Props to Manibo, who has not only managed to hit his second book out of the park, but manages to dial up the drama (sex! blackmail! murder!) to match the setting (~luxury space station~), and weaves together a college reunion and murder story with some great commentary about immigration and the working class on a lot of these types of "experiences" (Filipinos in the cruise industry, I see what you're doing there), and suggesting that maybe the ultimate way of getting out is actually through solidarity and burning it all to the ground. I had a suspicion of where this might be going halfway through but was unsure if he was going to commit to it, and my god, he fucking did it, and it was a great fucking ride. This comes out in May; pre=order it now (I'm 90% sure there's a preorder sale on now on Barnes and Noble as we speak) and get yourself a great solidarity summer book when it comes out.

Where is the science in this science fiction novel? I've decided to stop reading at 25% because I'm not enjoying this novel, and instead of understanding more as I read, I'm getting more confused. There's a lot of characters who all read very similarly. The time jumps and the jumps between perspectives don't have good transitions, so I checked multiple times to see if I had accidentally skipped a page. There were some really great ideas here. The MERIT system and how discrimination played into it were fascinating, and I would have loved to focus on that more. The race/class dynamics were interesting. A murder mystery is always intriguing. I love reading about Mars missions. Altogether, though, it just didn't blend well. I think there easily could have been two different books here. Because of the ideas, I might read more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Escape Velocity! Unfortunately, while a fascinating premise, this read fell flat for me. For starters, the pacing of the novel was a little too slow for my taste. While I could tell that there were certain events being foreshadowed early on, and while we learned more about the past simultaneously through flashbacks, the major events of the plot were sandwiched into a packed final act. Nothing really happens in the first half besides some subterfuge and subplots between characters, that, in my opinion, didn’t add much to the whole story. Additionally, while likely intended to be that way, I really didn’t feel anything for the majority of the characters, even the characters we were meant to root for. I was ambivalent about most of the twists and revelations in the novel, which doesn’t really bode well for a murder mystery. Lastly, I did find the class commentary to be a bit heavy-handed in this novel, which I felt worked against what Manibo was likely trying to accomplish with the inclusion of the workers and their rebellion. The workers felt one-dimensional compared to the Rochford characters, and we really don’t get a lot of insight into their movement until the very end. As other reviewers have said, the “Knives Out meets Parasite” characterization isn’t quite right, as the novel resembles something more like The Menu, for example. Regardless, I always love to see the creativity that goes into sci-fi, and this book is no exception. The Altaire very much seems like something we could see in the future, as do the issues that Manibo brings up regarding space settlement. While not as thrilling a read as I hoped, Escape Velocity will likely satiate both the sci-fi and mystery readers despite some missteps.

This is a working class revenge fantasy set in space and I kinda love it. It was compelling and the characters were all awful-- except for Ava (please give this girlie a break!) and I liked Sloane as well. I don't really want to say too much about it, because it really needs to be experienced-- but it was a pretty buckwild ride.
3.5/5

Enjoyed reading this book, even though it's definitely not in the normal genre of books i read, i still felt satisfied after finishing this! very though provoking and i enjoyed the mystery

An edge of the seat thriller that opens with literary roots in The Secret History and then grows into a strong voice against corruption, and inequity in labour and starting chances for a better future. I especially enjoyed the details Manibo put into building the horror that is the MERIT system. This is going to be one of the more important reads of the year.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

This is Triangle of Sadness in Space. It is a fun concept. I think my issue is that "kill the rich" stories have become quite popular and this one was not as well-written as some of the others I have read or seen. The wealthy individuals in this story are awful, but in a juvenile, almost comical, way. They are not portrayed as full-grown sociopaths, which would have been much closer to the truth for individuals in this set. Nor does the story lay out the kind of damage these kinds of characters would have done to the planet, which would have made the story more compelling. It makes sense that this takes place at a high school reunion because it reads as young adult. The ending was fully telegraphed.

The rich and privileged in space, what could go wrong?

The earth is dying, and only the rich are situated on Space Habitat Altaire, a luxury resort orbiting our planet. With an exclusive mars settlement in the near future, the only thing standing in these residents' way are each other. There has been a murder!

