It's a competent book! And after the God Pig is introduced, there's some real fun to it! (maybe that's a spoiler? it happens in the first 10% of the book and was the main reason I felt compelled to keep reading)
It gets a little heady when, every other chapter or so, it wades in slipstream territory but that's something I expected with China Miéville's name attached.
It also reads like an adaptation, which I think it is, of Keanu's previous work on the BRZRKR comic. By that I mean, it feels like a world that's been filled in elsewhere and, since I hadn't read BRZRKR, it meant the world just wasn't all the way filled in for me.
Broadly, I have to imagine if you enjoyed the BRZRKR comics this is going to be satisfying, there's a lot of exposition and lore. If you haven't read the BRZRKR comics, it will feel a bit foreign but if you're into surreal, borderline psychedelic, immortality tales, this may do the trick!
(Final recommendation to be shared with email subscribers of WordSmarts.com)

What a unique book. Keanu writing a sci fi really intrigued me since I love him. However this book seemed all over the place and a bit strange. There was so much potential to this story but just lacked so much.

2.5

I confess that I only started reading this because of Keanu Reeves's name.

I occasionally read sci-fi, but it's not my favorite genre, so going into this, I was already a little unsure if I was going to like it.

But I really don't enjoy reading stories where I'm confused at what's happening 90% of the time- I know some people can read stories like that and just go along for the ride, but that's not me.

There's an audience out there who enjoys this type of jumbled, confusing science fiction story, but it sadly does not include me.

Follow the harrowing journey of Unute, “B”, in his quest over the ages to understand his purpose and find mortality.

Is there NOTHING that Keanu Reeves can't do‽ If you, the reader, are anything like me, you're a fan, and that's probably why you're picking this up. You might even be a little more niche and are also familiar with Brzrkr (the comic this is based on. Also written by Reeves) AND the works of China Miéville.

The Book of Elsewhere is dark, gritty, and immensely challenging. Having the basic knowledge of Brzrkr (I’ve only read volumes one & two. Three is sitting on my nightstand) will give you a leg up when it comes to powering through the first few chapters. I promise there is *possibly* a rhythm to the writing, and a map to the madness, even if it's not clear at the beginning. Or at the end. You're going to be standing in front of a board like Charlie Kelly, a cigarette in one hand, deep dark bags under your eyes, trying to piece the whole book together. It's that kind of book.

I would love to know who wrote what chapters, or how the authors collaborated. Some chapters feel more obscure, and I’d like to assume that's Miéville’s writing, but who knows!

This is for those of us who long for more understanding of the comics. A much needed deep dive into the lore of Unute, and those who have studied him through the ages.

If you're an information hound, a fan of Miéville's fantastical writing, or would just like to read a book that feels like a movie Reeves is starring in (because he absolutely starred himself in the comics), then pick this up! It's not for everyone, but for those of us who it is for, it's a really gooey treat.

Available July 23, 2024.

Review posted on Goodreads & Instagram (@books.with.bets) 7/14/24

The Book of Elsewhere is the story of "B" or Unute, who is... well, he's an 80 thousand year old immortal berserker, really. He's a lot of things, and he's gone through a lot in such a long life. Unute just wants to be able to die. He doesn't want to die, mind you, he just wants to be able to die. A mysterious group of scientists and soldiers have promised him that they can help him do it. In the mean time, he does missions for them, and they do experiments on him. And in the end, there are shenanigans of a most mysterious kind.

Okay, so to start, you don't technically have to have read BRZRKR in order to read this and find enjoyment in it, but I have read BRZRKR, and I found that it helped, because this can get weird more often than not. This book isn't exactly a sequel to that story, it's more of a retelling. The plots are similar but there are definitely different elements, so you can read both and find enjoyment in both.

As I told my friends, I have read the Keanu Reeves book starring Keanu Reeves which is a retelling of the Keanu Reeves comic starring Keanu Reeves. That said, it absolutely does have China Miéville’s style to it, which is noticeable from the start, because he has a very unique style, and also because it has the word 'palimpsest' in it at least once.

