ECHO: 2 (The Anomaly Quartet) - Softcover

"This is a remarkable book: a state-of-the-art spacecraft constructed from ideas, and propelled by a powerful story. Gripping, terrifying and audacious--an exploration in every sense of the word."--Charles Yu, author of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

"Science fiction is best when it does what we least expect, when it transforms narrative into something you don't see coming....It's a trick not every writer can master, but Smythe makes a marvel of this world, and these characters, and makes this reader want the sequel now."--Romantic Times BOOKclub (Top Pick!)

"A challenging and stimulating read."--Booklist

"A] mind-bending, heart-wrenching, avalanche of a reading experience... an oasis for readers thirsty to find an engaging book... books like this are the kind that create fans, and I'm proud to be one."--SF Signal

"There have been teachers in space, senators, and the wealthy who buy tickets. But never has a journalist been launched over the atmosphere. Until Smythe's gripping novel."--New York Post

"The Explorer has the dreamlike detachment of an Ishiguro novel.... reminiscent of a 1970s space movie, where the darkness of the void mirrors the darkness of the human soul."--Financial Times

"A brilliant book -- funny, desperate, desolate, sad, all in equal measure."--Chuck Wendig

"The Explorer is essentially exemplary: a short, sharp shock of a story from an author who deserves to do as well for himself as he does by us. It's perfectly plotted, smartly characterised and rife with insight and excitement."--Tor.com

"The Explorer by James Smythe is quiet, dark book which focuses on the dark and quiet of space....It may not be a flashy...but it is a fascinating character study that could only exist in a science-fictional world."--io9.com

"Beautifully written, creepy as hell. The Explorer is as clever in its unravelling as it is breathlessly claustrophobic."--Lauren Beukes, author of Zoo City