On the Edge of Gone

On the Edge of Gone takes place in 2035 Amsterdam as a deadly comet approaches Earth. Denise, a 16-year-old autistic girl, must navigate the chaos of the impending impact while trying to secure a place for her family on a generation ship - one of humanity's last hopes for survival. The narrative follows Denise's desperate search for her missing sister while also attempting to prove her worth to the generation ship's leadership. Her mother's drug addiction and her own autism create additional challenges as she fights for a chance at survival in the final hours before catastrophe. In this apocalyptic setting, the story grapples with questions of who society deems "valuable" enough to save. The novel examines disability, privilege, and difficult moral choices in a crisis, while staying grounded in the perspective of a protagonist whose neurodivergent mind shapes how she processes an ending world.

Readers appreciate the authentic portrayal of an autistic protagonist written by an autistic author. Many note the realistic depiction of family dynamics during a crisis and praise the diversity of the cast. The science fiction elements take a backseat to character development, which appeals to some readers but disappoints others seeking more action. Reviewers highlight: - Strong representation of autism and chronic illness - Detailed worldbuilding - Complex moral dilemmas - Diverse characters Common criticisms: - Slow pacing, especially in middle sections - Limited plot progression - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Character decisions that frustrated readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.82/5 (2,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (80+ ratings) Reader quote: "Finally, an autistic character who feels real and not stereotyped." - Goodreads reviewer Critical quote: "The story dragged in places and could have been shorter without losing impact." - Amazon reviewer

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🌟 Author Corinne Duyvis coined the widely-used #OwnVoices hashtag in 2015, which highlights books featuring marginalized characters written by authors who share that identity 🚀 The book features a protagonist who, like the author, is autistic - making it one of relatively few science fiction novels with an openly autistic main character 🌍 The story takes place in Amsterdam during a comet strike, drawing on the author's intimate knowledge of the city as a lifelong resident 🛸 The generation ship in the novel was originally meant to be a Mars colony ship before the author reimagined it as an escape vessel during revisions 💫 The book won the Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award in 2017 for its exploration of the intersection between speculative fiction and disability representation