This dense, self-published, sci-fi/fantasy murder mystery has a lot to offer
ARC provided by author. A Dirge For Cascius releases August 2nd.
When I was first reading Gardens of the Moon—book one in the Malazan series by Steven Erikson—I knew what I was getting into. The series had been on shelves for over two decades, and it had garnered a reputation for being a story with a learning curve so steep that its entire first half was borderline incomprehensible.
Given that the novel developed into a ten-book series though, readers seemed to agree that scaling that initial cliff of names and dates and battles and loyalties and magic systems was a worthwhile endeavour. Like I said, the series’ reputation preceded it, so when it was my turn to face the challenge, I had friends and internet strangers telling me that it would all be worth it.
Of course, I’m not bringing this up for no reason. With A Dirge for Cascius, author Calum Lott is facing a similar challenge to what I imagine Steven Erikson experienced in the early days of Malazan. The similarities between the novel/series pretty much at ‘dense fantasy’, but the question that persisted for me as I pushed through the novel was ‘Is this going to be worth it?’
Magic/Science
When Cascius, a suicidal yet excellent scrutineer (i.e. detective), is offered a new case and a new partner, he begins the investigation mostly as a way to distract himself from the haunted memories of all the loved ones he’s lost over the years. But as his relationship with his new partner, Kirella, deepens, and he becomes more invested in the case, he finds himself confronting what scares him most: a life worth living.
A Dirge for Cascius is, on its surface, a detective thriller, and employs many of the tropes of the genre to good effect. There is, of course, the odd couple dynamic between the partners, red herrings, crime scene analyses, and—topping it all off—the substance-abusing lead detective. The ‘substance’ that Cascius abuses is interesting though; he’s addicted to reliving the traumatic memories of his past through an all-immersive process called Recall. I found this to be a really unique place to begin a character journey, and a fun spin on a well-used trope.
So yes, if you’re a fan of detective fiction there’s a fair chance you’ll enjoy the broader strokes of Cascius, but the real appeal of the novel will come in its heavy fantasy/sci-fi elements. There’s a case to be made that science fiction is, at its core, a fantasy subgenre, but here the lines between the two are totally blurred. Cascius features multiple planets and spacecraft and tactile holograms, but Lott’s terminology is very fantasy-based.
The result of this is a story that feels totally alien. There is no ‘fish out of water’ character to help a reader process the nuances of this universe—they’re thrown in head-first and expected to swim through dozens of fictional terms for the various otherworldly aspects of the story, many of which are never outright explained, requiring the reader to piece their definitions together through context alone.
For some, this is a mighty appealing challenge. Lott doesn’t just not hold your hand—he blindfolds you, spins you around ten times, then says ‘Off you go!’ I should note that there is a glossary at the back of the novel (something I didn’t realise until I came to the end of my e-book). I’m not a person who ever refers to glossaries during a first read-through anyway, but the option is there.
Regret/Acceptance
When I first realised the uphill battle I was facing with Cascius, I grew nervous. This is a debut novel, and I simply didn’t know if I was in experienced-enough hands for me to have a good time. I’ll admit that getting through the first quarter or so of the story was tough. I felt very lost, very groundless, and I found Cascius’ characterisation to be a little melodramatic and very self-pitying, which was a little off-putting. While it became clear that this was a purposeful choice being made by the author, I do think it’s a little risky for a debut novel to start in such a manner.
But as I pressed on with the story, something clicked. I was no longer struggling to parse the dense terminology of the world, and even if I had trouble visualising some aspects of it, I understood the function of the fantastical technologies enough to have a clear understanding of what was going on. It’s a great feeling, settling into the lingo of a fantasy world like this, and belies Lott’s consistent, descriptive prose.
There’s still so much about the world of Cascius that I don’t understand. There are named factions and races that never come to the forefront of the story, but I sense real intention in Lott’s worldbuilding. As he writes more books and grows a fanbase, I’m sure that those fans are going to love exploring this deep and mysterious universe.
Personally though, I’m not sure if this story was fully up my alley. There are going to be people who absolute love this novel and Lott’s future work, but even after I settled into the basics of the world, some plot elements, turning points, and set pieces had me scratching my head more than leaning forward. While I never lost track of Cascius or Kirella’s motivations and intentions, sometimes it felt like understanding the intricacies of the various antagonistic forces of the story was totally out of reach.
This feels intentional, which I can respect. As I’ve mentioned, this universe feels totally alien at times, but it’s that very feeling of total transportation to a wholly unique universe that will be the appeal for so many fantasy and science-fiction fans. Also, once it got going, the greatest appeal of the novel for me was watching Cascius attempt to come out of his morbid shell and develop a kinship with his new partner. Their relationship is the heart of the novel, really, and I’m grateful that Lott had the ability and awareness to develop it in a satisfying manner.
Conclusion
A Dirge for Cascius is a totally fresh experience, filled with the twists and turns you’d expect from a detective thriller, but written through the lens of an incredibly dense fantasy/sci-fi universe. It’s certainly not for everybody—and even the people who will like it face a challenge adjusting to this world—but I found it to be a worthwhile experience, helmed by an author with deep creative vision and imagination.
***
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