As exciting as the premise sounds, the story is complex and confusing at times. There are so many narratives, I found it hard to keep up. I did enjoy the twist ending, I just wish there were more hints sprinkled throughout the novel. Overall, a solid read. I wouldn’t be surprised if it's adapted into a movie.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

This is a refreshing genre blend for those that like a dash of hard scifi with their locked room-style murder mysteries. It wasn't exactly my cup of tea (the details about the space station bored me to tears, but I know plenty of folks dig that stuff), but the mystery plot was sufficiently ingenious that I could breeze past the more jargony stuff to get to the suspense.

This book gave me the same anxiety as the movie Gravity did. If you are into space mysteries this one is a great one to pick up. Is a little dense on the science of space but overall a good read. Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this one early, it was a fun ride.

Hey all! This one was great! The four main characters were really well done. If I had a major complaint it would be the depth given to the staff was less than I expected. Still I’m a sucker for a sci-fi murder mystery. Thanks for the ARC, and cheers!

This is a twenty-first century Titanic, where the iceberg is made of a class struggle, outer space plays the role of icy waters, and Titanic itself is a prestigious space station hosting the reunion party for an obnoxiously elite high school.

In my imagination, the hotel in Escape Velocity was a modified version of the Fhloston Paradise cruise ship in the 1997 movie The Fifth Element. The characters gathered to watch an opera on the space station about 3/4 of the way through the book, just like the opera in Fifth Element, too.

Here's the thing about Victor Manibo's late-21st century world: living on Earth sucks. Climate change has wrecked life stability and comfort. For some years, humans have been setting up a settlement on Mars, and a lot of people want to relocate there. But there's a limited number of spots.

To qualify, people collect merit points that have a lot in common with the Canadian immigration system. An aspiring Mars resident can receive points for getting a PhD (solid), doing a spacewalk (cool), speaking French (d'acc), biological capacity to conceive a healthy child and work experience (wait a minute, rewind rewind rewind rewind, what was that last one?!)

Victor Manibo attempts to accomplish a lot in Escape Velocity's 368 pages:
- A non-linear narrative
- Two ensemble casts
- Upstairs/downstairs drama
- Murder mystery
- Another possible murder mystery - we don't quite know whether or not it's a murder until late in the novel
- Commentary on colonialism, LGBT+ discrimination, ableism, ethnic and class bias in the judicial system, the meaning of privilege, diaspora members' relationship with those who stay in the old country, extreme wealth disparity, and the effect of climate change on the global South
- Steamy scenes that develop characters or propel the plot
- A man floating through open space in the opening chapter, untethered from his space station and the plot that follows for 100 or 200 pages...

And then, of course, there's the science-fiction element, too. The Mars resettlement struggle was interesting to read about, and I would have liked more pages spent on the specifics of it. And I'm talking about more scenes with characters in them - not more documents from the UN Mars Resettlement Agency.

Although I was glad I stuck with Escape Velocity through the end, I think this may have been a little overambitious and didn't quite work as a coherent novel. I struggled to figure out what exactly to care about for three quarters of it. Nevertheless, there is promise here that likely just needs some more practice to achieve the author's vision. I would watch out for what Victor Manibo does in the future.

Content warnings for graphic sexuality, death, violence, murder, kidnapping, and ableism. I might be leaving some out due to a corrupted memory.

Thank you Victor Manibo and Erewhon/Kensington Books for a free NetGalley advance reader copy of Escape Velocity in exchange for an honest review.

Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo

Pros: compelling, fast paced, interesting characters

Cons: abusive dom/sub scene

The Rochford Institute is hosting their class of 2064 reunion on Space Habitat Altaire. As an added bonus, attending will net each participant at least 5 MERIT points, necessary to gain coveted spaces in the new Mars colony. Unlike her classmates, Ava Khan isn’t there to schmooze. She wants to know who really killed her abusive twin brother their last year of school, and she thinks her three oldest friends have the answer. Meanwhile, the station crew have a plan for how to make the world a better place.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of the four friends and Cielo, chief housekeeper on the Altaire. You learn more about each one, how things went in school, what they’ve been up, and why they’re really on the station. They’ve all got compelling stories, even if - despite what they think - they’re not particularly good people.

