Reviews
"Sci-fi has long claimed to be the multicultural literature of the future. This is the real thing. . . . Described with verve and conviction. . . . A new sensation, a real achievement." --Wall Street Journal "Dizzying. . . . Primal and indelible. . . . Delivered with all the vivid, haunting poignancy of a vision quest."-- NPR.org "It's transfixing to watch Monica Byrne become a major player in sci-fi with her debut novel: so sharp, so focused and so human. Beautifully drawn people in a future that feels so close you can touch it, blended with the lush language and concerns of myth. It builds a bridge from past to future, from East to West. Glorious stuff." -- Neil Gaiman, author of The Ocean at the End of the Lane "In unadorned, clearly descriptive prose, Byrne moves briskly from scene to scene. . . . A deeply felt, troubling and memorable story." -- Indy Week (Durham, NC) "Engrossing, thought-provoking. . . . [Byrne] weaves the elements of science fiction and speculative fiction with myth, spirituality and philosophical speculation, all while creating a page-turning story. The Girl in the Road is meant to be enjoyed, pondered, and re-read." --Durham Herald-Sun "Impressive. . . . The one thing no reader will doubt is Byrne's place as a strong new voice in science fiction." --Shelf Awareness "Gripping. . . . Easily one of my favorite books I've read this year." -- Bookish.com "Stunning. . . . More than a few surprises await Meena and Mariama and the reader as story lines converge in a surprising, gratifying climax." --Booklist "Spectacular and intriguing. . . . Enthralling on many levels. . . . The incorporation of evolving views of gender . . . propel this novel into the stratosphere of artistic brilliance." --Library Journal (starred) "The most inventive tale to come along in years. . . . The writing is often brilliant, as Byrne paints wholly believable pictures of worlds and cultures most Westerners will never know. . . . Engrossing and enjoyable." -- Kirkus "Byrne is a science writer and graduate of MIT, but her insight into our near future is as much informed by her extensive travels as her grasp of science. . . . A book you will certainly be hearing a lot about in 2014." -- Guardian (UK) "Monica Byrne's vision of India and Africa as an ever-changing maelstrom of language and culture, technology and sexuality is utterly captivating. As Meena and Mariama chase each other's echoes, Byrne strips away their preconceptions (and ours as well) through that most dangerous of human impulses: our need to understand the past, and to decide our own future. An electrifying debut." -- Helene Wecker, author of The Golem and the Jinni "Monica Byrne has written the road trip novel you didn't know you were waiting for. A genuine and extraordinary journey. Take it." -- John Scalzi, author of Redshirts " The Girl in the Road is a brilliant novel, vivid, intense, and fearless with a kind of savage joy. These journeys--Meena's across the Arabian Sea and Mariama's across Africa--are utterly unforgettable." -- Kim Stanley Robinson, author of 2312 and Red Mars, "Stunning. . . . More than a few surprises await Meena and Mariama and the reader as story lines converge in a surprising, gratifying climax." --Booklist "Spectacular and intriguing. . . . Enthralling on many levels. . . . The incorporation of evolving views of gender . . . propel this novel into the stratosphere of artistic brilliance." --Library Journal (starred) "The most inventive tale to come along in years. . . . The writing is often brilliant, as Byrne paints wholly believable pictures of worlds and cultures most Westerners will never know. . . . Engrossing and enjoyable." -- Kirkus "A book you will certainly be hearing a lot about in 2014." -- Guardian (UK) "It's transfixing to watch Monica Byrne become a major player in sci-fi with her debut novel: so sharp, so focused and so human. Beautifully drawn people in a future that feels so close you can touch it, blended with the lush language and concerns of myth. It builds a bridge from past to future, from East to West. Glorious stuff." --Neil Gaiman, author of The Ocean at the End of the Lane "Monica Byrne's vision of India and Africa as an ever-changing maelstrom of language and culture, technology and sexuality is utterly captivating. As Meena and Mariama chase each other's echoes, Byrne strips away their preconceptions (and ours as well) through that most dangerous of human impulses: our need to understand the past, and to decide our own future. An electrifying debut." -- Helene Wecker, author of The Golem and the Jinni "Monica Byrne has written the road trip novel you didn't know you were waiting for. A genuine and extraordinary journey. Take it." -- John Scalzi, author of Redshirts " The Girl in the Road is a brilliant novel, vivid, intense, and fearless with a kind of savage joy. These journeys--Meena's across the Arabian Sea and Mariama's across Africa--are utterly unforgettable." -- Kim Stanley Robinson, author of 2312 and Red Mars, "It's transfixing to watch Monica Byrne become a major player in sci-fi with her debut novel: so sharp, so focused and so human. Beautifully drawn people in a future that feels so close you can touch it, blended with the lush language and concerns of myth. It builds a bridge from past to future, from East to West. Glorious stuff." -- Neil Gaiman, author of The Ocean at the End of the Lane "Spectacular and intriguing. . . . Enthralling on many levels. . . . The incorporation of evolving views of gender . . . propel this novel into the stratosphere of artistic brilliance." --Library Journal (starred) "The most inventive tale to come along in years. . . . The writing is often brilliant, as Byrne paints wholly believable pictures of worlds and cultures most Westerners will never know. . . . Engrossing and enjoyable." -- Kirkus "Byrne is a science writer and graduate of MIT, but her insight into our near future is as much informed by her extensive travels as her grasp of science. . . . A book you will certainly be hearing a lot about in 2014." -- Guardian (UK) "Monica Byrne's vision of India and Africa as an ever-changing maelstrom of language and culture, technology and sexuality is utterly captivating. As Meena and Mariama chase each other's echoes, Byrne strips away their preconceptions (and ours as well) through that most dangerous of human impulses: our need to understand the past, and to decide our own future. An electrifying debut." --Helene Wecker, author of The Golem and the Jinni " The Girl in the Road is a brilliant novel, vivid, sparky, fearless, intense with a kind of savage joy. These journeys--Meena's across the Arabian Sea and Mariama's across Africa--are utterly unforgettable." -- Kim Stanley Robinson, author of 2312 and Red Mars "Monica Byrne has written the road trip novel you didn't know you were waiting for. A genuine and extraordinary journey. Take it ." --John Scalzi, author of Redshirts, "A brilliant novel, vivid, sparky, fearless, intense with a kind of savage joy. These journeys--Meena's across the Arabian Sea and Mariama's across Africa--are utterly unforgettable." -- Kim Stanley Robinson, author of Shaman and 2312
