Book Blurb
A man reborn in his owner’s image.
A warrior disrupting a millennium of stability.
A beloved partner purges his recollections.
And a viral conspiracy, a marauding creature and two unlikely lovers…
‘In the Fullness of Tion’ is a collection of nine unpredictable stories about societal status, online dependency, aspiration and despair in an artificial world built on the ruins of drowned Earth.
Each tale is filled with intrigue and adulation, humour and honesty, with a high-technology, data-dependent outlook.
Overall Analysis of In the Fullness of Tion
In the Fullness of Tion by J.C. Gemmell is a collection of short stories in the shared universe of Tion, an artificial, dystopian construct designed to preserve humanity in the face of an undisclosed climate tragedy. While this shares some similarities with other utopia-turned-dystopia stories you may have read before—namely, currency equating to social standing and unchecked technological advances—Gemmell has created a unique world that can be explored through many levels thanks to the short-story-driven narrative.
Beginning this book with the first short story, The Long Walk for Betterment, I was initially intrigued by the direction of the story, but I was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of in-world references that are not immediately defined. I went back to see if there was perhaps a setting summary I may have missed to no avail. (Though, I did foolishly miss the Glossary section at the end until about three stories in.) I eventually addressed other reviewer’s opinions to see if they had the same struggle as me, and I was drawn to one particular review that explained it would be better to start with other short stories before delving into The Long Walk for Betterment. I did what that reviewer suggested—starting with What to do about Betty-Lou—and true to her words, I developed a stronger understanding of the world, the range of technology, and the economic structure of Tion. I skipped around, reading other stories, and at the end, I went back to the first story. Having most of the knowledge at hand, I found much more enjoyment in it.
That out of the way, the world Gemmell creates in In the Fullness of Tion is well-developed and fleshed out. All stories combined, you truly understand how meticulously he planned out this vast setting. Even the characters' names (while sometimes distracting) have layers of depth to them. Despite its complexity, Gemmell’s writing paints a vivid picture of Tion once you grasp the terminology.
The short stories range from thoughtful and abstract, such as The Long Walk for Betterment and Stings of the Serpent (one of my favorites), to outrageous and strange, like The Art of Turning Tables (my favorite) and Joyo and the Grass Monster. Each story is fresh, and it never seems like the author is recycling plots. A full-length novel would thrive off this setting, and I was pleased to find out that is exactly what Gemmell did with his other publications.
Final Thoughts
Aficionados of hard science fiction will make a feast of In the Fullness of Tion by J.C. Gemmell. The creativity and degree of originality Gemmell employs will intrigue even the most clever minds. At times, it can seem like a challenging read, but for those willing to persist, you will be rewarded with nine of the most inventive short stories you’ve ever read. It was a pleasure to immerse myself into the unique world of Tion, and if you’re an archaeological reader who loves digging into complex settings, this book is a must read.
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