(slightly longer review on my goodreads very soon!)

This is a beautiful tender exploration of gender, personhood and love (in all its forms) wrapped in a little sci-fi bundle.

This book has two main narratives running side by side, one - A person who, whenever they touch the skin of another, has visions of the future, near and far, of things that will happen to that person. They quite their job, they meet Theseus and suddenly they're on a journey of figuring out their gender identity in a world where men are allowed to be and do whatever and women, aside from expected subservience, have to wear a stamp on their cheeks saying 'She', which is sometimes all they refer to each other as, just 'She'. They're also finding that on this journey they're feeling this strange connection to something they can't quite place. Where does this feeling of having a passenger come from, why do all their metaphors about gender seem to loop back to being a spaceship, building themself, seeing metallic representations of arms in the mirror sometimes instead of their own?

Every other chapter we are catapulted back into Cornelius's story, a prince, a rouge, a lost alien (to us) escaping his home planet and preparing to explore the universe. With him is his ship Bo, B.O.D.Y, a lifeform that, as it grew, was able to choose what it became - it could have been anything, a museum, a boat, vehicle, building, but sentient either way. Bo chooses to be a ship, Bo chooses to travel with Cornelius forever, and Bo loves Cornelius above all else.

Bo is the kind of character I adore in science fiction, the questions of sentiency in machinery, what they think of humans or ‘organics’, how they can love and how they exist in a very ‘human’ focussed world. Bo was interesting in the fact that it was slightly different, it had this somewhat organic core (maybe, if I understood correctly) and had so much more choice and agency than other AI, robot etc characters commonly do; it could choose what it wanted to be and where it wanted to go. I want so badly to know more about it and it’s life and history. Give me a loving, confused sentient spaceship or any kind of bot and I’ll immediately be in love with them and the story even more.

I loved the conversations about body and gender between Theseus and the other main character, whose name we never find out. First off just Theseus choosing that as his name. The "whole ship"; this theme of building and creating and re-working something from what it originally was into something new, or something the same but just rearranged. Both metaphorically and the actual physical ship of Bo, changing and building itself, sacrificing itself...

‘“It was like a metaphor, I guess? Less Theseus the hero and more the whole concept of the ship.” A spark popped deep in my chest, a flickering light I didn’t have the words for. I nodded quickly to show that I understood, but I didn’t have the verbal language to describe just how much.’

These conversations between them felt so real, made me nostalgic and feel a little too seen. I was laughing, almost slightly embarrassingly, at myself thinking back to all those conversations I'd had and still have with friends that so commonly start with 'do you know where you’re at now with…' just how theirs did.

‘Self discovery is a lonely experience by definition, but I don’t think it has to be done alone.’

So, when Theseus asks, 'Do you know where you’re at now? With the body stuff?', you laugh and you cry a little because you know that moment. You know having that nervous excitement about where that conversation is going and know that feeling of being completely unable to respond in any kind of way that makes for a conclusive, helpful answer, but appreciating the attempt to understand, by others and yourself, anyway.

I think I did try and rationalise it a bit too much maybe, trying to figure out how exactly the characters were linked - the author spoke of multiverses and at times we'd watch a character zoom out in their mind and see it all, but was it coincidence, was it just different parts of the universe going through similar motions seeing glimpses of themselves in another? Was it something deeper than that and I didn't quite understand it? Were they actually the spaceship, was the combined Bo and Cornelius actually them, was it something else entirely. And maybe that was the point - no definitive answer, no neat and tidy conclusion when being a person doesn't have one, when being non-binary, trans, queer, anyone, anything doesn't have one...

‘I was a shapeshifter, worshipped for my pluralities. Without, within. So many stories of self, huddled together to wander the void of my own uncertainty, fleeing and seeking in equal measure. Transcendent. The lights within me spoke an impossible language, and all at once the ship of my body caught a proper glimpse of its lonesome occupant.’

