The Collapsing Wave (The Enceladons Trilogy: Book Two) by Doug Johnstone

 

The Collapsing Wave (The Enceladons Trilogy: Book Two) by Doug Johnstone.

Published 14th March 2024 by Orenda Books.

From the cover of the book:

Six months since the earth-shattering events of The Space Between Us, the revelatory hope of the aliens' visit has turned to dust and the creatures have disappeared into the water off Scotland's west coast.

Teenager Lennox and grieving mother Heather are being held in New Broom, a makeshift US military base, the subject of experiments, alongside the Enceladons who have been captured by the authorities.

Ava, who has given birth, is awaiting the jury verdict at her trial for the murder of her husband. And MI7 agent Oscar Fellowes, who has been sidelined by the US military, is beginning to think he might be on the wrong side of history.

When alien Sandy makes contact, Lennox and Heather make a plan to escape with Ava. All three of them are heading for a profound confrontation between the worst of humanity and a possible brighter future, as the stakes get higher for the alien Enceladons and the entire human race…

Sequel to the bestselling The Space Between Us, The Collapsing Wave is an exquisite, epic first-contact novel, laced with peril and populated by unforgettable characters, and the awe-inspiring book we all need right now…

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Six months on from the incredible events of The Space Between Us, things are looking bleak for the Enceladons and the humans who made first contact with them. Desperate to hush up the arrival of an alien species, the USA military has taken charge, establishing a secretive base on Scotland's west coast, called New Broom - where middle-aged Heather, teenager Lennox, and captured Enceladons, are being subjected to brutal experiments. Meanwhile, Ava is on trial for the murder of her husband, and faces being separated from her baby.

The Enceladons themselves have disappeared into Loch Broom, and seem oblivious to the threat of danger, but all hope is not lost. Attracted to the shores of the loch, a community of humans has sprung up at Camp Outwith, in response to a mysterious 'call', and MI7 agent Oscar Fellowes is beginning to believe his faith in the powers-that-be has been misplaced. 

When Sandy, the alien that started the whole story, makes contact with Lennox, the chance of escape for him, Heather, Ava, and baby Chloe arises, bringing with it the prospect of a battle with the military might of those driven by hatred and fear... one they may not survive.

Doug Johnstone picks up this story a few months after the gripping climax of The Space Between Us, the first instalment in this cracking speculative trilogy, which left hanging many questions about how humanity would deal with the reality of first contact with an alien species. You must read the first book before embarking on The Collapsing Wave - it is an incredible read, and lays all the groundwork you need to tip you straight into this tense and atmospheric follow-up novel, as our intrepid band of human survivors from the mission to aid Sandy, and the other Enceladons, find themselves the subject of very unwelcome attention from the worst elements of Earth's authorities. 

With beautifully wrought, and all too authentic, threads of sinister cover-ups, egotistical power moves, xenophobia, and disturbing agendas driven by fear of the unknown, Johnstone takes you on an absolute thrill ride in this novel, through the narratives of returning characters, Heather, Lennox, Ava and Fellowes. The complete disregard for any kind of rights, be they human or alien, allows him to spin a plot that is worthy of a block-busting science fiction adventure, with full-on, cinematic scenes to get the blood thumping, as our heroes carry the brand for the good of humanity, and Enceladon, against despicable foes. And like the very best novels of the genre, he off-sets the action with character-led, poignant elements about the bonds of love, family, community, connection, and the sense of belonging, to stir you to the very depth of your emotions. 

"Reality is not things, it's the connection between things..."

My heart was in my mouth for the entire length of this novel. Johnstone takes you to the very edge of your capacity to cope with intense feelings of anger and despair, with a relentlessness that can only be assuaged by the eventual triumph of decency and hope over injustice, cruelty and closed-minds. He has such an ability to examine the darkness that lies in the human heart, and yet, his stories unfailingly manage to balance this beautifully against the yearning for connection that offers us salvation. There is something very striking about how he uses this story to address attitudes to 'refugees', exploring a willingness to accept and embrace 'difference' as a way to become something more, which provides a thought-provoking allegory for modern times too.  

I love everything about this series, right down to the supremely clever titles suffused with meaning, and am excited to see the direction Johnstone will take in the final instalment. It still amazes me that this is his first foray into science fiction writing, because this is powerful and accomplished story-telling, that stands up right beside the very best authors of the genre. 

The Collapsing Wave is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats now. You can support the best of indie publishing by buying direct from Orenda Books HERE.

Thank you to Orenda Books for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review, and to Random Things Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Doug Johnstone is the author of 16 previous novels, most recently The Opposite of Lonely (2023) and The Space Between Us (2023). The Big Chill (2020) was longlisted for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, and Black Hearts was shortlisted for the same award. Three of his books, Dark Matter (2020), Breakers (2019) and The Jump (2015), have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for ScottishCrime Novel of the Year.

He has taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions over the last decade, and has been an arts journalist for over twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with six albums, and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin' Crime Writers. He's also co-founder of the Scottish Writers Football Club, and has a PhD in nuclear physics.