The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Hannu Rajaniemi’s Quantum Thief is delightful yet difficult science fiction. It is Mr. Rajaniemi’s debut novel and it is set in a world that is quite unlike most of what we find in contemporary science fiction.
The plot centers around Jean Le Flambeur, the titular “Quantum Thief”. The plot begins with Le Flambeur being broken out of a (delightfully conceived) prison by a mysterious warrior and embarking on a quest that centers around Le Flambeur’s past. The action moves on to a fascinating moving city on Mars and the civilization of the Oubliette where most of the plot unfolds.
I enjoyed the book but found some of the writing a little difficult. The author enjoys using neologisms to describe key parts of the world of The Quantum Thief. I found it a struggle to follow what was going on.
The book could have done with a bit more exploration of the background and history of the world. The book touches on themes of freedom, memory and what it means to be alive – but these seem incidental to the somewhat pedestrian plot. Having said that, The Quantum Thief already has a sequel out and I look forward to revisiting the world of Le Flambeur.