A Thousand Diamonds: ILLUMINAE by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Illuminae 

by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

“you deserve every star in the galaxy laid out at your feet and a thousand diamonds in your hair. You deserve someone who’ll run with you as far and as fast as you want to. Holding your hand, not holding you back.” (232)

Told entirely through a compilation of interview transcripts, hacked emails and instant messages, journal entries, medical reports, and other documents, Illuminae tells the dramatic story of Kady and Ezra. They are residents of a small planet called Kerenza that is being illegally mined for precious hermium when BeiTech Industries initiates a war. It just so happens that this war begins right when Kady and Ezra break up. Three ships are nearby: the battle carrier Alexander, a research vessel called Hypatia, and a freighter named Copernicus. Artificial intelligence AIDAN is to blame when one of the ships is destroyed—yes, the residents of the ship were infected with Phobos, a mutagenic, manufactured bioweapon, but did AIDAN go rogue or is “he” trying to protect Kady?

As the remaining residents try to outrun incoming BeiTech warships in the hopes of reaching Heimdall, a hyperport, Kady and Ezra each battle others and themselves to save the Kerenza citizens from BeiTech, AIDAN, and Phobos. Kady is an exceptionally talented technology hacker, and when she “meets” AIDAN, she begins to realize the enormous sacrifice she must make to save the others.

It is difficult to fully realize characters through piecemeal chapters and snippets of correspondence, but Kaufman and Kristoff manage it beautifully. Oddly enough, my favorite character is probably AIDAN, just for “his” mostly calm rationales and glimpses of humanity mixed with an interesting mashup of villain and hero.

There is a lot going on in this book, and it takes a few “chapters” to become accustomed to all the names and ships and planets. The narrative devices are also jarring at first, but then after the first 50 or so pages, it becomes utterly intriguing. What this book lacks in a constant, in-depth point of view it triumphs with well-placed narrative and unceasing action. Can’t wait for the second book of this intended trilogy!

On an entirely superficial note, the book itself is gorgeous; while I purchased a copy for the library, I loved it so much I went ahead and bought one for my own collection.

If you love These Broken Stars, also by Amie Kaufman, and Beth Revis’s Across the Universe trilogy, then you will love Illuminae.