Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory by Yaroslav Barsukov was published by Caezik SF & Fantasy on November 12.

The science-fantasy-noir novel received a starred review from Kirkus. A Scalzi Big Idea essay just went online, discussing the prophetic aspects of the book and its use of quantum observation theory (yes, it's still a science fantasy novel :) ).

THE BLURB

A unique blend of science fiction, fantasy, and noir, with zeitgeist and prophetic qualities (the original novella anticipated the Russo-Ukrainian War), this is a must for fans of China Miéville’s Bas-Lag series, Ted Chiang’s "Tower of Babylon," and Robert Silverberg’s Tower of Glass.

A man exiled for his conscience. Two kingdoms locked in a Cold War.

Refusing the queen’s order to gas a crowd of protesters, Minister Shea Ashcroft is banished to the border to oversee construction of the biggest anti-airship tower in history. However, the use of technology brought by refugees from another reality makes the tower volatile and dangerous, leaving Shea no choice but to fight the local hierarchy to ensure the construction succeeds—and to reclaim his own life.

He must survive an assassination attempt, confront his inner demons, and encounter an ancient legend and a portal to a dead world—all the while staying true to his own principles (and sanity). Fighting memories and hallucinations, Shea starts to question everything . . .

"Mind-expanding"—Kirkus, starred review

"An imaginative, heady clash of fantasy and science-fiction that delivers powerful messages"—Fantasy Book Critic

"Triumphs in its emotional and unsettling storytelling"—The Fantasy Hive

"Somewhere in the slipstream between science fiction and fantasy—a little to the left of early Chiang, a few degrees south of Miéville—Yaroslav Barsukov has word-painted a world I can see when I close my eyes."—Peter Watts (Hugo Award-winning author of Blindsight)

"Eloquent, moody, poetic . . . masterful. It is action-packed and emotionally rich, delightfully grim and unsettling at times. At the end, I could only sit back and say, “Wow”."—Beth Cato (author of A Thousand Recipes for Revenge)

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

"A major theme of the book is how disinformation and propaganda can be used to justify violence, and how turning a blind eye to evil can lead people to accept atrocities. I was able to witness all of this first-hand, having spent the first 21 years of my life in Russia and absorbing the recent events unfiltered and in my native tongue. Sleeping worlds aren't only devoid of memories; they're also oblivious to the pain of others."