Oceanus

Book Review #14

Oceanus is a science fiction novel written by Hanna Delaney. Inspired by The Tempest and told in 3^rd person omniscient, it paints a vivid world reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica (2004), Lost (2004), and Sphere (1998).

While this story does use a Shakespearean starting point, its ending, both in genre and narrative, travels far beyond the 17^th century.

Psych Prison

Although Oceanus reminded me of Battlestar Galactica, there are no star fighters or space battles, but instead it delves into the blurred labyrinths of the characters’ minds.

Imprisonment can be physical, such as being exiled or marooned on a remote planet, but the more insidious variety of social norms and one’s own mind can be just as confining and potentially worse.

No One is an Island

Although the rules of society can impose a collective draconian mindset, it is sometimes the case that others serve as a mirror for a person to examine their own flawed decisions.

Long ago a friend told me the real theme of Blade Runner (1982) was how artificial life will be a dark lens that will force humanity to confront our own deep-rooted flaws and present us with a future in which we either evolve or externalize our shadow as anything but our own.

Much like The Tempest, Oceanus is a story about revenge but also about the potential for reconciliation and the freedom to make different, and perhaps better, choices.

Managing Expectations

• What it is

  • Science fiction

  • Psychological thriller

  • Character-driven

  • Short, but longer than a novella (187 page paperback)

• What it isn’t

  • Action packed with space battles (this isn’t Star Wars)

  • Dense political intrigue (though there are mysterious aspects to the story)

Inside the Author’s Studio

Hanna is a speculative fiction and horror author from Liverpool, UK. Hanna has had a passion for reading since a young age and studied English Literature at Bachelors and Masters level before becoming an English teacher. Hanna’s debut novel, Oceanus, was released on the 6th September 2024.

Hanna lives in her home city with her family.

For more information, checkout Hanna’s website

Where to Buy Oceanus

Oceanus on Amazon

Book Blurb

The stricken SS Demeter floats helplessly in orbit around a mysterious planet. The crew have evacuated, leaving behind a single crew member. Survivors on the planet find themselves separated and forced to face the substance of their own dreams and nightmares. They don’t know why they’re there or what happened; unbeknownst to them, they are being watched.

Oceanus is a futuristic thriller inspired by William Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

If anyone is to find their way back home, the truth must be revealed.

Oceanus by Hanna Delaney is a gripping and provocative read that will captivate fans of psychological thrillers, science fiction, and philosophical explorations of human nature, particularly those who enjoy complex characters, moral dilemmas, and the intersection of technology and humanity.

Oceanus is a futuristic psychological thriller that tells a classic story of betrayal, forgiveness, love and deception.

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