The emotional toll of immigration—specifically the haunting sensation of leaving a fragment of one’s identity behind—is vividly captured in Nebula Award-winning author Isabel J. Kim’s highly anticipated novel, Sublimation. Known for the acclaimed short story “Why Don’t We Just Kill the Kid In the Omelas Hole,” Kim weaves a narrative centered on two divergent paths taken by protagonist Soyoung Rose Kang. Having lived in the United States since age ten, Rose is thrust back to Korea after a summons from her counterpart—the version of herself who never left—to attend their grandfather’s funeral.
The novel feels like a synthesis of two prominent Apple TV science fiction dramas: it echoes the fractured psyche premise of Severance while simultaneously invoking the multiverse-driven themes of Dark Matter, particularly its exploration of existential regret. In Kim’s imaginative landscape, separated immigrants frequently communicate with their alternate selves, clinging to the hope of eventual unification. Yet, for Soyoung and Rose, the silence has been absolute since they parted ways—until now, as Soyoung harbors a desperate plan to claim Rose’s life and physical form as her own.
5 essential sci-fi and fantasy reads for May
From Sarah Gailey to Matt Dinniman, this month’s releases offer an incredible variety for every type of reader.
The narrative structure utilizes parallel columns to present the dual lives of the women, illustrating how they grapple with identical dilemmas and anxieties, regardless of the physical chasm between them. The audiobook adaptation, featuring performances by Major Curda and Michelle H. Lee, enhances this dynamic through sophisticated stereo sound design, seamlessly shifting voices between the foreground and subtle background murmurs.
“The performances by Major Curda and Michelle H. Lee perfectly mirrored the voices I imagined for my characters,” Kim shared in a statement to Polygon. “The immersive soundscapes truly elevated the material, creating something much more strange, poignant, and vast than what existed on the written page.”
Sublimation is scheduled for release on June 2. Macmillan Audio has provided an exclusive look at the audiobook excerpt.
Source: Polygon
