09/06/2021
In this ambitious, bifurcated science-fiction debut, a London school teacher endures a series of bizarre dreams in which she relives the experiences of two people she’s never met—people drawn into the depths of a subterranean alien society hiding on Earth. Cicely Denfeld has no idea who Charles Ryder or Vivian Venables are, nor why she’s privy to their thoughts and memories as they, separately and together, decipher a secret document and stumble across an alien compound deep under the American Southwest desert. As the story unfolds within her dreams, she suspects she may have her own part to play. Meanwhile, Charles and Vivian navigate a blossoming relationship while being pulled ever deeper into an age-old conspiracy that originates in the stars and reaches into the heart of America’s government.
While much of this thoughtful tale is written with skill, building upon its mysteries and secrets while developing a gradual sense of foreboding, the flashback sequences used as a framing device sometimes prove more distracting than effective, often tearing away from the more intriguing conspiracy narrative at inopportune moments. Cicely’s own thread doesn’t achieve a full urgency, and her impact on the story proves negligible. Meanwhile, the hook of a coalition of alien merchant cultures that has secretly settled on Earth is intriguing, but an excess of unusual terminology and names proves rather unwieldy.
Valrand clearly brings large scale ideas and world building to the table, attentive to culture and architecture, plus strong and atmospheric description: “Then the creature appeared. It had four clawed feet and was shaped somewhat like a large dog, but it had no ears, and its bare grayish skin glistened.” Those virtues are undermined by stiff dialogue and lackluster characterization. At the same time, Valrand’s focus on the mysterious nature of Cicely’s dreams amidst Charles and Vivian’s assimilation into their captors’ society leaves the book feeling disjointed, not quite doing these momentous events justice.
Takeaway: This science fiction conspiracy thriller will appeal to readers looking for a slowly unfolding mystery involving aliens, fantastic tech, and plenty of twists.
Great for fans of: A.G. Riddle’s The Atlantis Gene, Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven.
Production grades Cover: B Design and typography: B+ Illustrations: N/A Editing: A Marketing copy: B
"An impressively intricate and relentlessly paced science fiction thriller that will have readers furiously turning pages until the end." - BlueInk Review
"It was nearly impossible to put the book down: the twists and turns were unexpected." - OnlineBookClub
"The Site is a mysterious science fiction novel in which investigators stumble on aliens and face deep ethical questions." - Foreword Reviews
2014-02-06
Valrand's surreal debut sci-fi thriller ties the mysterious dreams of a timid British schoolteacher to the guns-blazing action of an international conspiracy. Charles Ryder and Vivian Venables work as an international investigative team. Ryder is a skilled engineer, and Venables is an undercover agent, formerly of U.S. Air Force Intelligence. Together, they're investigating a mysterious document, leaked from a United States government computer facility, which could have international—or even intergalactic—significance. All of this is revealed to Cicely Denfeld, an average London schoolteacher, in dreams—intense, disturbing visions from either Ryder's or Venable's perspective, in which she relives scenes from their investigations. At first, Cicely thinks she might be going insane and seeks the assistance of Dr. Burton T. McClellan, who prescribes her mild sedatives and a course of therapy. Cicely's problem, however, is far more complex than either of them initially realizes. As answers lead to more questions, Cicely finds herself entangled in a massive conspiracy. This situation tests her strength and leads to some of the best character development in the story, transforming her from a passive teacher to a determined woman driven by the strength of her ideals. This transformation can be hard to see at times, however, due to the prose's restrained, old-fashioned tone, which tends to obscure many characters' emotional experiences. It's also occasionally unclear if the story takes place in the 1980s or the modern day; Cicely, for example, still uses cassette tapes, while other characters take pictures and video on their cellphones. That said, the plot moves at a good pace, with well-spaced revelations and twists, although the ending leaves a few questions unanswered. An uneven sci-fi thriller with a classical feel.
