Scientists on the Jovian moon Callisto have discovered a way to achieve immortality using nanotechnology. Wisely, I think, the Party on Earth decided not to allow the new technology loose on Earth; opting instead for sending volunteers to Callisto into a sort of test environment.  So each year, a lottery is held and four worthy candidates are selected.  The catch is that no one can ever return to Earth.

The four candidates in 2193 are a brilliant physicist dying of cancer, an orphan from the irradiated ruins of New York, a veteran of the Yugoslav Wars (the last country to succumb to the Party), and a companion to the physicist whose presence could only be the result of a rigged lottery selection.

Padraig, the physicist, has little time left to live and the hope is that the nanotechnology will cure the cancer.  But the scientists don’t know; they’ve never encountered this situation before.

Gautier is Padraig’s lover and best friend and only there because Padraig’s very rich father rigged the lottery to insure that Gautier would go.

Cassandra comes from New York and she has reason to hate the Party that runs Earth.  Apparently there is an underground resistance movement (isn’t there always?) and she has volunteered to help their cause.  Her mission:  go to Callisto, become immortal, destroy the whole station, live and return to Earth to help bring down the Party.

And Jocasta, a veteran of the Yugoslav Wars, is suspicious about the Party’s intentions.  Her damaged hand is healing much slower than expected; what could be interfering with the nanobots? And the scientists explained that her PTSD had been cured but she worries about what that means; her memories and dreams are her own, rather pleasant or not.  Plus she has a very confusing interaction with PETR, the station AI, who states she must ‘remember’ which is also what was said to her in her dream – which she should not have had if the nanobots were doing their job.

In addition, two very significant participants in this drama are the AI Synac which pilots the shuttle taking the group to Callisto and the AI PETR which runs the Callisto Station.  It is obvious from first introduction that Synac is broken or, at least, has some software issues.  Some chapters express the ‘frustration’ each AI is experiencing as the other accuses them of corruption.

A secondary character is Karen who is the Party’s representative on the Station and its de facto administrator. Karen is the Party’s goon and, quite possibly, an insane predator.  Karen is slowly losing her senses because of the whispering she hears.  Padraig hears it, too; but he’s more interested in determining the source than allowing it to claim his senses.  But when he discovers the whispering is actually coming from the planet Jupiter, he does start to question his own sanity.

So, from this motley group of people, the reader can expect insanity, hedonism, fear, murder, and there doesn’t seem to be anyone who can stop any of it.  And while humans just being human can cause enough mayhem, it might be the crazy AIs that put the end to this tale.  At the end of the story is the realization that none of what they go through will mean anything if no one on Earth knows of it.

This was, thankfully, a science fiction story; a lone voice in a sea of fantasy.  I live for these visions and I thank the author.  But it was a strangely plotted story; it was challenging at times to figure out where the story was headed.  Each character seemed to have a role to play but it was also challenging to determine their place in the story and what their role had to do with the plot. I expect there is much more to the story than just this; the question of what Jupiter really represents has not been explained.  Nor do we understand how any of the events that occurred on the station will affect Earth’s politics; if at all.

I do find it a little difficult to decide if I recommend this story or not.  The ensemble of characters, particularly the two battling AIs, was fascinating.  The plot was a bit vague; I don’t know where the author expected to end up at the conclusion; I think the word “madrigals” from the title is a clear indicator of her intentions.  “Madrigal” relates to a form of a capella voices, each singing a different song; which obviously relates to the whispers that Karen and Padraig hear.  And the characters, for the most part, were disappointingly unpleasant and hollow.  I can see what the author was portraying but the prose ended up a bit dry for my tastes. I don’t not-recommend it; it will definitely appeal to some readers.   ~~ Catherine Book