Autistic scientist Yasira Shien has developed a radical new energy drive that could change the future of humanity. But when she activates it, reality warps, destroying the space station and everyone aboard. The AI Gods who rule the galaxy declare her work heretical, and Yasira is abducted by their agents. Instead of simply executing her, they offer mercy – if she’ll help them hunt down a bigger target: her own mysterious, vanished mentor. With her homeworld’s fate in the balance, Yasira must choose who to trust: the gods and their ruthless post-human angels, or the rebel scientist whose unorthodox mathematics could turn her world inside out.
The Outside by Ada Hoffmann is a brilliant and thought-provoking work of hard science fiction, blending physics, cosmic horror, and richly layered identity representation into a unique and unforgettable story.
At the heart of the novel is Yasira Shien, an autistic lesbian scientist whose voice feels authentic, complex, and refreshingly free from stereotype. As an autistic reader myself, I was thrilled to see not just one, but multiple neurodivergent characters portrayed with nuance and individuality. Hoffmann resists the all-too-common trope of treating autistic characters as one-note or interchangeable. Instead, each character has their own personality, challenges, coping strategies, and emotional landscape. Their neurodivergence is simply a part of who they are, not a plot device or a problem to be solved.
Her anxiety and the way she goes about problem solving felt very relatable and realistic. I wish we had more good representation like this!
While there is a sapphic romance woven into the narrative, it never overshadows the core story. It’s handled with a light, realistic touch – important, meaningful, but not the center of the universe. Which makes sense, given that Yasira is literally trying to prevent a catastrophic reality-warping disaster. The balance of personal and planetary stakes feels just right.
The worldbuilding is where The Outside truly shines. Hoffmann has created a universe where godlike AI angels, once human, now ascended to near-divine status, rule over humanity with strict codes of logic and order. The philosophical implications of worshipping machines are fascinating, and the tension between rigid orthodoxy and chaotic, forbidden science drives the story forward in gripping ways. There’s a light dash of Lovecraftian horror here too. While there is madness, there’s also a deeper exploration of the terrifying unknowability of the universe, and what it means to encounter forces beyond logic.
Thematically, the book explores questions of identity, autonomy, faith, and the cost of knowledge, all while remaining grounded in personal relationships and character-driven stakes. It’s smart, unsettling, and full of moments that linger long after the last page.
In short: The Outside is everything I want in science fiction: innovative, inclusive, and intellectually daring. I’m already looking forward to reading the sequel.
