The Unseen World: A Novel

Liz Moore

ISBN 10: 1504724380 ISBN 13: 9781504724388

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc., 2016

Synopsis

A heartbreaking and moving story about a daughter's quest to discover the truth about her father's hidden past.

Ada Sibelius is raised by David, a single father and head of a computer science lab in Boston. Homeschooled, she accompanies her loving father -- brilliant, eccentric, socially inept -- to work every day. By twelve, she is a painfully shy prodigy. At the same time that the lab begins to gain acclaim, David's mind begins to falter and his mysterious past comes into question. When her father moves into a nursing home, Ada is taken in by one of David's colleagues. She embarks on a mission to uncover her father's secrets: a process that carries her from childhood to adulthood. Eventually, Ada pioneers a type of software that enables her to make contact with her past and to reconcile the man she thought she knew with the truth.

Praised for her ability to create quirky and unforgettable characters, Liz Moore has written a piercing story of a daughter's quest to restore the legacy of the father she desperately loves.

About this title

About the Author

Liz Moore is a writer and musician. Her debut novel, The Words of Every Song, was published in 2007 and she has also released an album, Backyards. She is an assistant professor at Holy Family University in Philadelphia, where she lives.

Review

“The novel is poignant, well-crafted and utterly convincing. A great read that will haunt you long after you finish.”
- Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson & The Olympians

“Enthralling....An elegant and ethereal novel about identity and the dawn of artificial intelligence, and a convincing interior portrait of a young woman.”
- Washington Post

“[A] captivating new page-turner, The Unseen World is a wry, gentle coming-of-age story and an intriguing glimpse into the development of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, both early on and as envisioned for the future. It is also an incisive, insightful, and compassionate examination of the complexities of family and identity.”
- Boston Globe

“Fiercely intelligent....Moore evocatively renders the remoteness of even our closest loved ones.”
- New York Times Book Review

“I was so thoroughly engaged with The Unseen World. What a wonderful, fulfilling, riveting read, alive with complex characters, a thrilling story, wit, and, above all, a deep sense of compassion.”
- Jami Attenberg, author of Saint Mazie

“I absolutely love this wise, compassionate novel that challenges our definitions of family, of intelligence, and of love. Equal parts cerebral and heartbreaking, The Unseen World is utterly compelling, and its heroine Ada Sibelius is irresistible in all her thorny vulnerability. Liz Moore has given us a masterful version of our own modern condition, and I cannot wait to place this book in the hands of my most ardent reader friends.”
- Robin Black, author of Life Drawing

“The Unseen World is a compelling read with vibrant, finely constructed characters. Moore intertwines a complex coming of age story with the science of cryptology and the history of artificial intelligence, while simultaneously exploring the meaning of love, loss and belonging. . . Elements of mystery and suspense keep you turning the pages in this multi-layered gem of a book.”
- LibraryReads

“In sparse, urgent prose, Liz Moore delivers a staggeringly beautiful meditation on love, legacy, and the emotional necessities that make life worth living. That lump in your throat? You won’t quite know how it got there―nor believe how long it will stick around once the final page is turned.”
- Téa Obreht, author of The Tiger’s Wife

“From the first page to the last, The Unseen World held me spellbound. I am Liz Moore’s biggest fan, and after you read her new surprising, big-hearted novel you will be too.”
- Ann Hood, author of The Obituary Writer

“The Unseen World is a deeply compelling novel about the intimate mystery of family. The story of how the brilliant Ada decodes the past and grapples with her eccentric father’s legacy is gripping, touching, and wonderfully intelligent.”
- Dana Spiotta, author of Stone Arabia

Edition details

• Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1504724380
• ISBN 13: 9781504724388
• Binding: Audio CD
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 1