I tend to be more of a fantasy reader than sci fi, but this book surprised me for the better.

I think of it as having a fantasy payoff (emotional, surprising, heavy-hitting ending, slow burn romance) with a sci fi setting (alternate history, interdimensional travel, robot detective, political conspiracy). The science parts are accessible and the world building is detailed, but the characters have depth and the book is not actually about the sci fi parts. Orson goes an adventure to another dimension, which happens to be a post-scarcity version of America, and falls smack into the middle of a political conspiracy, finding himself and making friends along the way.

The Frequency of Long Shadows feels more like a poignant coming of age that is ultimately about finding your place in the world vs heavy sci fi, and this was a big positive for me. I was not always sure where the political intrigue was going, but it pulled me along and I could not put it down when it came to the last few chapters. Mind-blowing ending that I was not able to predict, and satisfying romantic developments left a good impression; I hope the author doesn’t take too long with the next book.

The Frequency of Long Shadows is a captivating blend of poignant insight and humor, presenting a fresh take on the impacts of multiverse travel. At its heart, the book examines the tantalizing possibility of discovering a world where one could fully realize their potential—and what it might mean if everyone could.

The narrative centers on Orson, a naturally inquisitive protagonist whose social awkwardness makes him a perfect lens through which the reader explores an alternate world. In this reality, Russia never acquired nuclear capabilities, setting the stage for imaginative world-building that both intrigues and immerses the reader. Orson’s personal journey and character growth are skillfully intertwined with interesting tidbits about how things have gone differently in this "branch".

My favorite character is 8008, an Artificial Detective Partner whose charming humor and investigative skills provide both levity and thought provoking questions about the nature of intelligence and sentience. While the romance is a minor subplot, its subtle handling hints at promising developments in future installments of the series.

Overall, The Frequency of Long Shadows poses thought-provoking questions about individual potential and the boundless progress that could be achieved if the brightest minds from every possible world were brought together. This engaging mix of speculative fiction, humor, and introspection makes for an unforgettable read.

The book started slow for me, but it picked up well once we hit the alternate reality. I liked the world-building and the shifting POV. Some of the connection to the current political environment was well-done because it was understated and not "in your face".