This is really my favorite kind of science fiction: lots of philosophical ideas but still filled with lovable characters. The voice of the AI character, Nix, manages to be both machine and utterly, wonderfully human. The world, a strange analog for our own, raises important questions about big topics such as revolution and generational wealth. The ending strikes just the right emotional tone. This is Swyler at her best.

Thank you @atriabooks #partner for the gifted copies of this book!

Anytime I see AI I get excited to read about it because I work in the tech industry and love to see where authors will take their story based on their own interpretations! I had high hopes for this one based on that alone however, this didn’t quite land the way I thought it was going to. This was a first time for me reading this author and based on the ideas of this book I would definitely try one more time with this author. This book was definitely a journey taking almost the entire book to build the world. The parts I enjoyed was the futuristic design and nature of trying to survive inside a walled city. That concept is a fun one for me, think maze-runner. 😀 Anywho, I think I struggled with the pacing (slow) and the complexity of the story in the beginning however, the ending saved the the book for me! I think if you’re a fan of technology, sci-fi, futuristic, thought provoking books give this one a try!

We Lived on the Horizon by Erika Swyler is a contemplative sci-fi novel of an AI-managed city in a post-apocalyptic world. That premise might make it sound expansive and sprawling, but the book is surprisingly insular in its direct focus, even as the world outside our characters keeps on moving without them. It’s framed around a murder, but it’s hardly a mystery or a thriller. It’s more like a quiet character study of people who wouldn’t be main characters or even named at all in most books, living through a more conventional dramatic story. This is both a strength and a weakness, as the book manages to be unique and intimate but lacks the excitement or forward momentum of the story it’s intentionally sidelining.

Our ostensible protagonist is Enita, an older woman who has been Sainted (effectively allowed to live off the societal benefit her innovative ancestors provided to the city), yet spends her days growing artificial body parts and performing surgeries for free. She’s a solitary person, only speaking to her ex/best friend/rival Helen and to Nix, the name she’s given to her house’s AI assistant. The relationship between Enita and Helen is complex and interesting; they still deeply love each other even as they are pushed away by each other’s prickliness and specificities. But the heart of the novel actually lies with Nix, the AI assistant. Enita has grown an artificial body for Nix, who is slowly becoming more and more human, grappling with the nuances of losing their interconnected plurality. Much of the book is from Nix’s perspective, who sees their own transformation as an extension of their initial purpose: to aid Enita in whatever she requires. Her relationship to Enita is just as complicated and prickly as Enita and Helen’s. Nix is in many ways Enita’s child, made to learn from her, help her, and ultimately replace her, but Nix was also Enita’s grandfather’s house system, and therefore raised her too. I found myself most emotionally engaged when reading about Nix’s interiority, about how they were intrigued by their new human form but also grieving the loss of a way of being we’ll never fully understand.

It would go into spoilers to talk too much about one of the book’s central thesis, but I’ll tread carefully. Nix is not the only character grappling with purpose, even as they have a clear one and humanity doesn’t. Elena and Helen, as Sainted, live easy lives of comfort gifted to them by their ancestor’s contributions, while many around them work themselves to the bone or literally give of their bodies to pay off their “societal debt.” Looking at the world around them, they understand that if things are to change for the better, it might mean they will have to suffer in turn. As someone lucky enough to live a pretty comfortable life in the imperial core, it definitely hits close to home and is surely intended to. What is our purpose living this kind of life? Would others be justified in wanting a world where my lifestyle couldn’t exist?

In the end, despite this big central question, I don’t know if the book had the depth of ideas I wished it would have. Much of traditional science fiction sacrifices characters on the altar of the idea, the prediction, the invention, the spark of creative change called the novum in sci-fi studies. The rest focuses on plot and adventure with the trapping of sci-fi. We Lived on the Horizon tries to inhabit a different position – a character study – but doesn’t quite grapple with ideas in a new way, and only halfheartedly tries its hand at a plot. It’s still worth reading, especially as a provocation to those of us living Sainted lives, and I’d be eager to see what Swyler does next.

We Lived on the Horizon is set to publish on January 14, 2025.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

I loved this book. Like its speculative predecessors—Margaret Atwood and Octavia Butler come to mind—Swyler builds a fully immersive world that she uses to ask questions about our own humanity and its purpose, all without feeling didactic It's also one of the most successful explorations of what it means to be machine or human and the spectrum that exists between that I've ever read. So excited for the world to read this book!