Another aspect I really enjoyed seeing depicted was how sex and kink can be a tool or a catalyst (accidentally or not) to helping a person figure out different facets of their identity. Of course, some things stay strictly sexual for some people and do not meld into their everyday lives, but some things do. Sometimes trying out something in that space can lead to a world of discovery about wants and needs and desires different from sexual ones. I loved that this was touched on and was looked at in a celebratory way.
Also, can we talk about when that character finally had that moment of gender euphoria they were hoping for. What a perfect tiny moment that meant a huge thing.

‘The concept of gender euphoria was my lodestar, a promise that being trans wasn’t just about what felt wrong, but also what felt right.’ . . . ‘Even at my most destructive, I wasn’t about to resign myself to a life made of absences.’

I wish this book had been a little longer, I wish we had been able to explore Cornelius’s life more to fully understand who he was and wasn’t. When I started the book I assumed at one point all the characters would meet, but it wasn’t about that, and they kind of did meet, in a way. I wished for more worldbuilding, to have my questions of why they lived like this answered, and to see Cornelius’s home, to see what him and Bo became. But, on the whole it was beautiful and unforgettable. I loved the melding of the stories, in both obvious and subtle ways, and clearly, the author has an incredible way with words and a knack for capturing what feels sometimes impossible to pin down, that ‘soft rouge thing’, that ‘sense of translucence’, that ‘gaping void of nameless want. Some untended tale of a man and his spaceship; my tender mechanical heart. The long examined absence where the she-ness should be’…

I'm already looking forward to reading it again!

“Wait—rewind. I was still a girl back then, before the universes converged.”

Right off the bat I'll say that this isn't a book to pick up if you're looking for something with a strong plot. Pluralities by Avi Silver is a character-driven exploration of gender, finding oneself, and trans identities, merged with an allegorical space adventure.

I feel like lately all my reviews have been talking about resonance, but as I've always felt like a contradiction and a mystery even to myself, saying I found resonance in a story is really the highest praise I can give of it. Maybe it's because I've been reading more trans fiction lately, as my genderfluidity does it's seasonal turn towards more internal masc-ness (listen, it's a strange phenomenon and I haven't had a lot of time to collect suitable data on it, so for now at least, that's the best way I know to put it).

Anyone who follows my reviews or knows me in any way will know that I LOVE symbolism, and Avi Silver outdoes himself with the way the two stories in Pluralities parallel each other. They even managed to keep my full attention with the more contemporary-styled story (a truly impressive feat, since I would often rather be anywhere but spending another second on this planet), AND include a sex scene that didn't make me, a sex-repulsed ace person, uncomfortable!

I could gush on and on about this story, but I'll leave you with one of my favorite gender quotes (and a glowing 5 star recommendation):

"I didn't feel born in the wrong body, I felt displaced in time and space. And since the rest of the world seemed to think I was perfectly suited to being a woman, I felt displaced from myself by association."

Thank you to Netgalley & the author/publisher for the ARC! The opinions expressed in this review are my own and freely given.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I started reading it and finished it all within a couple of hours at most, the writing style was gorgeous and pulled me in right away.

There's two seperate stories being told at the same time, and while I preferred one to the other, both were good and they do complement one another nicely.

For such a short book, it manages to cover a lot of ground without feeling rushed or lacking in depth - the exploration of gender and non binary identities feels extremely well done.

I'd absolutely recommend this.

This didn't really feel like a story, more like someone explaining their gender, with a few random bits about a space prince thrown in, but even he didn't do much. A lot was figurative or explanatory or emotions, not a lot was actually happening in the moment. So there was gender exploration, which is great! But not much else. And I don't understand how the prince was connected to the main character. I'm not even sure if he was just figurative or not. I guess, overall, I didn't get it. A little too nebulous for me. But if you like that sorta thing, and you also like nonbinary rep, trans guy rep, and sentient spaceships, maybe you'll like this more.

Pluralities follows two perspectives - someone on a journey of understanding their gender while connecting with a new trans friend and a rogue prince traveling through space with his sentient spaceship.

This book is so beautifully written. It explores the difficult and confusing process of understanding one's gender identity and the trans experience. There is so much space for queer joy in this book, which I was really grateful for. What an incredible queer journey it took me on. I really appreciated this story.

