Envoy - by Yume Kitasei (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From the author of The Deep Sky, a near-future thriller about five estranged astronauts who become the targets of a mysterious assassination plot.

Make contact.
Return home.
Survive the consequences.

Ten years ago, an alien spacecraft appeared at the far edge of our solar system. Five people were sent to make first contact:

Nina, mission commander.
Riku, doctor.
Dmitry, pilot.
Anaïs, engineer.
Yuxuan, scientist.

Envoy traveled a hundred million miles into space only to find a silent, empty ship--or so it seemed.

Now, on the tenth anniversary of their historic mission, the crew are pulled back together to participate in an Envoy reunion: one highly publicized weekend. But on the eve of the celebration, one of the crew members is murdered. Someone knows Envoy brought back something they shouldn't have--something powerful enough to change the course of human civilization.

Will the remaining Envoy crew uncover the truth about their expedition? Or will the killer get to them first?

Review Quotes

Praise for Yume Kitasei

Saltcrop

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED SCIENCE FICTION NOVELS OF THE YEAR: The Guardian, Goodreads, Book Riot, Reactor Mag, The Nerd Daily, Gizmodo, Bustle, and more; Starred by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal; A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection as an adult crossover title

"Luminous, credible, and engrossing from beginning to end." --Kirkus, starred review

"In many recent novels, humanity has created its own apocalypse, and Kitasei's stands with the best of them. . . An unputdownable novel of family bonds and ordinary people fighting corporate greed, sure to appeal to fans of Carrie Vaughn's Bannerless and Cory Doctorow's Walkaway." --Library Journal, starred review

The Stardust Grail

An NPR, Esquire, and Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2024; a Lithub, Bookshop.org, The Messenger, and The Nerd Daily Most Anticipated Book of 2024; a SheReads nominee for Best Science Fiction; a Goodreads Choice and Libby Book Awards finalist for Best Science Fiction

"A luminous work, vacillating between the highs and lows of human experience and how they might translate across alien worlds." --Kirkus, starred review

"Kitasei's outstanding sophomore outing clears the high bar she set in The Deep Sky, combining a high-stakes space adventure with exquisitely crafted worldbuilding and plausibly imagined interspecies communication." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Come to The Stardust Grail for Indiana Jones-style outer space heist adventure, stay for the sensitively drawn characters and thoughtful exploration of other forms of life far beyond our own." --Veronica Roth, New York Times bestselling author of Chosen Ones

"Kitasei writes an emotional roller coaster of a space quest, highlighting friendship, family, and the ostracism of those believed to be different. The prose is as intimate as the universe is wide." --Library Journal

The Deep Sky

A Washington Post Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel of 2023, a Kirkus Reviews Best Debut of 2023, a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Science Fiction, and a Tor.com Must-Read Sci-Fi Release of 2023

"The Deep Sky is a beautiful tightly-wound mystery. It is both an intimate character portrait and a thriller. The space geek in me loves the way the voyage feels like a completely plausible extension of our current billionaire-fueled space race." --Mary Robinette Kowal, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards

"Kitasei has put so much thought and heart into this fresh take on the generation ship, and on the dilemma between abandoning Earth and prolonging humanity." --Tor.com

"Required reading." --The Boston Globe

"One of the best debuts of the year." --Book Riot

"Cerebral SF, tackling both humanity-wide problems and the smaller but ever-present conflicts closer to home." --Kirkus Reviews (starred)

About the Author

Yume Kitasei is a Japanese and American writer of science fiction. She is the author of four novels, The Deep Sky, The Stardust Grail, Saltcrop, and Envoy. Her books have been published in half a dozen languages, included in 'Best of the Year' lists by The Washington Post and Kirkus, 'Books we Love' by NPR, and shortlisted for the Libby and Goodreads Choice Awards. She lives in Brooklyn and loves pastries, cats, and spreadsheets. You can find her @Yumewrites on Instagram or at www.yumekitasei.com.