This was a different read, in a good way mostly, it was slow in parts, but overall I finished it. Bulwark is a walled city populated by people that are separated by class, some are sainted (think well off), some not so much and some are the poorest. The sainted live in nice houses and have servants (in the form of artificial intelligence bots) that take care of everything, there is also AI for the HVAC, the kitchen and most other household needs. One AI in particular is the main lead in charge of the others, Nix gets around at first on a series of rails affixed to the roof that allow it to propel around various rooms. The female owner, Enita, is a surgeon of sorts, she grows body parts/organs and inserts them into people that require them. She goes one step further and changes Nix into a person of sorts, meaning it can now walk around. Everyone in Bulwark has what's called a life debt, every time they have to go to a doctor or hospital, the debt increases and they are forced to work to pay it off, the sainted do not carry any debt which makes the not so fortunate envious. Nix begins to notice that there is a break down in communication with the AI that oversees Bulwark, either no communication or garbage data. Nix and Enita soon realize that Bulwark is going to fall, and Enita decides on drastic action. Overall an interesting read and if you enjoy literary futuristic type reads you will enjoy this. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Atria Books for the ARC.

Erika Swyler first captivated me when I stumbled across a copy of her novel The Book of Speculation. I fell deep in love with her words, her characters, and the world she made me appreciate a tiny bit more. Something you should know about reading Swyler's work is that no two pieces are twins, sisters, or even second cousins twice removed. Heck, I don't even know if they are related to each other. They are all so different. But each book I've read of hers is a world of wonders unseen and unknown before. We Lived on the Horizons is about a city of the future, that's currently on the brink. It has only a few real characters, but they managed to get very deeply under my skin. I found myself pondering themes of identity and humanity, while still being thoroughly entertained. This book will stay with me for a long time. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the review copy. 4.25 stars

Thank you, Atria Books, for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

In a post-apocalyptic future, Saint Enita Malovis is an accomplished bio-prosthetist living within the heavily mechanized city of Bulwark. She’s enjoyed a life of privilege, and now in her twilight years, she’s created a body for Nix, her beloved house AI. While Enita and Nix adjust to the latter’s new form, revolution rumbles. Not everyone in Bulwark shares Enita’s (mostly) carefree lifestyle, and the Sainted–heirs to Bulwark’s founding families–are being murdered. Through Neren, a Body Martyr whom Enita and Nix accidentally “ruin” with nanotech transfusions, the two intersect with the burgeoning revolution and discover their place within it.

Gorgeous worldbuilding and a particularly memorable representation of AI consciousness serves as a backdrop for complex reflections on identity. We Lived on the Horizon examines what it is to be human, AI, an individual, a member of a community or all of the above at once, blurring boundaries and highlighting how much of the self is created through deliberate choice.

Bulwark’s Life Debt system is a potent metaphor for contemporary class systems. Enita brilliantly captures the perspective of someone living atop a crumbling system. Despite using her position to provide humanitarian services free of charge, she is nevertheless complicit in Bulwark’s inequities. Enita and those around her view the coming revolution from ivory towers, and compared to that big picture view, the revolution as experienced on the ground feels less fleshed out. While there’s much to be said about the tide of history, the characters intended to humanize such tides fall short, and readers looking for more dramatic action may find the novel slow-paced, especially ahead of its climax.

If you love science fiction with slower, more literary sensibilities, this is a fantastic pick. If you’ve been looking for scifi with a focus on information science, you’re in luck! If reexamining your place in a world barreling toward a breaking point feels timely, then–hands down–this book is for you.

In a distant future dominated by relentless storms and drought, the enclosed city of Bulwark shields its citizens within a sanctuary powered by sentient AI. Life in Bulwark revolves around an intricate system of "life-hours," a currency earned through labor to meet each individual's needs. Everyone contributes—except the Sainted. These privileged descendants of families who made immense sacrifices to build Bulwark centuries ago enjoy lives of luxury, sustained by a vast reservoir of inherited life-hours.

Saint Enita, however, refuses to squander her days in indulgence. Taught by her grandfather, she mastered the craft of building bioprosthetics, dedicating her life to mending the broken bodies of the workers who sustain Bulwark in the present. Driven by her passion and a sense of duty, she constructs an entire human body for her house AI, Nix, forging a partner to assist her as she approaches the twilight of her life.

