THE GODS AWAKEN

Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Year: 2017
Publisher: Brombergs Bokförlag
Language: Swedish (Translator Peter Samuelsson)

In part two of The Themis Files by Sylvain Neuvel, titled “Gudarna vaknar” (“The Gods Awaken”) readers are plunged back into the enigmatic world of Themis, the colossal machine whose origins and purpose continue to mystify.  After an initial showdown in the end of the first part “Sleeping Giants” (see my review of January 2024), the creators of Themis re-appear, but this time in significantly larger numbers thrusting the young doctor and her team once again into the forefront of a battle to save humanity. As she grapples with unravelling the mysteries of Themis and thwarting the looming threat, she also has to confront her own internal struggle and issues of identity as well as the emotional turmoil of her team members, compounded by the relentless pressure of international politics.

No doubt, the pace picks up in the second book compared to the first as is perhaps indicated in the author’s choice of titles. Undeniably, gods awakening should bring about a greater potential for action than giants sleeping. Still, several of the weaknesses from the first book remain.

Two books into the series, I feel qualified to say that even though, one may get used to the choice of narration by protocol transcripts, the format’s limitations continue to overshadow the story itself.

This is particular pronounced in character development. Although there seems to be a clear idea in the writer’s head about the characters’ evolution, the choice of narration technique severely limits the arena on which they offer a connection with the reader. As a result, we get endless conversations disguised as interrogations and internal monologues posing for diary entries. None of this gains any level of credibility.

Technical inadequacy aside, Neuvel touches on a couple thought-provoking philosophical concepts, examining humanity's existential place in the universe and the complexities of personal identity. The reason that the giant robots were placed on Earth in the first place is explored in this book, and it is connected to the return of the giants and their choice of actions on our planet ultimately raising the question of how a technically superior lifeform might perceive mankind and how they might position themselves in relation to us. A second interesting topic addresses the meaning of time and space, as well as the function of memory and experience as building blocks of our personal identity as the main protagonist struggles to come to terms with the consequences of the events in the previous book.

In my post about the first book in the series, I left the door open for some of the most flagrant inconsistencies to be there by design rather than omission, and that I was prepared for them to get their explanation as the story unfolds. This caution proved partially justified as some of the questions I raised, were indeed answered in this book. Not in the brilliant way I had hoped, but still enough to remove them from the list of unexplained plot holes.

While the novel's heightened pace and occasional departures from traditional American young adult conventions may appeal to its target audience, adult readers may find certain elements, such as exaggerated heroics and bravado, bordering on the cringeworthy. Nevertheless, "Gudarna vaknar" offers an engaging continuation of the series, blending action-packed sequences with philosophical inquiry.

I find it prudent to abandon all expectations for the third and final book other than bracing for the possibility of an utterly anti-climactic ending.