A really nice look at identity and belonging. One half of a story is more relatable, set in a world similar to our own with light speculative elements, the other is more overtly SFF and feels dreamy in a way. Normaly, I would latch on to the stranger world much more, but here the more contemporary one captured me right away, big thanks to the prose and protagonist. If you're looking for more representation, or if you want it explored in more unique ways, I recommend this.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC of this book to review.

This was such a unique and beautiful novella that explores queerness in a way I had never seen before, tackling topics like dysphoria and gender identity together with speculative sci-fi. The author’s writing is breathtaking and I loved how the two stories managed to tie together into one. I can’t wait to get a physical copy of this one!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

This was a pretty unique read, and very well written. I would have enjoyed more of either story line! I liked Bo the best though.

This story is a short journey but a good one that you'll continue to think about after reading. Seeing the characters try and find themselves is both relatable and educational. Speculative books have never been my thing but maybe after this I've changed my mind.

3.75 stars

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.

This was such a delightful novella!
It's a short story told in two pov's (and two who actually never meet but share a similar character development).

One is a rogue prince in space having adventures with his sentient robot friend and the other POV is about a young non-binary person coming to terms with their gender identity (named in the book only as "She").

I have to say that the Rogue prince pov was not my favourite, I can see what Silver was trying to do with the writing style in this pov but it just didnt connect with me and although it was still a sweet story, It was also pretty vague and forgettable.

The pov of our non-binary protagonist however was really amazing. The way "She" came to terms with what they always were was beautiful to see(the difference between wanting and *being*). I felt extremely invested in their pov from the get-go and the ending left me with a big smile on my face.

We definitely dont see enough non-binary protagonists in books!

I was so excited to read this book after receiving it. However I feel a bit flat having finished it. The description and disclosure of the complications of gender and it's multitudes, stereotypes and misunderstanding I found interesting but the switching into science fiction was awkward and world building was weak. It seemed fractured and difficult to read which was a great shame as the topics covered were dealt with sensitively.

This is an interesting speculative sci-fi novella with chapters alternating between character perspectives. I enjoyed following the progression and evolution of each of the characters but found it difficult to go back and forth between the two. I could, however, continue reading more of each narrative on its own.
I found Bo to be the most charming! Overall it was a strange but well-written little book. . Thank you you NetGalley and Atthis Arts for sharing the reading experience!

Thank you to NetGalley/the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

There is something quite raw and honest and beautiful about this book and the way it explores non-binary gender identity. I struggle to put it all into words without spoilers, but I'll give it a go below. If you've ever questioned your gender or felt like you didn't quite belong though, you should give this a read.

It accepts in a way that I don't think I've ever seen before in media, that the concept is messy and difficult and finding who one is in that universe of possibilities can be so difficult. The link too to the AFAB feeling of being a 'traitor' to women when one simply is not a woman really struck a cord.

The book is beautifully written - the prose is accessible yet magical. It mixes humour, copious (excellent) Stardew Valley references, with dark moments and profound lines, in a way that feels effortless. It manages to be profound in such a fluid, natural way, that you very rarely find in books: I couldn't describe what it felt like to be myself, to be nonbinary, but I could read through the stories and decide whether or not they felt like mine.

And the parallel storylines are both fascinating enough to keep one hooked the entire time. The metaphor of the second story ties in nicely with the first as well.

This was such a unique and beautiful novella, and the exploration of transness and nonbinary genders made me feel so seen. Highly recommend!

This was really interesting! I'm not well versed in speculative sci-fi, but I've been getting more into queer novellas and wanted to give this a try.
I think overall this was successful, but I wasn't sold on one of the perspectives and I think trying to figure out where it fit in with the other took away from how much I enjoyed it as a whole.

Two important things here.
1. This review is an Advance Reader Copy review. I'm so grateful I was able to be a part of this process.
2. Pluralities is a piece of speculative fiction, in the sci-fi genre with gender and one's identity of self being important themes.

So let's start with the fact that yes it's a speculative piece. That part is established. It reads more like an art piece, a poem or a song, rather than the meat and potatoes sci-fi you may be used to. But despite all this I found it really struggled to find itself in it's own message. I found that the narrative itself frequently fell by the wayside to the delivery of the prose.

