Sarah Pierzchala
Jul 19, 2026
Beautifully written and gripping
This epic tale is set in an impossibly distant future and presents the first part of the journey of Sirius, a member of the Astronomer’s Guild. Exiled from his guild for a murky crime, Sirius is charged with delivering a precious book of knowledge to the fabled enclave of Calrathia. This is basically a death sentence, as it is known he will face incredible dangers in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. Although there is nothing in it for him but the prospect of suffering and death, he remains true to his task. Thus, Sirius models the virtue of constancy to vows despite obstacles and temptations. There’s a wholesome, exciting, old-fashioned feeling to this adventure story, which owes a lot to the works of Gene Wolfe. There are some familiar elements in the world-building, themes, and style, all of which are reminiscent of Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun and the character of Severian. However, the storyline of Domes is more straightforward and easier to follow. Young does an admirable job of evoking an otherworldly feel, and he chooses to depict Sirius, through his noble behavior, as a more recognizably heroic, almost Christ-like figure than Wolfe’s protagonist. This is an impressively well-written, gripping, and entertaining work. The blend of world-building, characterization, and pacing is excellent. The prose is beautiful. At less than 300 pages, it treats us to what I assume is only the first leg of Sirius’s journey, but a lot happens in those pages, and while it does have a satisfying conclusion, I certainly hope there is more to come.
