“Hoffmann confidently layers morality and disability rights into a breezily told adventure that bursts with sheer fun… This beautifully smart, uncynical space opera will charm fans of Charles Stross and Lois McMaster Bujold.”
– Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“There’s a whole lot of cool shit in this novel, and Hoffman brings it together very well indeed, but beyond the worldbuilding and the weirdness, the characters stand out for me… The narrative ramps up the suspense all the way to the climax. It’s a strikingly effective one, full of high stakes and high emotions, with a satisfying conclusion and room for more stories to come.
Compellingly written, tense, and thrilling, with fascinating (and weird) worldbuilding and brilliant characters, The Outside is a fantastic debut. I can’t wait to see what Hoffman does next.”
– Liz Bourke, Locus
“With a boffo combination of hard science fiction, cosmic Lovecraftian horror, both cyber-and-god-punk, some ridiculously charismatic aliens, and a fascinating female protagonist somewhere on the autism spectrum, Ada Hoffmann’s The Outside feels like it was made to order for us”– Skiffy and Fanty
“The Outside is a beautiful, stark reclamation of unknowable horror. Hoffmann layers thoughtful worldbuilding and rich prose to build a stunning story of power, ambition and personal agency. I couldn’t put The Outside down for fear of what might happen while I was looking away.”
– Sarah Gailey, Hugo Award-winning author of River of Teeth
“The Outside is a fresh and mind-bending mix of cosmic horror and space opera, a compelling story that spans from the deeply personal to the vast mysteries of time and space. Unsettling and gorgeous, this is like nothing I have read before and the book I have been longing for without knowing it.”
– Karin Tidbeck, award-winning author of Amatka and Jagannath
“The Outside is spooky, high-stakes, mind-bending Science Fiction.”– Kelly Robson, Nebula Award-winning author
“Hoffmann has created a beautifully immersive world, an intoxicating blend of science and divinity that held me captive from page one. Come for the cosmic horror, stay for the nuanced exploration of the nature of individuality, the soul, and the relationships that tie us together.”
– Caitlin Starling, author of The Luminous Dead
“A tangled knot of inter-dimensional intrigue that will have you reading with clenched teeth and curled toes.”
– Lara Elena Donnelly, author of spy thriller trilogy The Amberlough Dossier
“A stunningly imagined novel! Hoffmann takes on the idea of vast, apathetic, cosmic horrors and then makes the most powerful force in the universe…compassion. The prose marries fast-paced action with intricate relationships and a mixture of religion, technology, and diversity that’s unlike anything I’ve come across before. It’s weird in all the best ways, filled with memorable characters and a sweeping plot that’s part mystery, part horror, and all heart.”
– Charles Payseur, Quick Sip Reviews
”What I loved about The Outside were the shades of gray in characters and their choices, and the challenge of doing what’s right when right is a shifting target.”
“Great characters and big moral questions that go far beyond your standard space opera.”
– Sarah Pinsker, Nebula Award-winning author of Our Lady of the Open Road
“The Outside is a gripping examination of the battle between good and evil on a grand scale; Yasira is a complex character torn between faith and doubt in her search for the truth in a dark universe where nothing is as it first appears. “
– The Guardian
” With its vast setting, compassion for its characters, and an incredible mad scientist at the center of it all, The Outside is a science-fiction suspense novel like no other: unusual and twisty, a delicate balance of suspense, space opera, and cosmic horror.”
– Barnes and Noble blog
“The Outside is a definite mind-bender, serving up shock and awe from the start… It’s equal parts exhilarating space opera and scientific horror, presenting the unknown in epic fashion. The author’s originality shines through, leaving you with the compelling story of a brilliant scientist tasked with solving an impossible mystery.”
– Reviews and Robots
“Deeply embedded in sci-fi history, The Outside reimagines old stories in new, exciting, #ownvoices ways.”
– Book Riot
“One, the story itself is just a joy to read blind. Two, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Every piece is like a gear in an intricate clock, winding through an elegant dance that encompasses the whole story. The push and pull on Yasira as she does Nemesis’ bidding while wrestling with the mind-opening teachings of her former mentor is astonishing. Every plot point felt like a new door being opened into understanding everything else that came before it while also breaking down your understanding of Hoffman’s world. It was enchanting, and I was enthralled from beginning to end. An end which synthesized everything before it and feels complete in its own respect.”
– The Quill to Live
“This sci-fi series combines cosmic horror and A.I. gods for some fantastic worldbuilding. The way it centres neurodivergence is stunning.”
– Luminosity Library
“The worldbuilding is so unbelievably fascinating… this is a brilliantly original sci-fi, with a viciously compelling story, great autistic rep, and a cast so interesting it’s hard to hate the characters you’re meant to hate.”
– Every Book a Doorway
“An extremely satisfying mashup between science fiction and cosmic horror.”
– Skye Kilaen, Lesbian Books