Fractal Noise Paperback – 16 May 2023

A very different tone and style of work - a definite departure from Paolini's usual.I enjoyed the continued use of limited perspective worldbuilding.However if you want a complete story where the plot/event arc resolves, this is not it. I understand why many regular Paolini readers would be thrown off. The arc that DOES resolve, is a character arc.The POV character certainly wasn't as likable as any of Paolini's others, but his disposition is critical to the story.I understand this was a bit of an authorial self-indulgence, but not a bad read anyhow. Interesting to see the new tone.To explain the resolution with NO SPOILERS but good accuracy : this finishes like Neon Genesis Evangelion (the main anime, excluding all the movies and director's cuts).Interesting to see the Fractalverse through a different pair of eyes.

My wife had moderate opinions about it despite liking to reread paolinis books via audio books primarily (particularly inheritance), but I'd like to reread it myself sometime, maybe try the audiobooks option to see if it's easier to do so on the move.Namaste.

Waste of time. No conclusion. Just felt like Christopher was venting out his frustrations. No discovery and does not connect at all to the other books in this universe.

Set two decades before the events of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, this book termed Fractalverse #0 takes us to the accidental discovery by the crew of Adamura of giant hole on an otherwise reported uninhabited planet. The hole is too perfect a disposition to be not investigated. Thus, a small team from the crew has been acquired to go down to Talos VII to investigate this huge symmetric hole, emitting 'fractal noise'As the team of four of lands on the barren, lonely land, they are plagued more and more by the rushing winds and the metronomic thud, thud, thud that grows louder as they draw closer to the hole. However, there are these 'turtles' who also stand between their discovery of what could be self aware alien intelligence. But, is it just the turtles and the overall animosity of the atmosphere or the different view points, pasts, and thoughts of the crew members, Talia, Pushkin, Chen and our protagonist Alex Crichton that causes more harm?Alex has recently lost the love of his life Layla and he kind of joins the crew as homage to her and to find purpose again, to me, he primarily seemed woe-begone but then later on his dynamicity is what keeps the book paced. As a xenobiologist I kind of found solidarity in his work too!Although top notch with pictures, maps and descriptions on space, for me honestly, the psychology and self discovery and mind exploration were important themes here. That enclosed spaces such as in space suits and shared small areas here often affect the minds of humans is brought out quite clearly here. As the title of the book for me was on point what with the Thud, thud, thud almost making me squirm with its growth through the book.Definitely recommended. And to make it clear, it has no related connection with TSiaSoS, it can be read as a standalone ( as of now 😀)