Air

By: Geoff Ryman

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Paperback | 14 May 2026 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Format
Paperback

Dimensions(cm)
19.7 x 13.0 x 2.7

Paperback

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"AIR is wonderful...Ryman is a true, graceful writer and this is a novel you move into and inhabit for as long as you can make it last" - Kit Reed

"This book constantly surprised me ... great for a lot of seriously original ideas and a deep dive into the consequences" - Goodreads Reviewer

Mae Chung lives in the rice-farming village Kizuldah, in Karzistan. She's a self-styled fashion expert, guiding the village women in dress, make-up and hairstyle, which makes her an informal village leader.

When the UN decides to test Air - a radical new technology that works without power lines or machines - Mae finds herself with the memories of a deceased village elder, Mrs Tung. Struggling with information overload, the resentment of much of the village, and a complex family situation, Mae works fiercely to learn what she needs to ride the tiger of change.

Geoff Ryman's triumphant return to science fiction is a powerful, evocative story of information technology in a changing world.

Industry Reviews

One of recent science fiction's acknowledged masterworks. Enthralling. - Matt Coward

Ryman makes a triumphant return to science fiction in this superbly crafted tale. Besides being a treat for fans of highly literate SF, this intensely political book has important things to say about how developed nations take the Third World for granted. - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Ryman fills it with intimate, emotional scenes of love and jealousy as well as such surreal events as a calm exchange on cosmology with a talking dog. Enthralling. - Booklist (starred review)

[Ryman's] description of the mental effects of AIR are astounding. Mae is an impressive heroine, and the text is full of sharp commentary and vivid characters, containing many a worthy insight about how the world will be dragged further into the Information Age, like it or not. - Kirkus

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