Book Review: Mirrorblink by Jason Sanford

Ein is a young woman living on a post apocalyptic Earth. Humanity is comprised of people who live in towns and record their memories, and those who live on the land and believe that their memories should follow them to the grave.

Overseeing everything are the Observers, terrifying humanoid creatures that patrol the towns and destroy any exhibiting the madness.

Ein wishes to be a Scope, a wanderer who travels freely from town to town and gathers information. Supported by her foster father, she manages to gain a rare mirror pass that allows her to visit other towns without penalty.

So begins her journey, but will she be able to live with what she discovers about the world?

To frequent visitors it will come as no surprise that I’m a fan of Jason Sanford’s writing. I was blown away by his novel, Plague Birds, and since then I’ve read several novellas and am consistently in awe of his imagination, character development, world building, and the depth of his plots. His stories move me and inspire me, and Mirrorblink is another masterpiece.

Ein’s world is revealed slowly along with the plot, but it’s easy to grasp what’s going on from the get go, especially if you’re familiar with science fiction or dystopian stories. The more you know, the more depth is added to the story so that you gain a greater appreciation for the details if you read it a second time.

Ein is a lovely character and it’s easy to emphasize with her longing to learn more about the world, as well as sympathize with the sufferings she experiences as a Scope. The world is familiar, yet very different from our own, and the characters are all very human. It’s clear how their society works and how humanity survived under the extraordinary circumstances of their world.

The use of technology is imaginative and inventive, as I’ve come to expect from this author, and I loved Ein’s mirror pass that contains memories of her donated by people she has met to authenticate her role as a Scope and allow her entry to a town. I also loved the Wastal’s moving tattoos.

What I love most about Sanford’s work is the spiritual dimension I’ve encountered in each of his writings. His stories look at life and try to understand it, and his characters have to deal with themes that focus on truth, love, justice and mercy.

While Mirrorblink frames one aspect of its theme in slightly more religious overtones, this story is primarily about knowledge, and how it can be used as a weapon.

I award Mirrorblink…