Yet the winds of change are blowing. Revolution simmers beneath the surface, challenging the foundations of a society that clings too tightly to outdated systems. Enita and Nix will face choices that will echo far beyond one lifetime, reshaping the city and its future.

Swyler masterfully delves into themes of bodily autonomy, the complexities of human emotion, and the inevitability of upheaval in societies resistant to change. She examines how practical solutions, born of necessity, can calcify into dogma, even as their relevance fades. Drawing inspiration from the legacies of Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia Butler, and Margaret Atwood, Swyler's work earns its place alongside these giants of speculative fiction. A highly recommended read.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

We Lived on the Horizon is my third book of Erika Swyler's. While it's really interesting, I wouldn't say I enjoyed it nearly as much as her two previous works.

This is her take on speculative science fiction where AI controls the walled city and the houses within. The world is very imaginative and has a really interesting take on a new economic system where perceived sacrifice is rewarded. After generations, a new class of ultra-rich are deemed Saints and can attain luxuries that extend lives like years credited in a bank account. As opposed to the non-Saints, who can't afford such things and are most likely in some form of life debt.

It's a slow burn, thought-provoking story. Without giving too much away the connectedness of the city was interesting, as well as the socioeconomics and class hierarchies. I did find my interest waning about halfway through. When the nature of being human is discussed for too long, my eyes just glaze. There was only ever one way this story could go and I think it found its natural conclusion.

I really thought I would love this one. The premise and post-apocalyptic world 300 years in the future sounded so promising. But it just didn't some together in a satisfying way for me. Maybe what's left of humanity is surviving inside a walled city. Everything is controlled by artificial intelligence. People are born with or without a debt to society and have to work to pay it back accordingly. Sainted people are descendants of the founders of the city, and receive transplants from body martyrs. Unrest is growing among the working class, and holes are appearing in the code of the computer systems. The world building took almost the entire novel, with the main action happening in the last couple of chapters. There was a lot of character development, but it centered almost entirely on the characters' romantic lives. The character with the biggest story arc was actually an AI system that controls the house of one of the human characters. Nix is transitioning into a body and is losing touch with the "mainframe" of the city. I guess I'm just not ready for "house system as a person" characters.

There are robot people who are Martyrs who donate their limbs for others because of debt (not financial). The Sainted come from lines of good people robots and can do no wrong. The city is Bulwark. I can’t tell you much else. Thank you to Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was pretty excited about this book when I read the description - AI, a speculative future in a post apocalyptic world. To me, the execution missed a bit. The writing was good, the premise of the story was good, but most of the characters weren’t that interesting to me. The build up and the description of what was coming seemed to also drag & I had some trouble getting in to it. The last quarter of the book had some redeeming qualities, the action picked up and it made me feel some Matrix vibes (and I love the Matrix.) The book didn’t really make me think about AI or bioAI with more curiosity or differently, I hoped to at least get a little of that.

Many thanks to by Erika Swyler, Netgalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read a pre-release e-book version of this novel for the exchange of my honest thoughts.

what a genuinely weird book. the ending was a little corny, but it has plenty of good ideas. people who liked Ancilliary Justice will probably enjoy this.

I didn't love or hate this book and felt it was trying a bit too much. The plot is a little too weird and fantastical for my taste.

We Lived on the Horizon by Erika Swyler offers incredibly detailed world-building, immersing readers in the dystopian city of Bulwark with its AI governance and elite Sainted class. The creativity is undeniable, and the writing is often stunning. However, despite the vivid setting and unique concepts, I found it hard to stay fully engaged throughout - but I'm probably in the minority there. Still, for those who appreciate imaginative sci-fi with rich prose, this book is definitely worth exploring.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for teh ARC.

I read somewhere that the author worked on this book for ten years and I think ten years ago I would have had a very different reaction to this book. With the boom of AI, I'm more scared of Artificial Intelligence, more unbelieving in it's "conscienceless". So it's hard for me to be emotionally connected to a main character that is an AI. That being said Nix is actually the most likable character in the novel, so maybe that does say something about humanity. I also thought the book was very repetitive, not a lot happened but musings on the state of AI and on what a house system should provide for humans. This just wasn't the book for me.

the city of bulwark stands alone behind high walls in the desert of a post apocalyptic earth, watched over by an ai called parallax. descendants of early city leaders live lives of luxury, rewarded for the work of their ancestors, only a handful still contributing to their society. but most of bulwark residents are born into an inescapable debt system. in between are the bureaucrats who maintain parallax whilst trading in favors and influence. imbalance is growing. revolution is coming to bulwark. and even parallax agrees it is needed. but their are pieces of themselves they wish to preserve. swyler skillfully navigates issues if class, gender, identity, individualiity, duty, purpose, technology, and economics in a positively le guinian tale. don't be surprised if you see it on some of next year's awards lists.

