Leisure Reading

Sci-Fi Files

Sleeping Giants

by Sylvain Neuvel

A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square-shaped hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.

Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved - the object's origins, architects, and purpose unknown.

But some can never stop searching for answers.

Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top-secret team to crack the hand's code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the relic they seek. What's clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unravelling history's most perplexing discovery- and finally figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?

Review by Jordan Lanagan - Cataloger & Database Specialist 

What if we started finding giant robot body parts all over the world—pieces made of a material unlike anything we've ever seen?

Come find out in Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel!

This book is an absolute blast. Told primarily through an interview-style format, much of the story unfolds as recorded transcripts and case files. You follow multiple characters, each playing a crucial role in the unfolding mystery of the robot. Their distinct voices make them stand out, and the enigmatic Interviewer adds an extra layer of intrigue that keeps you hooked. Frankly, this is a rather dramatic story with events happening constantly, so you should never be bored.

I’ve read this entire trilogy twice, and I can confidently say it’s just as thrilling the second time around. The plot never slows down, keeping you engaged from start to finish. Neuvel delivers answers in a satisfying way while exploring classic sci-fi themes—questions about life beyond Earth and what that means for humanity, what it means to interact with technology we don’t fully understand. While many science fiction books tackle similar ideas, Sleeping Giants stands out with its gripping narrative and unique storytelling approach.

The characters are great. I already mentioned the mysterious Interviewer, but the rest of the characters are also very fun to follow and felt like realistic people. Honestly, I could see this being a fun show/movie.

If you're looking for a fast-paced, highly readable sci-fi series that will completely immerse you, I highly recommend this book!

You can find this book in the Hodges Library Leisure Reading Collection. Check it out and let us know what you think of the book! Make sure to tag your responses on social media with #utksharedshelf so we can see what you think! 

* Book Description and image provided by Goodreads