The book delves into the kinds of backroom deals that allow the super rich to influence the world and come out on top.

There’s an orgy scene (mildly graphic) and one character acts as Dom to another, in which a lot of minimizing language and swear words are used. The second scene with that pair went past words, and though it wasn’t graphic, it still left me feeling uncomfortable.

The ending hits hard and wasn’t what I was expecting. It’s a fast paced, compelling read.

La primera novela que leí de Victor Manibo, The Sleepless, me pareció una especulación muy sólida sobre una sociedad en la que cambiaba un parámetro determinado, en este caso la necesidad de dormir, para ver qué consecuencias traería consigo. Así que cuando se puso a tiro Escape Velocity tampoco lo pensé mucho y lo leí enseguida, aunque por desgracia no me he encontrado lo mismo en esta novela, que también tiene puntos fuertes pero muchos más débiles.


La acción tiene lugar en una hotel espacial de súper lujo, donde se celebrará una reunión por el aniversario de la graduación de uno de los institutos más selectos y elitistas del mundo. Los que pasaron por las aulas de Rochford son ahora los dueños de inmensas fortunas y gestionan las empresas más importantes del mundo. Todos ellos se reúnen, entre orgía y orgía (no es muy sutil el autor en esto), para conseguir su máxima aspiración en este momento, un billete para colonizar Marte. Pero un asesinato del pasado que no quedó suficientemente esclarecido y las maniobras políticas entre los candidatos no dejarán disfrutar de los lujos del cosmos a los asistentes.

Manibo ha escrito un libro que utiliza el misterio en habitación cerrada (o en estación espacial cerrada que para el caso es lo mismo) mezclado con la reivindicación social, pero no consigue equilibrar el interés entre ambas tramas. El misterio del pasado, cuyas consecuencias penden aún hoy sobre los protagonistas es bastante banal y con un conclusión para nada sorprendente. Y los tejemanejes del presente son previsibles y manidos.

No sé si ahora es temporada alta de meterse con los ultramillonarios o es que da la casualidad de que de eso van varios de los libros que he leído últimamente, pero es muy fácil hacer personajes abominables por sus acciones cuando son de una extracción tan diferente al “humano medio” que consideran al 99% de la población infrahumanos. No se salva ni uno. Me gusta que reciban su merecido, pero como me importaba tan poco sus problemas y rencillas, no se puede decir que la lectura me haya entusiasmado.

Curioso, cuando menos, que la escala para medir la idoneidad para colonizar Marte se llame MERIT, como el sistemas de familias de The Blighted Stars. Que ya sabemos que la meritocracia es un cuento chino cuando en una carrera de fondo hay quien empieza con kilómetros de ventaja, pero tampoco pasa nada si se es un poquito más sutil en la crítica.

Escape Velocity es una novela entretenida y reivindicativa, pero poco más.

A murder mystery in space was an intriguing concept! I jumped into this book with that in mind.

The story jumps right into it, not taking its time. The pacing was good overall and the characters were pretty compelling.

Negative: the ending. It felt like a word count was hit and it just needed to finish. I’ve heard the ending is a little polarizing for people so I’m not surprised!

Overall, this book was an interesting idea and pretty well executed besides a few parts!

Genre: SciFi

Review: I did not finish this novel for a few reasons.

Amateurish writing: when characters meet, they explain their whole back story in conversation. Who talks like that? "Oh, when we were in Bogota, three years ago, I remember this girl.." blah, blah.

The science that supports this station is contrived and rendered in simplistic terms.

Wading through someone else's ideas about sexuality and our given acceptance of those ideals rankles a bit..

Rating: DNF

Overall I enjoyed this book, it had a compelling cast of characters and interesting themes.

It felt vaguely reminiscent of Altered Carbon - space hotel, an untouchable elite, murder mystery - but slightly less dark.

Escape Velocity wastes no time, jumping right in to the plot, which left me backtracking to figure out the characters but did set up a lot of depth and context quickly. The characters were complex and flawed, leaving everyone interesting and no one to root for.

