Emily St. John Mandel’s “Sea of Tranquility“ is difficult to review because the less you know about it going in, the more impactful it will be when you read it.

Like “This is How You Lose the Time War” this book has time travel as major plot element. Unlike that book, “Sea of Tranquility” is less a work of sci-fi and more of an exploration of human connection, hope and dare I say it, ethics. It just happens to use time travel as a way to introduce the main ethical conflicts to the main character (and his sister).

In an ever more isolated and isolating world, where events beyond our control often tear us apart “Sea of Tranquility” asks what does it mean to care about others? To seek connections with other people despite differences of time, space and circumstance? What price would you pay to preserve that connection with humanity?

This is a beautifully written and carefully plotted novel that doesn’t sacrifice its characters on the alter of its ideas. It will leave you pondering its depths long after you’ve turned over the last page – a sublime novel if ever I read one.