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Seanan McGuire

Middlegame (Alchemical Journeys, 1) Hardcover – May 7, 2019

by Seanan McGuire (Author)

1,642 ratings

Part of: Alchemical Journeys (2 books)

Editors' pick Best Science Fiction & Fantasy

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A HUGO AWARD FINALIST!

WINNER OF THE LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST FANTASY NOVEL, 2020!

A Pick on the 2020 RUSA Reading List!

New York Times bestselling and Alex, Nebula, and Hugo-Award-winning author Seanan McGuire introduces readers to a world of amoral alchemy, shadowy organizations, and impossible cities in the standalone fantasy, Middlegame.

Meet Roger. Skilled with words, languages come easily to him. He instinctively understands how the world works through the power of story.

Meet Dodger, his twin. Numbers are her world, her obsession, her everything. All she understands, she does so through the power of math.

Roger and Dodger aren’t exactly human, though they don’t realise it. They aren’t exactly gods, either. Not entirely. Not yet.

Meet Reed, skilled in the alchemical arts like his progenitor before him. Reed created Dodger and her brother. He’s not their father. Not quite. But he has a plan: to raise the twins to the highest power, to ascend with them and claim their authority as his own.

Godhood is attainable. Pray it isn’t attained.

A USA Today Bestseller, and named as one of Paste Magazine's 30 Best Fantasy Novels of the Decade!

Print length

528 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Tordotcom
Publication date

May 7, 2019
Dimensions

5.73 x 1.76 x 8.61 inches
ISBN-10

1250195527
ISBN-13

978-1250195524
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Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

Numbers are simple, obedient things, as long as you understand the rules they live by. Words are trickier. They twist and bite and require too much attention. He has to think to change the world. His sister just does it.
Highlighted by 338 Kindle readers
Roger guesses people all over the world must use the same tone when they talk to the smart kids, like they were bombs on the edge of going off, instead of children with brains too big for the people they’re supposed to be.
Highlighted by 266 Kindle readers
The old fool forgot the lessons of Blodeuwedd and Frankenstein: never create anything smarter, or more ruthless, than yourself.
Highlighted by 235 Kindle readers

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

This epic sci-fi adventure will grab fans of Doctor Who and Blade Runner. Twins Roger and Dodger were genetically manufactured in a lab so that their psychotic creator, Reed, who is also genetically manufactured, could unlock godlike powers. The twins are separated and raised on opposite ends of the country. Despite the distance, they are linked and nothing will stop them from connecting with each other. The plot is intricate yet fast paced, with classic sci-fi elements such as genetic engineering, psychic links, alternate dimensions, and time loops. The book follows the protagonists through elementary to graduate school, and teens will readily identify with the characters' thoughts and actions. VERDICT An excellent recommendation for those who enjoyed Lev Grossman's The Magicians and Lauren Oliver's Replica.-Melanie Leivers, Palm Beach Country Library System, FLα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

"McGuire has an uncanny knack for taking the worst things that lurk in the shadows and weaving them into an absolute delight."―Becky Chambers

"Roger and Dodger are the heart of this story. They're its pulse and purpose ― these two supernaturally gifted kids who come off like kids. And this is the greatest trick McGuire pulls here … It's the kind of book where you want to reach into the page just to help them out, to warn them of what's coming. It blossoms."―NPR

"This is a fascinating novel by an author of consummate skill."―Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Satisfying on all levels of the reading experience: thrilling, emotionally resonant, and cerebral.”
―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"McGuire sets a high bar for alchemy-based stories in this new stand-alone, twisting themes of time and space as seen through the eyes of children. . . . This singular work keeps readers thinking long after the final page."―Library Journal, starred review

"An excellent recommendation for those who enjoyed Lev Grossman's The Magicians and Lauren Oliver's Replica."―School Library Journal, starred review

“[A]n ambitious piece of world building from a master of the craft . . . thoroughly engaging.”―Booklist

"Readers should come for the tightly constructed world and stay for the pleasure of watching the twins choose each other, come what may."―Shelf Awareness

"This is a tricky book to pull off, no doubt about it. But that trickery is pulled off with the kind of aplomb that has become one of McGuire’s great skills. What a story to read (and re-read). If you’ve got a love for fantasy, you should read Middlegame."―Entertainment Weekly's Cultures

"Imaginatively conceived, carefully constructed, fantastically written ... another delightful and captivating outing from Seanan McGuire."―bookreporter

"An excellent recommendation for those who enjoyed Lev Grossman's The Magicians and Lauren Oliver's Replica."―School Library Journal

"Readers should come for the tightly constructed world and stay for the pleasure of watching the twins choose each other, come what may."―Shelf Awareness

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tordotcom (May 7, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250195527
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250195524
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.38 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.73 x 1.76 x 8.61 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #109,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,419 in Dark Fantasy
- #3,677 in Fantasy Action & Adventure
- #3,953 in Science Fiction Adventures

Customer Reviews:
1,642 ratings

About the author

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Seanan McGuire

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Seanan McGuire is a native Californian, which has resulted in her being exceedingly laid-back about venomous wildlife, and terrified of weather. When not writing urban fantasy (as herself) and science fiction thrillers (as Mira Grant), she likes to watch way too many horror movies, wander around in swamps, record albums of original music, and harass her cats.