The comic ended weirdly. The book ended differently and also weirdly, but all the same, I liked it. I found myself having trouble putting it down to sleep and whatnot. I think this is what I call a Marmite book. You either like it or you hate it, and there isn't really a lot of in-between. There is an audiobook up for preorder at this point, and it is a criminal action that Keanu Reeves doesn't narrate the book by Keanu Reeves starring Keanu Reeves based off the comic by Keanu Reeves starring Keanu Reeves. (I will never not make this joke but at the same time, I would listen the shit out of this audiobook were it narrated thusly). I'd say give it a try if you liked the comic, or if you have read and liked a book by China Miéville.

It's hard to know how to review this one because it will appeal to the handful of readers who love weird speculative fiction with some comic book-esque ultra-violence and body horror tossed in for good measure. I was lucky to get this ARC because I'm in the target audience and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

This story follows an immortal warrior who goes into a kind of berserk fury fugue when he goes to battle, so to speak, and across the unfathomable years he's been around, has now become a sort of tool in a special military unit in exchange for their help in making him mortal. It jumps around multiple timelines and POVs to aid in telling the story of "B" as he is known now, throughout the ages.

I thought it had a unique view of immortality that wasn't the usual paranormal or mythological/god stuff. It's a complex slow burn and I don't think readers are meant to understand all of it. For anyone who enjoys speculative fiction that leans into the weird and comic books, this one is for you!

Also, how cool is it that THE Keanu Reeves wrote part of this?! I don't know what parts, but still, very cool.

The Book of Elsewhere is definitely a slow burn, as much of Miêville's work tends to be, but not to the point of making it difficult to stay engaged by the story. A sci-fi story combining the action of a graphic novel with the extravagance of language of the New Weird, The Book of Elsewhere surely does transport the reader elsewhere. Where that is...well...I'm not sure. There's a fair amount to chew on in this novel. It centers primarily on the relationship to death we each have as individuals and groups. Do we annihilate, accept, or acquiesce to death? What is death? And what is life, faith, and meaning? Heady questions as is Miêville's purview. While I can't speak to the BRZRKR comics' themes and narrative strategies, this felt on par for what Miêville tends to do. The first two acts seem to build up to a rather satisfying climax, but the conclusion tends to fall short with so many loose ends to tie up. It wasn't entirely disappointing, but certainly made me want more clarity.

Ultimately, this was a solid read and I would be interested to see future collaborations between these two. The combination made the subject matter and story a more accessible while still thought-provoking read. Content warnings for sure regarding death, suicide, torture, and violence as a whole. A 3.25/5 stars from me. Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing me an advanced digital copy of this to read! I went into this completely open with little to no knowledge of Mieville or Reeves’ previous written works and I have to say, this was impressive to me!

There was complex world building, interesting characters, non-linear style elements and unique plot points. This work is particularly cerebral and is filled with poetic prose and vivid descriptions. This is very much a story that I had to consume slowly, thoughtfully, and consciously and I am so glad that I did. If you’re up for something experimental, complex, and thought provoking — this is for you!

My Rating Scale:

5 ⭐️ = changed my life
4 ⭐️ = must read
3 ⭐️ = liked it, entertaining
2 ⭐️ = didn’t like, avoid
1 ⭐️ = run. save yourself

I recently finished this sci-fi novel that left me with mixed feelings. The plot was pretty much what you’d expect from the genre, filled with futuristic elements and imaginative world-building. However, there was something unique about this story: the depth of emotions that the author managed to weave into even the minor characters. This added a surprising layer of richness and complexity to the narrative, which I think can be attributed to the author’s distinctive writing style.

That being said, the book was definitely a slow burn. It took me a few days of taking breaks, coming back to the story, and pushing myself to keep reading before things really started to pick up. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a fast-paced read.