My only disappointment was the abrupt ending. It felt like the author hit a word limit and had to cram in a conclusion. I would have gladly read another 100.pages to bring it to a more satisfying finale.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC. I've gotta say this book is pretty expensive for what is essentially a bottle plot - it all took place on one spaceship and jumped perspectives & went through different motives. I think most of this book really goes through guilt, and how it eats away at the characters throughout their lives and impacts every interaction they have with each other. Like Knives Out, everyone's in it for themselves, but I liked every character regardless. It has a really good sense of scene, and excellent pacing. Major gay + trans rep too in a way that didn't say "hey it's the future and equality is here!" but rather acknowledged the perpetuation of inequality despite technological advances. Would recommend to anyone who loves the #drama of it all.

I was utterly gripped by Escape Velocity, but it was lacking in some areas - and what began as an immensely strong read deteriorated somewhat towards the end. The two parallel plot lines in this book weren't always cohesive, with the pasts of the rich passengers being given a lot more focus - this led to them being more well-developed as characters than their crew counterparts (although they all could have been more fully formed).
Although I understand what the ending was aiming for, it felt very unsatisfactory to me - possibly this was purposeful, with both sides coming off as awful, but it makes the comparisons to Knives Out or Parasite feel inaccurate.
That said, for the majority of the book, Escape Velocity is an absolute page-turner and really engaging - I was thoroughly immersed., especially for the first three-quarters. Had this been a book that focussed on just one of the two plot lines, I feel like I would have rated it a lot higher.
Escape Velocity aims high, but doesn't quite hit the mark - nonetheless, it's a fast-paced, entertaining read.
3.5 rounded up to 4.

Mixed feelings about this read, but glad to have read it.

In this story, alumni from a prestigious astronautical high school convene for the weekend at a resort in space. A few of them have a messy past related to the murder of one of their fellow students and lies are getting uncovered. There's also a plot amongst the working class of the resort to ... do something about the uber rich, let's say.

I like a story of friends with secrets from the past, so I enjoyed that part of the book. I found each of the characters that make up the friend group both compelling and reprehensible which I think is the point. I thought the murder mystery part of the book was going to be on the resort in the present day, so that did throw me off, but I worked with it.

I bet the ending will be polarizing when this comes out, but I liked it a lot about it. I thought it was bold in the best way.

Now for my disappointments. There are a couple big things I struggled with. One is that the two plotlines didn't mesh well for me (the worker rebellion and the murder mystery). They were so unrelated. Second is that I think the worker piece of the story wasn't given enough page time. Going into this book, I thought I'd get mostly a worker POV, but it's actually mostly the rich people. And I found the rich people to be much more fleshed out as characters, whereas the workers were quite flat and their identities reduced to the fact that they are poor and struggling. That feels really odd given the message of the book.

Whenever I'm dissatisfied with a book, I like to mull over what I think would have worked better for me. In this case I think I would have wanted either 1) the worker rebellion piece removed, and the rich people (at least those involved in the murder plot) to self-destruct on their own or 2) a much longer book that gave equal page time to the workers, including flashbacks like the rich people. Perhaps find a way to better mesh the two plots together in the process, creating connections between characters.

The messaging of the book is a bit of a muddle for me, but not necessarily in a bad way in the end. There are times when it's quite heavy handed (contributing to the flatness of the worker characters), but the way the story ends feel more ambiguous in terms of the whether this rebellion was "good" or "bad." I don't want to say too much more for spoiler-y reasons. :)

I don't think pitching this book as Knives Out meets Parasite makes a lot of sense. I'd go with The Menu or Triangle of Sadness to better fit the situation, but neither of those are perfect either. I had been *hoping* for something that felt more like The Menu in its over-the-top, poetic retribution to be honest. There's still a good story here, but these kind of mashup pitches are often inaccurate, so that was frustrating.

I really enjoyed Manibo's debut The Sleepless, and while I liked this release less, I'll still read more from him because I enjoy the tone he takes in his SF (thoughtful, dark, plotty).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.