Seanan is the author of the October Daye, InCryptid, and Indexing series of urban fantasies; the Newsflesh trilogy; the Parasitology duology; and the "Velveteen vs." superhero shorts. Her cats, Lilly, Alice, and Thomas, are plotting world domination even as we speak, but are easily distracted by feathers on sticks, so mankind is probably safe. For now.

Seanan's favorite things include the X-Men, folklore, and the Black Death. No, seriously. She writes all biographies in the third person, because it's easier that way.

Customer reviews

5 star		62%
4 star		25%
3 star		9%
2 star		3%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Kathryn Townsend

Think hard before reading...

Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2019

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It is well written and compelling and fascinating and...weird...

I hated reading it and I could not put it down.

I don’t think I liked the book and yet it is so wonderfully written, so new in its concepts, so much more than the same old same old we keep seeing in this genre it deserves acclaim. Four stars because, really, I am pretty sure I actually disliked the book and wish it weren’t in my brain but I have to acknowledge the quality of the writing.

180 people found this helpful

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Breanna Ramsey

Be careful which road you follow...

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2019

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Full disclosure: I love Seanan McGuire's work, and can honestly say I have never read anything she's published - including her work as Mira Grant - that hasn't been outstanding. That has not changed with Middlegame.

I will admit I was a little hesitant about this one at first. I'm a huge October Daye fan, crazy for Incryptid and in love with the Wayward Children books, but this wasn't tied to any of those settings, and I had this irrational fear that I might be disappointed. Oh me of little faith...

Middlegame is a complex tale, and it's more than a little creepy. Roger and Dodger are amazing characters, and amazingly normal, even as weird things begin to happen. The villains are monsters, literally and figuratively, and Erin, well she's probably the most complex character of all. She's at times funny, at times melancholy and always, always scary, and in the end, I wept for her.

Middlegame is one of those stories I will be reading again and again, and I highly reccomend it.

75 people found this helpful

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E. M. Cadorette

McGuire's best yet

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2019

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I hesitated briefly to read this book, because all the reviewers I trust most were saying that it was incredible, but heartbreaking; I'm not in a place in my life where I seek out things to break my heart, not even a work of fiction, but I should have trusted Seanan McGuire.

This book is a mind-bending, time-shifting, paradox-handling fairy tale off-the-rails of a ride. When you are fairly sure you know where the story is going, McGuire twists the knife, does indeed wring the chambers of your heart dry, only to fill you with hope the next.

Don't hesitate, don't be dissuaded - this story may break your heart, but it will lift it, too.

60 people found this helpful

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Tess Monical

Great book!

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2019

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I loved this book. I'm a big fan of Seanan McGuire's work to start with, so I was expecting it to be good, but it surpassed my expectations and was AMAZING. I loved the super weird premise, the writing was excellent, and I most importantly I loved the characters (Erin and Dodger were my faves but all of them are dear to me now).

I am also very glad that the author had the major trigger warnings on her twitter- if you're concerned I would google it, I don't want to say anything specific here, but I personally was glad to have some warning about some of the heavier subject matter going in.

14 people found this helpful

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An Improbable Journey that Will Amaze You

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2022

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I’m trying to figure out the best way to explain this book and I’m definitely not going to do it any kind of justice. This is a strange and unusual tale, imagine if someone wrote an iconic book about 100 years ago and that book had all kinds of clues and keys in it of a place that could be made, by the right people. Then there is a secret society trying to make the right people, by weird and gross means that will be able to embody this iconic book and bring it to life so to speak so they can control the world. See not really doing the concept justice. It is kinda like if the cast from the Wizard of Oz went on a journey they didn’t know they were taking to bring the world of Alice in Wonderland to life. Kinda
“They were supposed to grow up with their hands in each other’s pockets, compensating for one another’s weaknesses, encouraging one another’s strengths.”

Roger and Dodger are twins separated at birth and sent to live with families at opposite sides of the country. They are not even close to normal children. They were designed in a lab put together with mercury and gold and other odds and ends lying around. They are two halves of a whole one the embodiment of language and the other math. Together they are perfect, but set to grow up apart they are flawed. They are experiments and they will have so many trials throughout their lives to make them into the people they need to be to bring some fabled doctrine to life.
“Words can be whispered bullet-quick when no one's looking, and words don't leave blood or bruises behind. Words disappear without a trace. That's what makes them so powerful. That's what makes them so important.
That's what makes them hurt so much.”