For fans of true sci-fi like Star Trek, Star Wars, or Dune (minus the heavy romance elements), I’d still recommend this book. The emotional depth gives it a fresh twist, making it a worthwhile read despite the slow start. If you have the patience to stick with it, you’ll find it a rewarding experience.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fun. I didn’t understand it - I didn’t expect too, really, knowing China Miéville - but I enjoyed it all the same.

Obviously the big attention-getter here is Keanu Reeves. In most cases I would think it was a gimmick, but Reeves and Miéville both (from everything I’ve heard) have too much artistic integrity to do that sort of thing, and both have enough cachet they don’t really need to anyway. If you’d told me a year ago I’d be reading a book about an immortal warrior and the immortal pig who hates him personally co-written by Ted/Neo/John Wick, I’d have been skeptical. But it works.

The main character here is Unute, also known as B. He’s 80,000 years old, more or less. He can be killed, if enough damage is done - he heals very effectively, so it takes a lot - but his bits and pieces will always congeal into an egg and he’ll reemerge none the worse for wear. When sufficiently stressed/hurt, he enters a berserk state and kills … pretty much everything. He’s serving as part of an elite commando team, for entirely his own reasons. The job of the rest of the commandos is to provide support and then get the hell out of the way when Unute’s eyes start glowing blue. The brass pretends to give him orders, and he pretends to follow them, with the unspoken agreement that they won’t ever try to order him to do anything he doesn’t want to do. Meanwhile, there’s a team of scientists studying Unute, trying to figure out exactly what/how he is, precisely. Unute doesn’t mind; they’re not the first, and won’t be the last.

Early on in the book, after some very weird stuff goes on during a mission, Unute shows up at the lab with the corpse of a pig, of all things. To be more precise, it’s a [Babirusa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babirusa), an Indonesian deer-pig. It, he tells the team, is the only other thing he’s ever met that has the same kind of immortality as Unute, and is nearly as old as Unute himself. No matter where he goes, anywhere in the world, the pig finds him eventually. The pig carcass forms its egg, hatches out of it, and immediately tries to kill Unute - as it always does, he says.

As I said at the top of this review, I didn’t really understand this book. I wasn’t really expecting to - I expect anything Miéville is part of to be New Weird, and New Weird is always, well, weird. But I enjoyed it quite a lot all the same. The book is a mix of perspectives - different members of the team that works with Unute; Unute himself; flashback sections to people Unute encountered over the course of his long, long life. These interludes were probably my favorite part. I’d quite happily read an entire anthology following Unute down the millenia.

There is, I understand, a related graphic novel co-written by Reeves called *BRZRKR*. I wasn’t aware of this before I read the book, but I’m very curious to check it out.

I admit up front that I requested this because it was written by Keanu Reeves and I was curious to see what he had to offer. And I figured that working with China Mieville would steer him to a good tale. Regrettably, I was wrong. They lost me early on - I couldn't connect or indeed figure out what was happening. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I DNF but I'm sure there are others out there who will really enjoy it.

The Book of Elsewhere is a science fiction novel inspired by the world of the BRZRKR comic books.

As in BRZRKR, we follow "B" - a demigod who cannot die, currently working with a government secret task force while searching for answers to his existence. While we also follow the 2 government agents working alongside B, The Book of Elsewhere is less character-driven and focuses more on the mystery of B's godlike abilities and how it is related to another soldier who miraculously comes back to life.

I would classify The Book of Elsewhere as 'weird science fiction' and a military thriller. There are horror aspects as well. I really enjoyed some of B's flashbacks throughout history. This is written in a very unique style, and each character's differences are portrayed in how their POV or reflection is written. There are sometimes long paragraphs of reflection that can contain run-on sentences (meant to emphasize the stream of conscious thinking). I believe the writing style is the most challenging aspect of this novel. It was difficult to read and understand at first, but I was surprised with how quickly I adapted to it. I was hooked on the mystery and found myself wanting answers as much as B.

