people. As the book progresses, it morphs into a much more complex and richer storyline.
Cronin is a masterful storyteller. I got absorbed into the book and couldn't put it down. Even the main characters are presented differently in various parts of the book. The ending left me wondering what's true and what isn't. All in all, an exceptional read.

This book was just too slow for me, and the twist was not really as unexpected as all the reviews claim it is. I was disappointed in the ending, which is fine. If a book is amazing, I can deal with an ending that I don't like. This one was just too slow, and I was so bored, that then I wanted to be rewarded with my persistence with a great flash bang of an ending, and I just didn't feel like I got that. Overall, it was a 2.5-3 star read for me.

The nitty-gritty: A twisty, fast-paced story that will keep you guessing.

4.5/4 stars

All is not as it seems in The Ferryman, Justin Cronin’s new novel, an epic, mind-bending tale that takes place in a future dystopian world. I had a blast with this book, and the twist was not what I was expecting at all. I had a few theories but I was dead wrong. This is a gripping and emotional story that had me in tears at the end, and I wanted to go back and read it again from the beginning with different eyes. 

And because I don’t want to spoil anything for you, this review is probably going to be shorter than normal. The story takes place on a remote island called Prospera, hidden away from the rest of the world by something called the Veil. Proctor Bennett works for the Department of Social Contracts as a ferryman, someone tasked with ushering those whose time is up to the Nursery, a mysterious island where your memory is wiped clean and you are reborn in a younger body, ready to start your next iteration on Prospera.

But Proctor has been dreaming, something that Prosperans aren’t supposed to be able to do. He’s also met a strange girl on the beach, a girl named Caeli who seems very familiar. When his father Malcolm’s health starts to decline, he’s assigned to accompany him to the Nursery, but before they can board the ferry, Malcolm suffers a mental breakdown and tries to run. Before he’s whisked away, he utters an unfamiliar word to Proctor: Oranios.

Unfortunately, the Board of Overseers recorded the entire event, and now they want to know everything that Malcolm said to Proctor. Was he trying to warn his son about something, a coverup perhaps? As the mystery deepens and Proctor searches for answers, he realizes that the serenity of Prospera might just be a lie.

There is a lot going on in The Ferryman, way too much for a simply story recap. Cronin has created an intricate futuristic world, but it’s full of mysteries that aren’t explained until much later in the story. In addition to Prospera and the Nursery is a third island called the Annex, where all of the lower and middle class residents live. These are the cooks, maids, shop keepers and others who work behind the scenes to make Prosperans’ lives more comfortable. Part of the story involves an impending uprising against Prospera, as those in the Annex are becoming unhappy with their lot in life and jealous of the Prosperans. We also meet an art dealer named Thea, a Prosperan who is secretly visiting the Annex in order to help them. Then there’s Callista, who is not only Proctor’s mother-in-law, but the chairman of the Board of Overseers, where yet another mystery is brewing within their ranks.

I mention all these elements because it was hard at first to figure out how everything tied together. I was confused for most of the book, although it was one of those “good” confusions where you may not understand everything at the time, but you have faith that the author will eventually explain things. Cronin’s ability to write an engaging mystery made me eager to figure things out, and his intriguing characters and their relationships kept me flipping the pages.

There are plenty of exciting action scenes as well. Proctor gets himself into a boatload of trouble and has to run for his life, and I loved these fast-paced, tense sections. Other characters disappear without warning, and there are terrible storms that threaten the lives of everyone on Prospera and the Annex. And then there is the mystery of the Nursery, where no one is allowed unless it’s your time to be retired. What really happens there? Proctor eventually finds out in one of the strangest and creepiest scenes in the book.

When the truth is finally revealed at around the 75% mark, I’ll admit my mind was blown. I absolutely loved the idea, and finally having all the answers brought the first part of the story into sharp focus. And the epilogue is probably one of the best epilogues I’ve ever read. Proctor makes an unexpected decision that added so much heart and emotion to the story, and I can’t image a better ending.

I’ve barely scratched the surface of this complex story, which is probably for the best. If you are a fan of secret-filled dystopian worlds and mind-bending ideas, you’ll want to go into The Ferryman as blind as possible.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

The Ferryman
By Justin Cronin

I have been a fan of Justin Cronin since reading "The Passage". His work is dense, complex, thought-provoking – and always exciting. With "The Ferryman", he has created a gem – possibly his best book yet.

