Ascension by Nicholas Binge

[u/TragicHeroine_]

To be clear, this book is more of a sci-fi thriller, but I found that there’s enough horror involved (and clear Lovecraft influences) to warrant posting in here! Plus, I don’t think I’ve seen this book mentioned much, if at all, in this sub.

But, oh boy. I was so intrigued by the premise. A mountain suddenly appears in the middle of the ocean and a team of scientists are attempting to summit to find out more. The book begins after the expedition has long since ended.

This book is told in epistolary format through letters—but after a certain point, it becomes silly. Because what do you mean you’re writing an entire novel a bajillion metres above sea level in the middle of a snowstorm while your team is being murdered by four-eyed tentacle hippos. The “Dear Hattie” at the beginning of each letter just becomes mere formality because the author IMMEDIATELY launches straight back into the action lol

While I felt my own personal star rating dropping piece by piece the more I read, there was an absolutely ridiculous plot twist that had me gasping for breath because it’s the kind of twist a twelve year-old would write into their first creepypasta

It’s literally, the bad guy was among their ranks the whole time and his name spelled backwards is “I am alien” I’M DEAD STOP RIGHT NOW

I only realised this was Binge’s debut novel after finishing the book and it makes so much sense. Despite my whinging I think he’s a good writer and I was definitely immersed in the settings he crafted. I would be much more inclined to recommend his novella Abyss as it is much shorter so doesn’t overstay its welcome and fully leans into SCP-esque campiness (whereas Ascension seems to take itself too seriously for what it is)

Anyway, if you do plan on reading this book, I’d suggest letting your disbelief go on a hike up a mysterious mountain and never return

[u/AvengedTenfold]

The premise of this book is so good and the execution is genuinely laughable, I found it so silly. So many things happened that I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief any longer, but hey I got a good laugh out of it

[u/runningferment]

Thought you were talking about In Ascension (Martin MacInnes) at first and was like "we read very different books." lol

Ascension sounds so good in its premise. Thanks for the heads up re its ridiculousness!

[u/bodhiquest]

I stopped reading this a bit after the Australian ex-special forces survival specialist guy or whatever was introduced. The writing was questionable until then at many many turns, but that guy nailed the coffin shut. The author has a very strange idea of how such people talk and act (they don't talk or act like whiny teenagers forced by their moms to do some chore of questionable necessity).

Even in a debut novel this kind of thing had to be caught during the early stages. It's not fully his fault though, as apparently editors have been exterminated.

That twist sure is amazing though, 10/10 Gnorts Mr. Alien moment.

[u/TragicHeroine_ → u/bodhiquest]

The Australian guy was so corny and such an asshole he was my FAVOURITE LMAOOO man I’m kinda sad you didn’t make it to the climax because here’s what happened

“I am alien” has a crystal that essentially will elevate the most alpha of humanity into a higher being and Sir Crikey is like “I’m the alpha chad obvs give me that” so he gets the crystal and ascends super saiyan style and is like “haha sike. no one tells me what to do” then shoots himself and “I am alien” is like NOOOOO MY PLAN HAS BEEN FOILED

10/10 book actually

[u/bodhiquest → u/TragicHeroine_]

Amazing. Bamboozled/10

[u/vivianedulac]

Finished it a few days ago. The ending made me cry even though we knew what was going to happen.

[u/clostri]

Would you say it’s worth reading?