Neuvel’s handle on the human condition makes his analysis of humanity’s response compelling and highly readable. As new parts are found, what does it mean for our history, science, and religion? What will humanity’s response be? How do we cope with the discovery that not only are we not alone in the universe but also technologically insignificant to whatever is out there? The rest of Sleeping Giants and the follow-up novels charts how humanity deals with such a discovery. Alien technology, thousands of years old. A giant hand, somewhere in small-town America. A mysterious artifact is found in the ground. The Strong PremiseĪt the heart of all science fiction is the concept. Neuvel ‘s premise is not an original one, but in his hands feels fresh and original. The three volumes combine to make a satisfying whole. Not so with the Themis Files. I’m not sure how the overall story arc evolved, in author Sylvain Neuvel’s mind, but despite Sleeping Giants being a complete story, there are enough dangling threads to make a seamless connection to Waking Gods. The continuation into Only Human is a little more jarring, there is a marked change in tone, but nevertheless, the series works. , The first book in the series is often a complete story and what then follows feels bolted on a continuation of something that was already complete. It often feels like all the best ideas were put into book one and, after a successful first volume, the author is asked to write more along the same vein. I find with many modern trilogies the follow-up books are weaker than the first. Here are five reasons why you should read them. The Themis Files are science fiction of the highest order. Look out for another 5 Reasons post soon!). Jemisin’s excellent The Fifth Seasonout of the way first. Yet it’s only now that I’ve found a gap in the schedule to write about them.

I started the first book, Sleeping Giants, back in May and devoured it, and the two subsequent books, Waking Gods and Only Human, in short order.

So it is with the Themis Files by Sylvain Neuvel, one of the best trilogies I’ve read in a very long time. Family life intervenes, new deadlines arrive, and books I’ve loved sit on the paper mountain patiently waiting for the attention they deserve. It’s a peculiar fact of my reviewing life that sometimes the things I enjoy the most end up falling by wayside.

Themis files book 4