La Pratique, l’horizon et la chaîne

by

160 pages

Published April 3, 2026 by Argyll.

ISBN:
978-2-488126-44-1
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(3 reviews)

Au cœur de l’espace, la Flotte vole éternellement, à la recherche des précieuses ressources minières qui lui permettent de survivre.Enchaîné comme des milliers d’autres au plus profond de la Cale d’un de ses Vaisseaux, un garçon dessine et reçoit les enseignements d’un vieil homme. Jusqu’au jour où, son talent ayant été remarqué par les habitants des étages supérieurs du Vaisseau, il est amené auprès d’une femme qui lui annonce qu'il ne fait plus partie des Enchaînés et qu'il a la chance de pouvoir désormais étudier à l'université du Vaisseau aux côtés de l'élite.Ensemble, ils apprendront à comprendre la nature des chaînes qui les entravent tous deux et à libérer les esprits de ce monde.

Traduction de Patrick DECHESNE Illustration de Anouck FAURE

2 editions

reviewed The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar

Sparse, intense

Wow.

In some ways this is radically different from the Olondria books, which are the other things I've read by Samatar so far: where those are an overwhelmingly rich feast with many interwoven strands, this is a short, very sparsely written story with a very tight focus. But Samatar is an exceptionally good writer, and part of what makes all of them work is simply that. And I see something of a continuity:

A Stranger in Olondria: one person's very self-centred account of some epochal changes in a place he doesn't entirely understand Winged Histories: 4 peoples' accounts of how their stories weave in and out of the events of A Stranger in Olondria. This book: all about connection, imposed or chosen.

...which is probably as much as I can say without spoilers. #SFFBookClub

reviewed The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar

The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain

The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain is a lyrical science fiction parable whose strength is in the development of its titular metaphors through its characters and worldbuilding.

The book follows an unnamed boy released from physical labor in the hold of a starship into the care of a woman professor, as part of an uplift university program. We get to see her world through his eyes, as he copes with unwanted changes to his life and as she learns to trust him. It turns out that she too her own set of different chains.

There's a lot of details I really enjoyed: names as a class distinguisher, interrogation of university politics, some horrifying about-face character and worldbuilding reveals, and also just the strength of the chain metaphor to show that what binds us also connects us.

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