Ascension

How little we know! Just look to the stars - or dive into the depths of the ocean. Microbiologist Leigh grew up in Rotterdam with an abusive father, which is perhaps why she has always felt more comfortable in a laboratory than in the company of people. Her fascination with life in its smallest forms eventually leads her to the limits of our knowledge, which she encounters while exploring a newly discovered trench in the Atlantic Ocean. What the expedition finds in its pitch-black depths contradicts all previous hypotheses about the birth of our species. The shocking discovery not only brings about a scientific revolution, but leads to the launch of a secret space programme. Leigh is chosen for a mission that requires her to leave behind her failing mother and younger sister and is unprecedented in human history - an expedition to the very edge of the solar system, searching for the source of a signal directly related to an anomaly at the bottom of the ocean. Will they finally find an answer to the question of where we really come from? Nominated for the prestigious Booker Prize, the novel masterfully combines intimate family drama with a grand vision of space travel, and brings a wealth of thought-provoking ideas to the science fiction genre, linked to the wonder of human evolution. "Monumental... Uplift rarely strays from its breathtaking pace. It was a rare thing: a big, bravura novel full of ideas that's really readable. And for that, MacInnes deserves kudos. Reaching the stars is no small feat." - The Telegraph "A beautifully written, richly atmospheric novel that brims with brilliantly rendered detail while capturing an extraordinary strangeness that reflects the true depth of life. No one else writes like MacInnes, and this magnificent book is his best work yet." - The Guardian "A stunning exploration of nothing less than humanity's place in the universe." - Daily Mail "Highly original and unpredictable science fiction. The slow-moving plot and thoughtful main character provide an unusual experience for the reader." - from reader reviews on Databazeknih.cz That afternoon I realized I hadn't seen Stefan in a while. He was probably locked in his quarters with headphones in his ears, working on something technical, but for some reason I was worried about him, feeling protective of him. I also missed his manic energy and sincerity. I missed the conversations we had earlier in the expedition. It almost felt like they happened in a past life. The more that happened, the more inaccessible Stefan became, the busier he became with the submarine's wanderings. I rarely, if ever, saw him alone and I felt sorry for him. When he came back and called us into the lecture room, he looked different - his eyes were blazing, breathing heavily, his narrow diaphragm was under that same orange trick, where I first met him, visibly overworked. He told us two things: the submarine had passed the sixteen-kilometre mark - proving beyond doubt that the crater below was not only the lowest point on the surface of the Earth, but by a margin of four thousand five hundred metres. This time there was no applause, just silent shock, some tears and finally a few short exclamations: "Oh, my God, oh, my God." Amy glared at Stefan while he avoided her gaze, unable to meet her eyes. "It's over," he said at last. "We lost her, she's gone. 17,2. We have no contact." - excerpt from the book