Learning about Writing from this Dystopian Epic
Speculative fiction is a genre that thrives on big ideas, and No Life but Immortality by Liudmila Brus is full of them.
The novel, which is the first book in the Geryon's Code series, imagines a future shaped by technological collapse, ethical dilemmas surrounding artificial intelligence, and humanity’s attempts to survive on Mars.
As a fiction writer, I love stories that explore ambitious concepts and challenge readers to think deeply about the world—and this book does that in spades.
There's no doubt No Life but Immortality offers plenty to chew on. At the same time, I found myself struggling to connect to the story itself in places.
This got me thinking. I love a complex book, so what was causing my occasional hiccups?
I decided to re-read like a writer. Here’s what worked for me as a reader and what opportunities I found as a writer examining the craft.
1) World-Building Wows!
The novel’s settings are richly imagined, from the disciplined Martian Republic to the decaying Sub-Cities of Earth and the sterile underwater lab Njord Base.
Each environment is detailed and layered, immersing readers in a plausible dystopian future. The idea of reverse colonization—Martians returning to a dying Earth—feels fresh and thought-provoking.
For readers who love complex worlds, this novel delivers and keeps delivering!
Opportunities for writers:
The world-building offers incredibly creative and imaginative details about Mars’ history, Earth’s collapse, and the mysterious Blackout.
While these sections are fascinating, I sometimes found myself losing connection to the characters while digesting the intricate world.
This got me thinking about how my engagement would be even stronger if more of the details were woven into into the characters’ actions or dialogue.
My takeaway:
The best fictional worlds come to life through creative, imaginative, grounding details, and Brus is a great teacher.
At the same time, showing the world through the characters’ perspectives—how they interact with it, what they value or fear—could strengthen the narrative’s momentum while delivering a more immersive and emotionally grounded experience.
2) Compelling Characters Galore
The characters in No Life but Immortality are placed in fascinating situations. Winston Winter, a Martian pilot, and Pandora Corelli, a cyberpsychologist working on the ethically fraught Immortal Soul project, grapple with survival, duty, and loss.
This is fun to read, and it's a smart writing choice. The characters serve as effective lenses for exploring the novel’s big questions about humanity and technology.
Opportunities for writers:
The characters’ dilemmas are intellectually engaging, offering a lot of food for thought about humanity and technology. However, I sometimes found myself wishing I could connect more deeply with their emotions.
For example, Pandora’s interactions with Shadow, the digitized consciousness of a serial killer, raise fascinating ethical questions, but it was harder for me to feel her personal stake in the project.
This made me think about how important it is for writers to balance big ideas with emotional resonance. When characters’ struggles feel personal and relatable, it draws readers into their inner worlds and makes the broader story more impactful.
My takeaway:
Strong characters carry strong ideas. Brus’s many characters do that, and they're thoughtfully positioned within their world. This is a lesson I'm taking with me for sure!
At the same time, creating even more emotional depth could further enhance their connection to readers so that every big idea feels anchored in personal stakes.
3) Themes that Challenge and Intrigue
The novel’s exploration of themes like immortality, artificial intelligence, and the fragility of humanity is bold and ambitious.
It asks important questions: What does it mean to survive? How far should we go in pursuit of progress?
There's a chapter that delves into the ethics of digitizing human consciousness, is particularly thought-provoking. I want more!
It's clear the writer spent time thinking about these deep themes and working to incorporate them in a way that made readers think, even after putting the book down.
Opportunities for writers:
The novel’s themes are undeniably bold and thought-provoking, tackling questions about immortality, ethics, and the fragility of humanity.
That said, I occasionally felt the delivery of these themes leaned too much on exposition, which pulled me out of the story.
This got me thinking about how powerful it can be to "show" big ideas through character actions and conflicts.
For me, when themes are woven seamlessly into the stakes and choices of the characters, they resonate more and make an even longer-lasting impression.
My takeaway:
Themes are where speculative fiction shines, and Brus doesn’t shy away from exploring challenging questions.
For me as a writer, it’s a great reminder that embedding those themes within character-driven conflicts makes them all the more impactful.
4) Pacing: A Slow Burn That Rewards Patience
The book’s layered narrative unfolds slowly, allowing readers to piece together the connections between Martian life, Earth’s collapse, and the Immortal Soul project.
This structure creates intrigue and rewards patience, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the intricate details of the world.
The final revelations about the Fermion crew and Geryon’s influence are compelling, tying the many threads together in a way that feels both satisfying and thought-provoking.
Opportunities for writers:
The pacing in the early chapters unfolds gradually, allowing the world and characters to develop layer by layer. I love that kind of deep dive!
At the same time, I sometimes found it hard to latch onto a single thread with so many plotlines introduced at once.
It made me think about how starting with one or two key characters or an immediate conflict can help ground readers, easing them into a complex narrative without feeling lost.
My takeaway:
Complex stories take time to unfold, and that’s okay. Brus’s approach rewards patient readers, and it's helping me think about finding ways to anchor readers early while letting the layers reveal themselves naturally.
Final Book Review Thought: Thought-Provoking and Demanding
No Life but Immortality is an ambitious novel that tackles big ideas and presents a richly detailed vision of humanity’s future.
As a writer, I admire its bold exploration of moral ambiguity, survival, and technological evolution, though, I sometimes felt overwhelmed by its dense world-building, thematic focus, and pacing.
Final words from my book review?
This novel is best suited for fans of speculative fiction who enjoy idea-driven stories and are willing to invest the time and effort to untangle its layers.
What did you think of No Life but Immortality? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Peace & plenty,
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