Review: The Maredian by Susan B. Iris

A futuristic sci-fi thriller with a wildly unique hook, The Maredian by Susan B. Iris delivers a riveting dive into human identity and the powerful threads that connect all life in the universe.

When Gracie Pinto goes out for a last-minute 80s-themed birthday celebration, little does she know that reality on Earth is about to irrevocably change. The Maredian, an advanced alien civilization, makes first contact that same night in a cataclysm of fire and destruction, killing billions outright and capturing countless others, including Gracie.

Onboard the alien megaship of mangled prisoners, torture, enslavement, and death, Gracie miraculously finds a way to survive the indiscriminate violence. While attempting to hide from her captors, a newly birthed alien detects Gracie’s scent and makes forbidden physical contact. This unlikely encounter bizarrely bonds the pair, launching the inexplicable relationship at the core of this novel. The developing alien grows from curious to obsessed with this strange female specimen of the vile species, whisking Gracie to a safe place within the cavernous ship – an extraterrestrial attempt at an apartment with 80s interior design – and their two-way bond offers her a glimpse of hope to save her young son.

A cerebral and chilling exploration of a sinister alien consciousness, this grim and graphic novel about a desperate mother in an extraordinary situation is an original and surprisingly philosophical read. The story is an ambitious one, not only requiring a realistic prophecy of Earth set a few generations in the future, but also the creation of a complex alien species capable of communicating and connecting with humans on a meaningful level, which is conveyed with immersive detail that still manages to keep the momentum going. In short, this alien species, and this novel, are wholly fascinating.

The apocalyptic setting is clear from the start of the novel, as climate change generates endless waves of refugees around the world, AI is blindly entrusted with critical responsibilities, and escapism rules. Once this already fraught landscape is ravaged by an alien invasion that kills billions, the weight and intensity of the story is only heightened, and with that hook set, readers will be hard-pressed to stop reading. From reproductive restrictions and solar system colonization to the brutal dynamic of masters and laborers, the story echoes contemporary points of contention, despite its far-flung plot.

The seamless movement from intense world-building and action sequences to tender scenes of character interaction and internal monologuing is a testament to an author who knows how to control the flow of a narrative. Many of the conversations and concerns these characters voice would resonate in any era, from a desire for more familial closeness and the perennial search for immortality to the desperate lengths we take for self-preservation, making this futuristic premise a well-oiled vehicle for emotional dynamics that transcend time, space, and species.

In terms of execution, the writing is peppered with heavy-handed passages, often in the form of expositional dumps via dialogue, which can affect the overall sense of realism. However, that is a small critique, and on balance, this is a radically creative piece of futuristic sci-fi that is both entertaining and existentially profound.