Roger is all words, he knows the meaning of so many of them, they are his friends and with them he will be able to do almost anything, when he figures out what he is. He started talking to Dodger in his head at nine and they have fallen in and out of each other’s heads throughout their childhood. They are linked in so many ways and while it takes awhile for them to figure out just how connected they are the journey they take is full of wonder and things that could be.
“Numbers are simple, obedient things, as long as you understand the rules they live by. Words are trickier. They twist and bite and require too much attention. He has to think to change the world. His sister just does it.”

Dodger was a favorite character of mine. She is so focused on the math, the numbers and the way they make the universe. She really was the least adjusted of the two siblings since words explain things to people in a way they understand while math just confuses most. But I love her interactions with the world and the way she can break things down sometimes into just facts without the emotional baggage.

They have a slew of people trying to keep them separated, more that are working to make them bring this magic world into being and only a few that will be on their side when the time comes. There are dangerous people who might just take them out of the game completely to give someone else a shot.

This story is strange and magical and different. It has fantastic ideas and metaphors throughout and I was so drawn into the language and the relationship of these kids as they grew into their adult selves and figured out how to travel an improbable road.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Susan Stepney

this is a masterpiece

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 1, 2022

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The alchemist Reed has had twins Roger and Dodger constructed, so that they can manifest The Doctrine and make him all powerful. They need to be raised apart, one with Maths, one with Words, so they do not manifest too early. But they are stronger than he realises, and connect with each other before he is ready. Reed believes he can control them, but if not, he can always destroy them and start again. But he has forgotten the most important rule of Alchemy. Never create a being more powerful than yourself.

This is a marvellous book. In the acknowledgements, McGuire says that she has had the book in mind for a long time, but waited until now because she didn't have the skill to write it earlier. She certainly has the skill to write it now.

Set in modern day America, yet with a lyrical, fantastical feel, constructed children who are nevertheless very real, weird happenings that slowly begin to make sense, contradictory foreshadowings that heighten the tension, real tragedy and heartbreak, and a stunning finale that is a perfect resolution, yet leaves you wanting more: this is a masterpiece.

Greatgreenbird

A fascinating standalone novel

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2020

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This isn't the easiest book to summarise, given that it involves quite a lot of different timelines and that in itself is going to be enough to make some people pass Middlegame by. Essentially, it's all about an attempt to use alchemy to create a pair of children who can embody the Doctrine, as whoever can control them will them control the world - this leads to a breeding programme, of which the two main characters of our story are one of the results.

Separated at birth, twins Roger and Dodger are adopted out on different sides of the US, one a maths prodigy and the other a whizz with languages, neither knowing they have a sibling out there. It's only when they begin to communicate, a process which is not smooth sailing in more ways than one, they start to uncover the truth about their own origins and also about what they can do. They're tied together, whether they like it or not, with almost-fatal repercussions on at least one occasion.

Add into that the attentions of the man who set up the breeding programme in the first place, frustrated that they might be coming to terms with their powers when he has a much more malleable alternative pair back home on the ranch, and the twins are heading into a world of trouble. There's also an element of time travel involved, all of which would have potentially been an unholy mess in the hands of a less competent and experienced author.

Well worth a read if you're looking for something in the SFF genre you haven't quite seen before, as well as if you're in search of a novel that isn't part of a trilogy. Those have their place but sometimes you just want one and done. If that's the case, Middlegame might work for you too.

One person found this helpful

M. King

Frustrating

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2020

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This is one overblown book which thrives on long boring and repetitive conversations and descriptions and would benefit from being half its length.

Plodding would be a good description.

There’s no attempt to explain how the alchemy practised in the novel sits alongside our world and much of the explanations of what is going on feels like spur of the moment gibberish from the author rather than a thought out set of rules.

Characters are bland and uninteresting except for Erin and the bad guys are one dimensional moustache twirling constructs.

A. Parkes

More excellent world building!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2020

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I've said on more than one occasion I'd happily read Mira Grant's shopping list but despite them being the same person I've purposely stayed away from Seanan McGuire books. Writers have a pseudonym for a reason. The Mira Grant stuff is so obviously different and the books written as Seanan are very obviously not the kind of books I'd usually read. But something about this one caught my eye and I'm glad I gave it a go.
It has a lot of similarities to Feed in the way it's laid out and she knows how to craft a brother and sister story that makes you care about the characters.
Unlike feed though there are no zombies or politics here. This is about magic grounded in the real world. Any more than that is spoiler territory. I really really enjoyed this though! Also enjoyed the moment when I realised what the cover picture was!

Jos

Superb!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 23, 2021

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It’s great. Superb. What more does one need to say? Like Neil Gaiman at his best and he doesn’t do best any more. So this is your gal.

One person found this helpful

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