This is a work of science fiction…or maybe fantasy…or both. It encompasses a host of subjects, from climate change, to human nature, the possibility of the existence of God, to loving a child – to hopes and aspirations for a nebulous future.

It is just too hard to explain what this book is about in a single review. There is just too much going on – and just when you think you have it figured out, everything changes yet again. But the one constant throughout is love.

Thank you, Mr. Cronin for making us think and feel. I look forward to what you will show us next.

4.25 new world stars

I’m a fan of this author from his previous series, “The Passage”. This one is totally different, which I appreciate so that books don’t become formulaic.

Prospera is a hidden island oasis for its lucky citizens. Each has a monitor that indicates their level of health and happiness. When a person reaches a low monitor level, they are sent to the nursery on a ferry to be reborn with fresh memories and a new life.

Proctor Bennett is a ferryman, charged with helpings Prosperans with their retirement and delivery to the ferry. One such delivery doesn’t go well, and Proctor begins to have questions. When his numbers start to drop, he wonders if he’s next for the ferry.

There are citizens in the Annex that are not as happy as the Prosperans. They provide service to the people of Prospera and they are tired of being mistreated, there are even talks of a rebellion.

This was a long book, but I never contemplated setting it down. While I didn’t completely understand what was happening at times, it was a good departure read for me. Cronin’s worldbuilding is amazing and I felt like I was there in this different world.

I thought the ending was perfect and I’m still thinking about it. I don’t think that this one is set up as a series, but I’m definitely up for this author’s next book.

The archipelago of Prospera contains 3 islands- Prospera where the inhabitants live is an ideal paradise and enjoy prosperity and good health. The citizens are sterile and enter into contracts for unions (marriage) as well as adopting children. They wear monitors in their arms which indicate their physical and psychological health and when the monitors fall below 10%, they retire themselves to the Nursery island to wipe their memories clean, and to reiterate their bodies in order to return to Prospera (as teenagers). The third island is The Annex which houses the support staff/laborers who keep the other islands operating. However ,there is growing unrest on The Annex.
The main character is Proctor Bennett, The Ferryman, who escorts "retirees" through their end of life process and onto the Ferry which will take them to The Nursery.
I was intrigued by the first half of the book and the author did a tremendous job if describing life in this utopia of the future, and the characters who inhabited it. The characters were well developed and essential to the story. Even the people in The Annex were essential to the plot and brought into the story a moral dilemma.
The plot twist that occurred about 2/3 of the way through was unexpected, but interesting and I wanted to see how the author developed it. However, at this point, I felt that the story became disjointed and the settlers lost focus. The ending was action packed - and entirely different and (in my mind) and unnecessary to the story. I guess after all the build up of the characters, their relationships, the mechanics of the operation of the archipelago, that I expected more from the characters who had invested so much into their existence. There were a few threads that were dropped as well and never picked up.
I received a complementary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Justin Cronin’s novels and The Ferryman is no exception. Dated in an unknown time in the future (but hopefully really far into the future) the novel tells the story of Proctor Bennett, director of the ferrymen, and ward of Cynthia and Malcolm. They live on Prospera, an island of those who have seemingly isolated themselves from Earth’s disaster.

The story can be a little confusing at times but eventually all becomes clear. The characters created by Cronin, especially Proctor and Thea, are genuine and interesting. Definitely a worthwhile read, especially for those who enjoy futuristic stories with a human element.

Thanks to the NetGalley, the author and Ballantine Books/Random House for the opportunity to read this novel.

The Ferryman is a standalone dystopian SF/mystery/thriller by Justin Cronin. Released 2nd May 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 560 pages and is available in hardcover, large print paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a sprawling complex book full of philosophical rumination and moral questions about existence and purpose. It's slow moving (ponderous) in places, and there are twists which are so heavily foreshadowed as to be fairly obvious. Being dropped into the middle of what's going on, along with the author's parsimonious information-sharing, makes for uncomfortable and disoriented reading. It seems to be a normal response, given the extant reviews, and it was certainly my experience as well.