The story, told from our main character POV's, with interlude-style flashbacks from various characters, is fast-paced and thrilling, with poetic prose that reflects on the meaning of life and death. I would recommend this for weird sci fi and military thriller fans, and of course, fans of the comic books. I really enjoyed my time reading The Book of Elsewhere and gave it 3.75 stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC.

For obvious reasons, we *all* requested this book from Netgalley, amirite?

I love science fiction and I've enjoyed books by China Mieville (Perdido Street Station) but this one eluded me, for the most part. I found it more difficult than usual to become absorbed in the story. I felt removed from the text, as if I were observing myself reading it and wondering if I was understanding it. It's not you, Keanu, it's me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc to review.

DNF at 20%. I went in knowing this could be odd and take some time to get into, I could never get into a good rhythm with it and wasn’t really following what was going on. The writing is very descriptive and some people may like the dark vibes this offers,

This story was definitely a TRIP. Based off the graphic novels of Reeves (BRZRKR etc.), which admittedly I have not read, we follow some characters I was unfamiliar with. But I mean, that is the case for most other books, isn't it? If sci-fi, military books are your jam, give this one a read. Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for this ARC. This drops July 23, 2024!

If you enjoy unusual and very different military thrillers and science fiction, then The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Mieville may be the book you’ve been wanting to read. Legends tell of a warrior who can’t be killed. In this story, he’s known as “B” and he wants more than to kill and to die and come back to life repeatedly. When a dead soldier comes back to life, B wonders if there’s another with similar abilities to his own.

While I enjoy both military thrillers and science fiction, this one didn’t quite live up to its potential. The authors have written a novel that is stylistically different. However, it didn’t quite work for me. The writing style felt uneven and unfocused at times which adversely affected the flow and made it harder to follow. It’s non-linear and contains graphic violence at times. Unfortunately, only three of the many characters have any depth to them. Despite this, it has a great premise and is thought-provoking. The prose is also poetic at times and the worldbuilding is excellent.

Overall, this is a unique and fascinating novel that captures the imagination.

Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine – Del Rey, Keanu Reeves, and China Mieville provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be July 23, 2024.

I really enjoyed this book and think you will if you like speculative fiction. The format of present day and flashbacks worked really well here. The writing was at times, beautiful, and at times so descriptive it turned my stomach and both those things worked to make the story catch the reader’s attention while they’re still working out the world and stories. Highly recommend.

This is an interesting book but I don’t think it’s for me I was kinda confused as to what was going the concept is interesting will read again and hopefully I fully grasped it lol

I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. It began with violence and then meandered through a few more chapters before the story took hold and I enjoyed it. It’s hard to compress 80,000 years into one book but the authors do a fine job of telling a thrilling and engaging story. I loved learning about B and his struggles with immortality and found that he was an endearing character I would like to see appear again.

3 1/2 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. Because that's how rounding works.

I've noticed that other reviewers have claimed a lack of readability on the part of this new collab novel by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville. In truth, I only noticed that in the first chapter, where an elite unit of soldiers get their guts blown out of their bodies. The writing was stilted and staccato, almost a match to the carnage it described. I did not find this writing in quality, as the next chapter, which jumped place and time, was written with an eloquent touch.

This book has got to be one of the strangest I have read this year. It's based off the graphic novels of Reeves, such as BRZRKR, Volume 1, (currently up on Netgalley!) about an immortal warrior, Unute, who may or may not be the personification of Death. Having been around 80,000 years, let's just say that Unute is a tad bit lonely and has questions about his origin and purpose. There's a babirusa pig, also immortal, that has been tailing him for the last 78,000 years. And currently, a super-secret government team that's trying to splice him to create super-soldiers.

I enjoyed the book much more that I thought I would, and especially liked the interlude stories, of characters such as the Stowaway or the Doctor or the Wife, people with whom B had come into contact with and change the story's perspective in small or large ways.

Overall, this is a win for me. I'm going to delve into the graphic novels next. Thanks Netgalley, et al!