Mostly Murders

How far is too far to go to get what you want?

Infinity Frontiers is a psychological drama in a science fiction setting, taking an intense look at the human mind under strain, and a cautionary tale of the dangers of overlooking the importance of mental health. It is not a story of astronauts fighting external dangers of hull breaches, stray meteors or airlock failures, but a chilling tale of how badly the human mind can deteriorate when it is placed in completely unfamiliar and unnatural conditions for too long.

A volatile tech billionaire is determined to be the first to reach Mars, and to do so he is perfectly willing to recruit five astronauts who should never have been subjected to the pressure of sustained spaceflight. Already during the training on Earth, it is obvious that their clashing personalities will be an issue, but money talks louder than reason. The result? A chain of disastrous events set in motion as the five are isolated in space, leading to immense paranoia, depression and mental breakdowns.

To me, Infinity Frontiers is ultimately a story of the dangers of modern society prioritising performance, wealth and ego above mental health. It is also a reminder that the human mind isn’t fixed and static, but organic, evolving and ever-changing. Hope, despair, love and hate are emotions that can coexist, and states of being that a person can switch between as their internal and external environment changes. Trauma can leave a person both weaker and stronger, and some broken minds can heal under the right circumstances, while others remain forever shattered beyond repair.

Recommended for readers who enjoy a thorough, nuanced, deep dive into the human psyche at its best and worst, and for anyone who appreciates the importance of mental health, and the dangers of sacrificing it on the altar of money and fame.

Many thanks to Melissa Field for the review copy of this novel. I received this copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Psychological drama – Science fiction