The Separation

Author: Christopher Priest

As if alternate histories weren't confusing enough, The Separation wants to further test its readers' intelligence by giving the readers a story about twin brothers during World War 2 who have identical initials, Jack and Joe Sawyer. Jack is a pilot, and Joe is an ambulance driver for the Red Cross, using one of Priest's most familiar techniques, that of the unreliable narrator. The brothers are divided by their need to be treated as individuals (not just twins, they won a rowing medal for Britain in the Berlin Olympics, presented by Rudlof Hess), but by their very belief system. Despite this need for distinct identities, they're always linked, both suffering similar injuries, the story marked by similarities and contradictions. The Separation is a beautifully written story, rich in detail, and impressively researched. Though the text is memorable, it becomes almost chaotically confusing, and as such leaves the reader with a distinct memory of the piece. The Separation also won the 2002 British Science Fiction Award and the 2003 Arthur C. Clarke Award. It was a finalist for the 2002 Sidewise and 2003 John W Campbell Awards. Priest has said to have been influenced by H.G. Wells in writing this novel, and is the Vice President of the H.G. Wells Society.