This book is the latest from the author of the very popular THE BOOK OF SPECULATION. This is odd. While reading it I thought I was liking it quite a bit, but now, hardly any time later, I cannot remember one single thing about it and even looking at my notes doesn’t help. I’m honestly looking at jottings in my own handwriting thinking, “wow, I read this? And wrote all this about it?” Because it is gone. Totally gone. So, it’ was obviously not at all memorable for me.

Bulwark is a walled city created to protect people to survive any number of horrible events. AI runs the city, “Bulwark was an entity, a thinking, living thing.” Sacrifice is rewarded. There’s an elite class which has evolved from descendants of those who gave up the most long ago; they are called the Sainted.

OK. This is coming back to me now.

Saint Enita Malovis of the House Saint Malovis is a bio-prosthetist, but few citizens choose to use her services. She feels the end of her life approaching and she wants to preserve her legacy so she creates a physical being, Nix, whom she fills with her knowledge and experience. While she is working on Nix another Saint is murdered and for some reason Bulwark Azi erases the incident from its data. Why? Anita and Nix get drawn into the mystery.

Nix is not totally made from scratch; he began as the voice/AI system of Enita’s home, and he first belonged to Enita’s grandfather. As he is first formed he remains attached to the house, but is then able to move freely.

As mentioned, almost none of Bulwark’s citizens want Enita’s prosthetics; when needed they make use of Body Martyrs, citizens who make organ donations. These people have their life debts dramatically reduced (the Saints have untold numbers of life credits), and some Body Martyrs even have life debts forgiven. However, the Body Martyrs are truly altruistic and are generally identified in childhood.

Enita and Nix come into contact with a Body Martyr, Neron. Soon it becomes clear that the murder of a Saint isn’t the biggest problem in Bulwark. Enita, Nix, Neron and Enita’s best friend and former lover have to decide how to best protect themselves against what is to come.

So, yeah, now I remember. This is not the type of book that I would normally read, but I was intrigued by the premise and I enjoyed the discussions of AI. Sometimes the book was from Enita’s POV in the third person, but sometimes it was third person omniscient, when commenting on society, which was occasionally jarring, when it switched.

I enjoyed the book, but, as mentioned, it took me a minute to get sucked back into its orbit. Others will like it much more, I suspect.

We Lived on the Horizon was a captivating and atmospheric read. Swyler's writing is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid pictures with lines like, "The sea was a symphony of blues, crashing against the rocks in a timeless rhythm."

I was drawn into the characters' struggles and triumphs, their deep connection to the sea, and the enduring power of love and loss. The exploration of family secrets and the echoes of the past resonated deeply. However, the nonlinear narrative and the shifting perspectives took a bit of getting used to, and I occasionally found myself losing track of the timeline.

Overall, We Lived on the Horizon is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that explores the complexities of human connection and the enduring power of the natural world.

I am so excited for this book to come out and for everyone to read it so we can discuss it. Be sure to add it to your pre-order list—it’s releasing on January 14, 2025. We’re planning to pick up an extra copy, so feel free to borrow it if you need one.

Erika mentioned that she has worked on this book for 10 years, and it really shows. The story is incredibly layered and nuanced, making this my favorite of hers so far. One of the blurbs compares her writing to that of Ursula K. Le Guin and Iain M. Banks. Having read Le Guin, I can wholeheartedly agree with that comparison.

The story is compelling. I found myself constantly reaching for my Kindle or Kindle app to sneak in a few pages whenever I could, and then devouring large portions at night. The world she’s created feels real and believable, almost like stepping into a Kazuo Ishiguro novel.

Yet, it’s also a quiet novel—one that invites pondering, wondering, and deep thinking. Themes of utopia and revolution, body autonomy, body mutilation, and technology are woven throughout. This will make an excellent book club pick.

I also think this book would pair wonderfully with T.J. Klune's "In the Lives of Puppets", "Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro, and "Service Model" by Adrian Tchaikovsky.