Under the Pendulum Sun

Under the Pendulum Sun is a 2017 fantasy novel by British writer Jeannette Ng. Ng's debut novel, it was published by Angry Robot.

Under the Pendulum Sun
First edition cover
AuthorJeannette Ng
Cover artistJohn Coulthart
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreFantasy
PublisherAngry Robot
Publication date
3 October 2017
Media typePrint
Pages416
ISBN9780857667281

Synopsis

In the mid 19th century, Catherine Helstone travels to Arcadia in search of her brother Laon, a missionary who disappeared while trying to convert the fae to Christianity.[1]

Reception

Under the Pendulum Sun was a finalist for the 2018 British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel,[2] and earned Ng the 2018 Best Newcomer award.[3] Ng also won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer at the 2019 Hugo Awards.[4]

In the Guardian, Adam Roberts called it "strange, brooding and occasionally perverse" and "opulently atmospheric."[5] SYFY declared it to be one of the 10 best novels of 2017, stating that its "world-building and atmosphere are just incredible" and emphasizing its Gothic tone.[6]

Publishers Weekly considered it "intriguing but unfocused," with "possibilities (that) are fascinating" and "period touches (that) satisfy," but an "unwieldy" plot.[7] James Nicoll called it "engaging," with Arcadia being an "odd and melancholy world," and lauded Ng's choice to reveal only the "shadow of (her) worldbuilding, (such that readers) are left to puzzle out the larger implications on their own."[8] Jeff Somers, listing it among his "50 of the Greatest Science Fiction & Fantasy Debut Novels Ever Written," called it "a truly original fantasy debut built on a truly genius premise."[9]

In 2020, Samantha Shannon picked the book as her submission for the "I wish more people would read..." feature in The Guardian, describing its premise as a "stroke of pure brilliance" and the book as having "the mark of a true Gothic masterpiece."[1]

References
  1. Shannon, Samantha (13 May 2020). "I wish more people would read ... Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  2. 2018 British Fantasy Awards Shortlist, by Mike Glyer, at File 770; published July 6, 2018; retrieved September 16, 2018
  3. 2018 British Fantasy Awards, by Mike Glyer, at File770; published October 21, 2018; retrieved October 21, 2018
  4. @Dublin2019 (18 August 2019). "The John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer goes to Jeannette Ng" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. The best science fiction and fantasy of 2017, by Adam Roberts, at the Guardian; published November 30, 2017; retrieved September 16, 2018
  6. The 10 best sci-fi and fantasy books of 2017, by Swapna Krishna, at SYFY; published December 18, 2017; retrieved September 16, 2018
  7. Under the Pendulum Sun, reviewed at Publishers Weekly; published October 30, 2017; retrieved September 16, 2018
  8. Sometimes In My Dreams: Under the Pendulum Sun, by Jeannette Ng, reviewed by James Nicoll, published March 13, 2018; retrieved September 16, 2018
  9. Somers, Jeff (9 November 2018). "50 of the Greatest Science Fiction & Fantasy Debut Novels Ever Written". B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog. Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
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