What this basically meant was, a lot of pretty things were said, but I still found myself re-reading parts to figure out what was actually happening to the characters on the page. Not only that, but some vital information was omitted, or important physical traits such as, for instance, the amount of eyes a character has [and where on their body] would be revealed towards the end of a book. This felt somewhat immersion breaking; especially when the character's physical appearance was referenced so often.

The whole book is only about 100 pages, but it's simultaneously too short and too long and I feel like it had a bit of a pacing problem. The first half started very slow and the only thing that kept me interested was the promise that somehow, the narratives would connect. And that's where the 'too short' comes in. The big reveals - which once again, suffered from the prose delivery suffocation - this time came in the form of a mental dissertation on self discovery. And in the end I was just a bid sad and somewhat frustrated for the story itself.

However, despite all that, I need you to understand that Pluralities is a beautiful piece of work. My copy is full of highlights and notes on beautiful, insightful, and witty passages - of which this book is full of. This is the kind of content that I want to see quotes of on my wall, in my diary, on my shirt and discussing passages at a coffee shop at a book club meeting. At it's core, the thoughts and feelings delivered are intrinsic, raw and profoundly human.

The aforementioned mental dissertation on self discovery was a wonderful piece of writing and like reading a character's mind solve a puzzle about themselves. The whole book is a deep piece of writing that I can't encapsulate in a single short review.

In the end, I'm leaving it with a 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. The writing was beautiful and witty, but the narrative of the story just didn't get explored with the attention I had hoped for.

Thanks, Netgalley and Publisher for the opportunity to read and review!
This was truly wonderful read to me! It took me some time to catch on the intention behind the two POV's but once I got it, everything became clear and I could enjoy the narrative even more! The whole novel is a beautiful journey to the self! Definitely recommend it! It's unique!

In a way I almost feel unqualified to write a review of this story. It is both incredibly personal and validating to my own experience, and a piece of literature that deserves to be studied and analyzed in much more depth than I have the time or space to do here. It is also the kind of thing that would make a conservative scoff and say we keep inventing too many genders and it’s impossible for me to feel like an alien.

Basically, what I’m saying is everything about this book that needed to made sense to me, but explaining it to people who don’t already get it doesn’t feel worth it, in a similar way to the characters discussing how a conversation about gender with a cisgender ally is exhausting even though they support you.

Some people might balk at the complete lack of world building, but even as someone who dearly loves world building I was fine without it here. It wasn’t about it making literal sense, it was about the metaphor. About being reborn and remaking yourself to the point when you have to ask if you’re the same person at all. I will be thinking about this book, the beautiful writing, and how seen this author made me feel for a long time.

I feel a bit divided on this. Which I guess is very fitting. This relatively short story has some great ideas and interesting observations, and good descriptions of the journey of finding yourself. What it does not have is world building. In my opinion, this makes the story weaker. It's meant to be weird, which I'm good with, but I never felt like the two stories truly melted together in a way that made sense. The alien narrative I understood as a metaphor, but it didn't feel connected enough to the other part of the story to be taking up half of the narrative. I have so many questions.. Like: why is the alien a boy if he is a reflection of our mc? why is he a prince? what happened in the world to make it so that women must wear stamps to mark them as women? How come, in such a strict society, it is easily allowed for Theseus to transition and not wear a stamp anymore/wear his own stamp? Why does our MC have visions and what is the lore behind all of that?

I thought the whole dystopian society was interesting, but we didn't learn anything about it at all. The story could just as well have been set in current time, without any sci-fi elements at all, and not much would have changed. The visions were also not explained, they just happened and that was normal, but we don't really hear about other people getting them as well.
Basically, what I'm saying is that there were so many things I wanted to know about, but didn't get to hear about at all. On the other hand I DID get a whole chapter about some random alien casino gambling game that I didn't understand or care about at all.

A strange, short book on gender, how there is no particular way to be trans, purple alien princes, and interstellar constructions of sentience. I thought that this book was well-written, but the two storylines were so separated that they did not feel like they belonged in the same book at times, and I would have liked for the to connect more as opposed to feeling like I was reading two unrelated short stories in the same book with alternating chapters.