MONARCH

John Arnett’s MONARCH appears on the surface to be a science fiction novel involving a missing treasure, a criminal on the run, and an imperiled queen – but most of it feels more like a thinly-disguised discussion of severe social anxiety and how to overcome it. The science fiction elements are unsatisfying at first, as the planets and aliens we meet look very much like Earth – but about three-quarters of the way through the book there’s a dramatic plot twist that makes the story much more interesting and gives a sense of purpose. All in all, it’s worth sticking with it until the end.