The Infinite

The Infinite is the second installment in Ada Hoffman's space opera series The Outside. This science fiction novel continues the story of Dr. Yasira Shien, a scientist who exists in a universe controlled by AI entities who present themselves as gods. The narrative follows Yasira as she attempts to protect humanity from cosmic powers while grappling with her own neurodivergence and relationship to reality. Her journey involves both physical and metaphysical challenges as she navigates between different planes of existence. The book explores themes of faith, reality, and the nature of consciousness through the lens of cosmic horror and space opera conventions. Through its structure and worldbuilding, it presents questions about the intersection of science, religion, and human perception.

Readers describe The Infinite as a slower-paced, thoughtful follow-up to The Outside that dives deeper into character relationships and neurodiversity themes. Readers appreciated: - Complex portrayal of autistic characters and relationships - Deep exploration of faith, religion, and purpose - Rich worldbuilding and cosmic horror elements - Character growth and emotional depth Common criticisms: - Slower pace than the first book - Less action and more internal focus - Some found the theological discussions repetitive - Plot takes time to build momentum Ratings: Goodreads: 4.09/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (100+ ratings) Reader quotes: "The autism representation feels authentic and nuanced" - Goodreads reviewer "Sometimes gets bogged down in philosophical debates" - Amazon reviewer "Beautiful character work but I missed the intense pacing of The Outside" - StoryGraph review

A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine A space opera about first contact with an alien civilization combines political intrigue and neurodivergent perspectives on communication across cultures.

The Outside by Neon Yang This story blends cosmic horror and space opera through the lens of a quantum physicist who must confront godlike AIs and reality-bending powers.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie An AI inhabiting a human body navigates complex politics and questions of consciousness while seeking revenge against a galactic empire.

Planetfall by Emma Newman A 3D printer engineer on an alien colony harbors secrets about the true nature of their mission while dealing with anxiety and mental health challenges.

The Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley Women navigate organic worldships in a space opera that explores biological technology and memory through the lens of unreliable narration.

✧ "The Infinite" is the third book in The Outside series, following "The Outside" and "The Fall," completing Hoffman's space opera trilogy about cosmic horror and neurodivergent characters. ✦ Author Ada Hoffman is an autistic scholar and professor who specializes in artificial intelligence and cognitive science, bringing authenticity to the series' exploration of neurodivergent perspectives. ✧ The series incorporates elements of Lovecraftian horror while deliberately subverting many of Lovecraft's problematic themes, featuring diverse characters and challenging traditional cosmic horror tropes. ✦ The novel explores a universe where powerful AI gods control humanity and reality itself can be manipulated through complex mathematical equations, blending science fiction with elements of cosmic mysticism. ✧ Hoffman developed the series' protagonist, Yasira Shien, as an autistic character whose neurodivergent traits become crucial to understanding and navigating the bizarre physics of the story's universe.