Around the 45-50% mark, the book becomes a lot clearer and a more linear storytelling style. Although it's not at all derivative, it will likely appeal to fans of Blake Crouch and J.A. Konrath. For readers who insist on clear-cut unambiguous denouement and resolution, this ending will not necessarily satisfy. On a second re-read of the last 100 pages, I'm still not entirely sure I could describe how it ended and not get a rap across the knuckles with a ruler.

Four stars. Wonderful author, well written but vaguely discursive ending.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Holy crap! I had no idea of the wild ride I’d be in for when I opened this book! I like diving in completely blind and this book took me by surprise, in the best way imaginable! It’s told from many different characters points of view and if you’re not paying close attention, can get a little confusing at times, but once I got the hang of the writing, it all came together! It was fantastically written and I know I’ll be recommending this book for years to come! I could so easily see it playing out in my head as a TV series, everything was so descriptive and put me right in the middle of the action! If you’re into science fiction or dystopian, please pick this book up, you won’t be disappointed!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “And what is a dream if not a story we must tell ourselves?”
Thank you so much #ballantinebooks @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for the advanced digital copy of The Ferryman by @jccronin I absolutely loved this novel!
I devoured The Passage (like many readers) at least a decade ago. I never picked up the remaining books in the trilogy, sadly, but his latest sounded intriguing and I am so glad that I requested the ARC.
This novel is rife with potential spoiler pitfalls when writing reviews, but I think I can safely say that it is absolutely in my wheelhouse of literary sci-fi stories that keep you guessing, while also contemplating deep themes on the meaning of life. Given that I have read a number of similar novels (which I would love to recommend, but I don’t want to spoil the plot of this book, so DM me!) I had a pretty good idea of what was happening, but in Cronin’s hands I was transported.
The beginning of the story is reminiscent of a more mature and lyrical version of The Giver. That said, Cronin’s writing flows very cinematically and is action packed, while still having that strong emotional center. I absolutely FLEW through it, thinking it must not be as chunky as his other novels - I finally looked at the page count when I blinked and was already at 60 percent on my kindle, seeing it’s a paltry 560 pages compared to The Passage that clocks in at 766. 😁 BOTH read like something half their length, though!
The Ferryman is available this coming Tuesday, May 2, and I would run to your local bookstore on that day to pick it up - I think this novel will be all the rage, and deservedly so.

The Ferryman is my first book from Justin Cronin.

"In the future, people live in Prospera, an area shielded from the horrors of the outside world. Citizens enjoy their lives until their health monitor drops below ten percent. Then they are sent to an island called the Nursery for a new iteration. Proctor Bennett is a ferryman, helping to shepherd people through their retirement contracts. But all is not well for Proctor. He receives a cryptic message from his father...and begins to question everything he ever believed."

If you are familiar with science fiction tropes you will recognize quickly what is going on here. If you're new to science fiction you will be surprised at the big reveal. Either way the story is still enjoyable. It is interesting to see the path that Cronin chooses for this story. He does put his own spin on a traditional sci-fi trope. There are characters to like and some to dislike. Cronin makes you question what is real and what is only in the characters' minds. I'm sure there is a government agency somewhere looking at this going - "Maybe that's what we need"

My only issue with this book is the length. You could remove 100 pages and still have the story. But Cronin wants to really flesh out these characters and after the success of his Passage books I'm sure he's given the leeway to do so.

I like the ending. It's not what you expect from the story but it works. Fans of character-driven sci-fi and dystopian fiction will love this.

Overall, I just don't think this book was for me. But let's start with some things I liked... First, I did feel drawn into the story pretty much right away. There were also a lot of layers to this story that kept me wondering if I really knew everything yet, and that definitely kept me reading. But that's about it; I felt generally interested enough to keep going but I wasn't having a great time. To be fair, I HATE cheating and there are several instances throughout the story. So that alone made this one kind of tough to enjoy. And everytime I thought the story had moved beyond it and I could try to get re-engaged, it would come up again. Also, while women held positions of power, I don't feel like they actually did much. To me, it felt like the action centered around the men in the story. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that but not what I'm looking for.

I’ve been waiting a long time for a new Justin Cronin. This started off so strong. The middle was a struggle for me to get through but once I did, I was glad I stuck around. Cronin knows how to write these alternate worlds in a way that makes you really believe them.