Book Review: The Surviving Sky by Kritika H Rao

The Surviving Sky is the first book in Kritika H Rao’s science fiction and fantasy blended trilogy: The Rages.

At first I was sceptical about how this book was categorised – how could it fall into the genres of science fiction and fantasy (or ‘science fantasy’)? Surely it had to be one or the other. But the more I read the more I realised that both genres could be true depending on how you looked at it.

The story is set on Earth but in the far distant future where the surface of the planet is impossibly turbulent and deadly. Instead of ground dwellings the human race lives in the sky – in cities known as ashrams constructed entirely from living plants and mentally controlled by gifted members of the population. To us, the reader, a floating city made of plants is pure fantasy however The Surviving Sky is not a story about magic but technology. Everything we see as fantastical Rao presents as scientific through the eyes of her characters. Everything is quantifiable and has a rational/logical explanation. The conflict of the story comes from the characters inability to agree on what these explanations are. Since the world of The Surviving Sky is a scientific one I personally consider this novel to fall more into the sci-fi genre than fantasy however another reader may feel differently.

The majority of the book’s action takes place in a single ashram – Nakshar – as its inhabitants struggle to find a solution to the city’s growing energy problems. Fail and Nakshar will fall from the sky and be torn apart by the ever-increasing Earthrages which storm across the world’s surface.

Set to this backdrop is the novel’s character-driven main plotline that explores the equally stormy romance between husband and wife Iravan and Ahilya.

From the occasional detail we know that the two characters are likely in their late-thirties. It made a refreshing change reading a story about two adult (rather than young adult) characters who are not in the first throws of love or taking the first step on life’s great journey but rather two well put together adults who have already discovered their identities and direction in life.

The story begins with Ahilya’s perspective as she is about to set out on a rare jungle expedition to the surface. A proud archaeologist and one of the few ‘abnormal’ members of the population who cannot control the plant city around her, Ahilya is very career-driven and takes her research seriously. Considered to be amongst the lowest caste in society due to her ‘limitations’, Ahilya has spent her life fighting for the respect she and her profession deserve as she advocates for a society where all people are considered equal.

Her counterpart and opposite is her husband Iravan. A senior architect with a near unmatched mental ability to shape the city around him, Iravan is part of the ruling council. Despite caring about Ahilya, Iravan likes his position of power and doesn’t want Nakshar’s social structure to change as he struggles to understand how the social advancement of non-architects could benefit the city.

Much of the novel sees a tug of war take place between the couple with each trying to convince the other that their views and ideas are the correct course of action to take. While my sympathy tended to be with Ahilya, both characters were intentionally flawed with each contributing to the state of their rocky marriage. Ahilya was wonderfully independent but this led to stubbornness and a disregard for the rules. Iravan’s protective nature was clear yet this could morph into controlling behaviour. Given how much of this 500+ page novel is devoted to the pair’s drawn out and complicated relationship, I know it won’t be to every reader’s taste but I did like how Rao kept me guessing as to whether their marriage could be mended and if they could put aside their differences to save the city.

With deliberate references to the Hindu caste system and the belief of reincarnation, The Surviving Sky features a complex yet engaging society set amongst an intricate nature-driven world. With an emphasis on theoretical discussion as well as action, this book and the world within felt unlike anything I have encountered before.

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