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The Principle of Moments
On sale
18th January 2024
Price: £18.99
Genre
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
‘My favourite kind of grand space opera‘
BEN AARONOVITCH
6066: In Emperor Thracin’s brave new galaxy, humans are not citizens but indentured labourers, working to repay the debt they unwittingly incurred when they settled on Gahraan – a desert planet already owned by the emperor himself. Asha Akindele knows she’s just another voiceless cog working the assembly lines that fuel his vast imperial war machine. Her only rebellion: studying stolen aeronautics manuals in the dead of night. But then a cloaked stranger arrives to deliver an impossible message, and her life changes in an instant.
1812: Obi Amadi is done with time-travelling. Never mind the fact he doesn’t know how to cure himself of the temporal sickness he caught whilst anchoring his soul to Regency London, the one that unmakes him further with every jump. Or if the prince he loves will ever love him back. Or why his father disappeared. He is done. Until he hears about the ghost of a girl in the British Museum. A girl from another time.
When Obi’s path tangles with Asha’s and a prophecy awakens in the cold darkness of space, they must voyage through the stars, racing against time, tyranny, and the legacy of three heroes from an ancient religion who may be awakening, reincarnated in ways beyond comprehension.
The Principle of Moments is a centuries-spanning adventure unmissable for fans of the spacefaring found family of Becky Chambers, the magical London of V. E. Schwab, and the virtuosic climate-craft of N. K. Jemisin.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
‘This book! OMG this book was everything I could hope for! A queer love story, a space story, a rebel story and so well written’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An absolute stonker of a debut… Fantastic world-building, well-rounded characters… I was hooked the whole way through’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I absolutely devoured this book! Everything I could possibly want with Star Wars / Doctor Who vibes mixed in with Pride and Prejudice’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘THIS is how you write a “chosen one” story! Jikiemi-Pearson is going straight on my “instant read” list of authors’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I have read quite a few debuts this year and this was easily my top of the year’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh my god. This book was everything I wanted and more. The blend of sci fi travel, fantasy and romance was perfect’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘OMG, this book was amazing… Fantastic if you like N.K. Jemisin and Doctor Who… Well worth five stars’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautifully written and thought provoking sci-fi… I can’t believe this was the author’s first book!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I adored this book! I can’t wait for more’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Hang on and enjoy the ride!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘My favourite kind of grand space opera‘
BEN AARONOVITCH
6066: In Emperor Thracin’s brave new galaxy, humans are not citizens but indentured labourers, working to repay the debt they unwittingly incurred when they settled on Gahraan – a desert planet already owned by the emperor himself. Asha Akindele knows she’s just another voiceless cog working the assembly lines that fuel his vast imperial war machine. Her only rebellion: studying stolen aeronautics manuals in the dead of night. But then a cloaked stranger arrives to deliver an impossible message, and her life changes in an instant.
1812: Obi Amadi is done with time-travelling. Never mind the fact he doesn’t know how to cure himself of the temporal sickness he caught whilst anchoring his soul to Regency London, the one that unmakes him further with every jump. Or if the prince he loves will ever love him back. Or why his father disappeared. He is done. Until he hears about the ghost of a girl in the British Museum. A girl from another time.
When Obi’s path tangles with Asha’s and a prophecy awakens in the cold darkness of space, they must voyage through the stars, racing against time, tyranny, and the legacy of three heroes from an ancient religion who may be awakening, reincarnated in ways beyond comprehension.
The Principle of Moments is a centuries-spanning adventure unmissable for fans of the spacefaring found family of Becky Chambers, the magical London of V. E. Schwab, and the virtuosic climate-craft of N. K. Jemisin.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
‘This book! OMG this book was everything I could hope for! A queer love story, a space story, a rebel story and so well written’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An absolute stonker of a debut… Fantastic world-building, well-rounded characters… I was hooked the whole way through’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I absolutely devoured this book! Everything I could possibly want with Star Wars / Doctor Who vibes mixed in with Pride and Prejudice’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘THIS is how you write a “chosen one” story! Jikiemi-Pearson is going straight on my “instant read” list of authors’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I have read quite a few debuts this year and this was easily my top of the year’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh my god. This book was everything I wanted and more. The blend of sci fi travel, fantasy and romance was perfect’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘OMG, this book was amazing… Fantastic if you like N.K. Jemisin and Doctor Who… Well worth five stars’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautifully written and thought provoking sci-fi… I can’t believe this was the author’s first book!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I adored this book! I can’t wait for more’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Hang on and enjoy the ride!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Reviews
Every page shines with the vigour and passion of youth
I've not read anything quite like Jikiemi-Pearson's award-winning debut. At once a meticulous space opera - with hints of N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy - and a centuries-spanning love story
An answer to the question of: what happens if you cross Star Wars with Doctor Who? And then make it queer (queerer in Doctor Who's case), Black, and fundamentally disinterested in making excuses for the violence of empire? It's entertaining as all hell... it gets the vibe of being twelve years old and watching a lightsaber ignite on the big screen
A sprawling space opera fantasy stuffed with familiar tropes
I blooming loved it! It reminded me of Lois McMasters Bujold x 2000AD (Halo Jones in particular) with a large helping of Doctor Who, utterly absorbing space opera!
I just love this universe. I was both teased and pleased, and I am already ready for more
A beautifully written love letter to the genres it weaves together. Endlessly creative and brimming with insightful commentary on imperialism, The Principle of Moments manages to be both epic and intimate - a true feat
The perfect antidote to any January blues
Truly original... An epic space adventure that tears down colonialism and builds instead a shimmering, achingly powerful message of agency, loyalty and destiny. I loved every second of this book
Angry girls. Swoony simps. A galaxy-spanning future space quest with some fun little pit stops to visit a demon in 1812 London. Honestly, what's not to devour?
The Principle of Moments is my favourite kind of grand space opera where anything can happen and usually does at great speed
An audaciously joyous debut full of heart. I loved stepping into Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson's world of heroes and prophecies, friendships like family, and an epic adventure through the stars
It has enthusiasm to burn, and characters you'll root for