The Circumference of the World

The Circumference of the World follows Lior Tirosh, a writer who returns to his homeland - the Jewish state of Palestina, established in East Africa in the 1900s. Upon arrival, Tirosh finds himself caught in an investigation involving disappearances and parallel universes. The narrative moves between multiple timelines and realities, exploring an alternate history where the Jewish homeland was created in Africa rather than the Middle East. The story incorporates elements of noir detective fiction and science fiction while examining questions of identity and belonging. Against the backdrop of this reimagined history, Tirosh must navigate political tensions, personal revelations, and increasingly strange occurrences that blur the lines between reality and imagination. The investigation leads him through the streets of Archangelsk, the capital city of Palestina, where he confronts both external threats and internal doubts. The novel addresses themes of displacement, memory, and the construction of nationhood through a speculative lens that reframes Jewish history and identity. Its blend of genre elements serves to examine how collective memory shapes both personal and national narratives.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Lavie Tidhar's overall work: Readers highlight Tidhar's unconventional storytelling and genre-blending approach. Many note his complex handling of difficult historical themes, particularly in "A Man Lies Dreaming" and "Osama." What readers liked: - Intricate world-building in "Central Station" - Noir atmosphere and alternate history elements - Literary quality of prose while maintaining accessibility - Integration of multiple cultures and perspectives - Original takes on familiar genres What readers disliked: - Plot structures can feel fragmented or difficult to follow - Some find the pacing slow, especially in "Central Station" - Dense writing style requires focused attention - Character development sometimes sacrificed for concept Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - Central Station: 3.7/5 (2,800+ ratings) - Osama: 3.6/5 (1,100+ ratings) - A Man Lies Dreaming: 3.9/5 (1,300+ ratings) Amazon averages 4.0/5 across titles, with reviews often mentioning "challenging but rewarding" reading experiences. Multiple readers compare his style to China Miéville and Philip K. Dick.

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🌟 Author Lavie Tidhar was born on a kibbutz in Israel and has lived in South Africa, Laos, and Vanuatu before settling in London 🌍 The novel explores artificial general intelligence (AGI) and its impact on humanity through multiple interconnected storylines spanning different time periods 📚 This book marks Tidhar's return to science fiction after several years of writing in other genres, including historical fiction and noir 🤖 The story draws inspiration from real-world developments in AI, including the work of pioneering computer scientists like Alan Turing and contemporary AI researchers 🎯 The title "The Circumference of the World" references both the global scope of the narrative and the circular nature of human progress and technological development