The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Scout, brother Kieran, and their cat Pumpkin are trying to save the world.  Their civilization has finally achieved space travel but what awaits is a series of dead worlds, all ravaged by some force or being—and it appears to still be moving.  It’s only a matter of time before the destroyer comes for them.  Scout is an Archivist, one of those who visits these dead worlds, searching for information left behind that might help save the Home worlds.  These data caches are also sought by others, who don’t want to share.  Equipped with only adequate technology, Scout and company forge ahead, trying to use their wits and talents make up the difference.

On one such world, Scout is able to make a partial copy of a cache before it’s taken from them.  On it is a holographic recording from a being who experienced the coming of the deadly entity, bringing Scout face to face with a being from the past.  But will it help Scout save what matters most?

Sunyi Dean’s recommendation for the book included the line, “Come for the cat, stay for the story,” which pretty much sums up why I picked this title up. As advertised, Pumpkin is an absolutely adorable astro-cat with very cat-like behaviors. But as is mentioned several times, space is no place for a cat and there were several times I feared for our furry space cadet but (spoiler alert) he survives.

There’s action for those so inclined and a definite threat of menace, but at its heart this is a thoughtful, warm, and tender book about discovering the meaning of life. While that may sound heavy, it really isn’t. And you don’t have to be a science fiction fan to enjoy it.