Ocean's Godori: A Novel

by Elaine U. Cho

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Space. Murder. Romance. Tradition and technology collide in this impressive debut, perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth.

 

An Indie Next Pick • An Amazon Editors' Pick • Most Anticipated by Barnes & Noble, Lit Hub, Debutiful, and Gizmodo

Becky Chambers meets Firefly in this big-hearted Korean space opera debut about a disgraced space pilot struggling to find her place while fighting to protect the people she loves.

“A thrilling, transportive ride from a powerful and evocative new voice.” —Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani, and Naomi Funabashi, Hillman Grad Books

Ocean Yoon has never felt very Korean, even if she is descended from a long line of haenyeo, Jeju Island’s beloved female divers. She doesn’t like soju, constantly misses cultural references, and despite her love of the game, people still say that she doesn’t play Hwatu like a Korean. Ocean’s also persona non grata at the Alliance, Korea’s solar system–dominating space agency, since a mission went awry and she earned a reputation for being a little too quick with her gun.

When her best friend, Teo, second son of the Anand Tech empire, is framed for murdering his family, Ocean and her misfit crewmates are pushed to the forefront of a high-stakes ideological conflict. But dodging bullets and winning space chases may be the easiest part of what comes next.

A thrilling adventure across the solar that delivers hyperkinetic action sequences and irresistible will-they-won't-they romance alongside its nuanced exploration of colonialism and capitalism, Ocean’s Godori ultimately asks: What do we owe our past? How do we navigate our present while honoring the complicated facets of our identity? What can our future hold?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781638930594
Publisher:	Zando
Publication date:	04/23/2024
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	11,629
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 6.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Elaine U. Cho is a writer who lives in Seattle. She has an MFA in flute performance from CalArts and has worked for several arts nonprofits (including ArtsWest and Seattle Music Partners). She’s also a film critic for Mediaversity and former bookseller at Elliott Bay.

Editorial Reviews

02/05/2024

In Cho’s cozy yet complex far-future debut, a space military known as the Alliance, based out of Korea, has emerged as the leading galactic power. On the evening of the Alliance’s annual gala, the scrappy crew of the Ohneul is scattered. After a difficult breakup, Ocean, Ohneul’s XO and a talented pilot, gives her captain the slip to spend the night shopping with an old friend, Teophilus “Teo” Anand, whose extraordinarily wealthy family produces the technology used by the Alliance. Meanwhile, Haven, who has unwittingly replaced a beloved crew member as the Ohneul’s new medic, is mysteriously shunned by Alliance members for being a “Death Hand.” When Haven and Ocean head out on a routine mission, Teo leaves with his own crew to escort an important diplomatic group—but when one of his father’s political plays goes badly wrong, the characters reunite under explosive circumstances. A vast and complicated political landscape undergirds the resulting adventure, which is full of slow-burn romance, tense negotiation, and close shaves. Every scene builds suspense and illuminates fascinating themes of exploitation, privilege, and identity, all held together by a sweet found family narrative. Ambitious and heartwarming, this is a treat. Agent: Amy Elizabeth Bishop, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

An Indie Next Pick
An Amazon Editors' Pick
Most Anticipated by Barnes & Noble, Lit Hub, Debutiful, and Gizmodo

"Space. Murder. Romance. Tradition and technology collide in this impressive debut, perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth." —B&N Reads, "Our Most Anticipated Books April 2024"

"Buckle up because this sci-fi will take you to places you never expected. Its plot moves with keen precision. The page-turner will bring readers to the edges of space while tackling the age of questions of who we are and what we are here for." —Debutiful

"Ocean's Godori is dark and dreamy and thrilling in a Blade Runner kind of way, but with an expansive love that thrums underneath the surface in the tradition of Becky Chambers. More, please." —Yume Kitasei, author of The Deep Sky

"The real strength of the book, however, is in the relationships between family and friends, the living and the dead, and the ways these threads of connection motivate and inform characters. This is an entertaining debut with satisfying cultural-background details for the characters and the world and plenty of room for development." —Booklist

“Full of slow-burn romance, tense negotiation, and close shaves. Every scene builds suspense and illuminates fascinating themes of exploitation, privilege, and identity, all held together by a sweet found family narrative. Ambitious and heartwarming, this is a treat.” —Publishers Weekly

“Fun, full of both heart and plot.” —Kirkus

“With its quirky band of spacefarers, this will appeal to fans of high-concept, high-appeal space opera.” —Library Journal

From the Publisher

03/01/2024

DEBUT Disgraced sharpshooter Ocean serves on the Ohneul, the only ship in Korea's space Alliance that will take her. She's joined by new recruit Haven, who is equally shunned due to his profession, working with the dead. Not long into their mission, the Ohneul rescues Teo, one of Ocean's few friends, who has been framed for killing the rest of his wealthy family. Together, they, the Ohneul's crew, and a group of raiders with their own agenda must find who is really responsible and their own places in the world. With its quirky band of spacefarers, this will appeal to fans of high-concept, high-appeal space opera. The novel hints at romance by setting up an enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Teo and a charismatic raider, plus a love triangle that includes Ocean and Haven. It ends abruptly after the crew's confrontation with Teo's family's killers reveals a deeper ideological conflict, setting up more adventures to come. VERDICT Cho's debut is a quick read with a spark of romance and a cliffhanger that will frustrate some readers but leave others excited for what happens next.—Erin Niederberger

Library Journal