First things first, I’m unusually biased here, as the author of The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands – Sarah Brooks – is my sister. With that caveat in mind though, I want to talk a bit about this book, which I absolutely, unapologetically loved. Inspired by a real-life passage on the Trans-Siberian Express, The Cautious Traveller… is the story of a perilous journey from Beijing to Moscow on a grand and powerful train, heavily protected against the dangers of a vast, largely unknown expanse – the titular Wastelands. Among the crew and passengers on the train are a trio of viewpoint characters, each with secrets to hide and their own unique perspectives on the train and the Wastelands. As the journey progresses though, the strength and safety of the train are challenged, while passengers and crew alike are confronted with the Wastelands at its most dangerous.
Here’s the publisher’s synopsis, to give you a bit over an overview:
It is said there is a price that every passenger must pay. A price beyond the cost of a ticket.
It is the end of the nineteenth century and the world is awash with marvels. But there is nothing so marvellous as the Wastelands: a terrain of terrible miracles that lies between Beijing and Moscow.
Nothing touches the Wastelands except the Great Trans-Siberian Express: an impenetrable train built to carry cargo across continents, but which now transports anyone who dares.
Onto the platform steps a curious cast of characters: Marya, a grieving woman with a borrowed name; Weiwei, a famous child born on the train; and Henry Grey, a disgraced naturalist.
But there are whispers that the train isn’t safe. As secrets and stories begin to unravel, the passengers and crew must survive their journey together, even as something uncontrollable seems to be breaking in . . .
I have to say, it’s a strange experience reading a novel written by a family member; there’s an extra frisson of excitement picking the book up, but also a little nervousness that isn’t normally there. What if I don’t like it? What am I supposed to say then? And I’m a book reviewer, of all things! I am, of course, contractually obliged to say that I loved my sister’s debut novel…but honestly, I genuinely did! Many years ago I read and enjoyed the short story that this novel grew out of (available in Interzone 249, if you’re interested), and I was confident I was going to like this too, but I kept putting off making a start as I wanted to find the right moment to read it (a bad habit I’m trying to kick). Happily, once I read the first chapter I was hooked.
I love how different the UK and US covers are!
In many respects it reads like a blend of the kinds of books I know my sister loves: starting out with a classic Christie-esque introduction, before moving into stranger territory with hints of gothic horror, evoking writers like Susanna Clarke and Silvia Moreno-Garcia in its evocative setting and eerie goings-on. Even though I know Sarah hasn’t read either of these authors, to me it also brings to mind the strangeness and single-mindedness of both Hiron Ennes and Peter Fehervari – that balance of building a rich, vivid world with one hand while deliberately withholding information to maintain questions and mysteries with the other. I wouldn’t call this a horror novel by any stretch, but it definitely has a creepy undertone, which is enjoyably balanced out by a sense of excitement and wonder that traces right back to classic children’s adventure stories.
Ultimately though, it’s very much its own thing – a slightly hard to pin down blend of genres and styles that, to me, just works really well, and beautifully suits the subject matter. Ironically, the tone and feel of the opening – along with the surface-level feel of the cover – perhaps belie the adventurous, speculative nature of the book as a whole, and certainly anyone who picks it up expecting straight-up historical fiction is going to get a few surprises! Likewise though, I wouldn’t call it full-on fantasy; it’s the sort of fantasy novel that blends its speculative, fantastical elements into a real-world setting to feel utterly believable in the context of story and setting. The train, the Company, the Wastelands…I can totally buy every element, and by the time the weird stuff really starts rolling in it feels absolutely par for the course!
All told, this is just exactly the sort of story that really hits the spot for me. It’s full of brilliant little details, with great characters I want to keep spending time with, and a setting I find myself desperately wanting more of (sadly, I don’t think Sarah’s going to be returning to the Wastelands…but who knows? Never say never!). It’s a story which takes its time to begin with, laying solid foundations before picking up speed and then racing off towards the chaos of its conclusion – sorry, I had to get at least one train metaphor in this review – and again, that’s very much my kind of approach. And having had a bit of time to process things after finishing it, there’s a lot I’m looking forward to revisiting in my inevitable reread.
I’m deeply proud of my sister for the achievement of not just writing a book, but writing a fantastic book which comfortably justifies the faith its publishers have shown in it. Putting family ties aside for a moment though, speaking as objectively as I can…I really do think that this is a smart, brilliantly-written story, with thoughtful depths for those who want them and a gripping, hugely enjoyable plot that keeps the pages turning. Of course no book is going to please every reader, but like most of my favourite books this simply doesn’t try to, unapologetically blending its influences and riding its own rails. For any reader happy to mix historical fiction, fantasy, adventure, gothic horror (you get the gist…) though, I really think this hits all the right notes. I loved it, and I hope you do too.
The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands is out now from W&N in the UK and Flatiron in the US – check out the links below to order* your copy:
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