“Ship of Fools” by Richard Paul Russo

Brutal class struggles aboard a massive multigenerational spaceship, Machiavellian power plays, the creeping dread of the ruins of a dead colony, a sinister, seemingly empty, ancient and gargantuan alien space hulk, psychological horror, this novel has all the hallmarks of a piece of literature I’d love, in theory. However, the characters are dull and basic. The language is barren, grey, devoid of colours and detailed descriptions. The ending is unsatisfactory, open ended and with lots of question left unanswered. I don’t like that Catholicism is such a central theme. Surely Russo can invent a more exciting religion to fill its place between the stars. I’ve spent a lot of my life purging myself from a Christian idea-world and I really rather not get re-marinated in it in the novels I read. However, Christianity in space can work, even for me. I love the esoteric “Rymdväktaren” by Peter Nilsson, yet the philosophy of “Ship of Fools” really didn’t tickle my 5-HT2A receptors.

I give this book a weak 6 of 10 meat hooks. Great concepts but mediocre execution. If you want a psychological thriller aboard an ark-ship turned space hulk you should rather read “Hull Zero Three” by Greg bear. If you’re more excited by a planet sized, multigenerational spaceship, “The Well of Stars” by Robert Reed should be your thing.