The Rift is the second story in the Bolingbrook Babbler storyverse by William Brinkman. Released 13th July 2022, it's 257 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.
Although it's not derivative, this gave me vibes of what would happen if you mixed X-Files and Roswell with a little bit of very dry Twin Peaks humor tossed in the mix. It's quirky and odd, but overall engagingly weird and a better than average read. Quite a *lot* of the plot turns on conspiracy theory and warring factions within the skeptical movement who are expending most of their efforts sniping at and scoring off of one another rather than trying to figure out what's really going on outside their sphere.
It's feminists vs. incels (more or less), and there's more mansplaining than readers can shake a stick at and it's not a good look for -anyone-. The author does a detailed and believable job of describing a convention experience to the smallest detail which was impressive. Most of the characters are superficially less than endearing and it took a while to really feel invested in the actual story. There is a redemption arc here, and there were some satisfying moments along the way.
I wonder if the author will wind up getting abuse from both the hardcore male-SF-puppy camp for including sympathetic and intelligent female characters as well as from long-time female SF fans for the nigh-continual redemption-of-Tom plot arc.
I was somewhere in the middle and enjoyed the book after it settled into the actual story.
Four stars. Engaging and well written.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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