How High We Go in the Dark

Bookseller recommendation

“My *goodness*, this book. Set aside any misgivings you might have about reading a pandemic novel during a pandemic. These gracefully interconnected narratives have their roots in familiar territory, but their branches arc and sprawl beyond the world we know into the far reaches of Sequoia Nagamatsu’s imagination. The result is an immersive, tender, life-affirming book that left me both wonderstruck and — much to my surprise — comforted.”

— Tove • Powell's Books

Bookseller recommendation

“The characters in these interconnected stories are so real and unique. Each person's perspective (each really lovingly narrated by different voice actors) adds another layer of understanding to the ways in which humanity reels from the aftereffects of pandemic and climate change. It's a touching book, and I was genuinely moved during some of the scenes. It made me feel hopeful for humanity, in all its sometimes messy forms.”

— Lisa • The Booksmith

Bookseller recommendation

“Interlinked short stories comprise this novel in the same way gears and levers make an astronomical clock. Many of the stories are heartbreaking, and others seed hope; each has either a narrator in the midst of a journey, or a narrator stuck in one place (literal or figurative) while events explode around them. The two types of characters provide two poles of a perspective; in this book, a plague and emerging environmental catastrophe force the characters to think about what they thought they wanted and what, in the end, they can actually have. The audio producers wisely chose a diverse company of narrators; the book is a sort of Decameron, and the variety of voices helps you keep each story vividly in mind so that you catch all the interconnections. (Reader, keep track of the crystal pendant! Trust the author. It will answer your questions.)”

— Nialle • The Haunted Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“This collection of connected stories describes the world after a devastating plague. The book is beautiful — striking, unsettling, and darkly gorgeous. It defies categorization and creates its own genre. A shimmering gem of a book.”

— Debra Ginsberg • DIESEL, A Bookstore

Bookseller recommendation

“An astounding first novel, Sequoia Nagamatsu's How High We Go In The Dark is without a doubt going to be a major event in 2022's speculative fiction. It begins with a virus thawed by an Arctic exploration team, and branches out its far-reaching and long-lasting consequences. It will be a hard read right now for people recently dealing with the losses of our current pandemic, but for that reason it's also an important book. Read it when you're ready to think about hope again.”

— Emily • Main Street Books Monroe

Bookseller recommendation

“I must admit, i wasn’t thrilled about ANOTHER virus book. But this isn't ANOTHER virus book at all, instead it is a deep dive into what happens to humans when they’re pushed against a wall, all told 39 Minutes at a time. This one’s a driveway listen for sure.”

— Angie • The Country Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“Finally, a novel I will confidently recommend to fans of Station Eleven! How High We Go in the Dark follows interconnected characters through time and space as humanity returns from the brink of extinction when an ancient virus is unleashed. Mind bending and heartrending, full of hope and humanity, you'll want to start this one from the beginning as soon as you finish it. The audio definitely added to the richness of the reading experience. ”

— Jessica • Main Street Books Davidson

Bookseller recommendation

“I think I've already found my favorite release for 2022! This dystopian multi perspective scifi book is expertly woven. We jump through time and from character to character experiencing a terrifying pandemic and end of days. Though reading about a pandemic in midst of pandemic seems daunting, Nagamatsu managed to create a heartfelt and intriguing saga that manages to elicit all of your emotions in a short 256 pages. In audiobook format, a different narrator takes on each chapter but little mentions keep each additional perspective rooted to each other and the full cast brings you on a mind-blowing journey. I don't know how he does it but by the end, Nagamatsu somehow ties everything up in a truly magical and breathtaking way that has you questioning if he is the next, great voice of our generation.”

— Kimi • Buttonwood Books and Toys