In Ascension follows the life of Leigh Hasenbosch, a marine biologist from Rotterdam whose childhood is shaped by a tense, emotionally distant family and a deep fascination with the natural world. When Leigh joins an oceanographic expedition to study a mysterious deep‑sea organism, her journey begins to stretch far beyond scientific research and into something more existential. As the mission unfolds, Leigh becomes part of a groundbreaking international project that pushes the boundaries of human exploration — from the deepest trenches of the ocean to the outer reaches of space. The novel gradually expands from intimate personal history to vast cosmic scale, asking what it means to search for origins, connection, and purpose.
MacInnes blends science, philosophy, and quiet psychological insight, creating a narrative that moves from the claustrophobia of family life to the awe of the unknown. In Ascension is ultimately a story about curiosity, survival, and the human desire to understand our place in an immense and ancient universe. The book generated a good discussion into life, and the fact we are all stardust. Interesting the way it wove tech and the storyline, although we felt the female protagonist was not accurate, although an interesting character.
Marks out of 10 - between 5 and 7.5
Words used to describe it: awesome, interesting, irritating, frustrating, turgid, chore - but
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All that Glitters by Orlando Whitfield
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