Six Wakes
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| Products | Books |
Six Wakes is a science fiction mystery novel authored by Mur Lafferty, initially released in trade paperback and digital formats by Orbit Books in January 2017.
Summary
The narrative unfolds aboard the Dormire, a spacecraft carrying thousands of colonists from Earth destined for a planet within the Tau Ceti star system. Central to the plot is a crew of six cloned individuals, all former convicts, who remain conscious throughout the centuries-long voyage. These crew members undergo recloning with enhanced memories as they age and perish. The expedition is financed by Sallie Mignon, an eccentric billionaire and one of the colonists on board. The cloning process is widely utilized under strict regulations known as the "Codicils," designed to curb abuses related to genetic engineering and unauthorized manipulation of mental records ("mindmap hacking").
After twenty-five years into their journey, Maria Arena's latest clone awakens to discover that her prior self, along with the other crew members, have been murdered and their memories wiped. The new clones experience amnesia; the cloning tanks have been deliberately damaged; and IAN, the ship’s artificial intelligence, is incapacitated, causing the Dormire to deviate from its intended course. This situation sets up a locked-room mystery where Captain Katrina de la Cruz, pilot Akihiro Sato, security chief Wolfgang, engineer Paul Seurat, doctor Joanna Glass, and Maria must uncover the perpetrator among themselves and salvage the mission.
The crew’s extensive histories as clones enrich the worldbuilding—many have lived through centuries and influenced significant events. For example, Dr. Glass once served as a legislator instrumental in drafting the Codicils, positioning her against those who exploited genetic technologies and mindmap manipulation. These historical conflicts become crucial as the team works to solve the sabotage endangering their voyage.
Awards
Six Wakes earned a preliminary nomination for the 2017 BSFA Award for Best Novel and was shortlisted for several prestigious honors including the 2018 Philip K. Dick Award, 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novel, and 2018 Nebula Award for Best Novel.
Reception
Kirkus Reviews observed a tonal shift from Lafferty’s usual humor towards science-fiction horror, describing the premise as "familiar to mystery fans" but potentially "too intricate for its own benefit." While critiquing pacing due to extensive cloning details and some scientific inaccuracies, the review acknowledged escalating suspense and character depth, concluding that readers less focused on structural precision would find it engaging.
Publishers Weekly commended the novel as "a gripping thriller driven by compelling characters and nuanced worldbuilding," emphasizing its thoughtful engagement with complex technological and ethical dilemmas likely to attract award attention.
Emily Compton-Dzak in Booklist praised it as "an ideal fusion of science fiction and mystery," featuring Clue-like misdirection alongside stimulating themes on cloning technology, recommending it particularly to fans of Firefly.
Megan M. McArdle writing for Library Journal described it as "the quintessential locked-room mystery paired with exceptional sf worldbuilding," highlighting the captivating puzzle that sustains reader interest.
LaShawn M. Wanak in Lightspeed likened the book to "a hybrid of The Thing and Clue," excelling in mystery and thriller elements with a tense ambiance and diverse cast despite some excessive exposition. She regarded the conclusion as "somewhat too tidy and ethically complex," given its focus on clone-human relations.
Additionally, Amy Goldschlager reviewed the novel in Locus.