More Than This by Ness Patrick
Seth, the protagonist, appears to be drowning in a cold ocean as the story’s dramatic opening scene shows him presumably going unconscious. After that, he awakens in an eerie recreation of his hometown, complete with coffins that are all filled save for his own. This novel explores the concepts of remorse and facing your demons, as well as sci-fi elements that emerge as the story progresses with unexpected narrative turns around every corner. As memories from the main character’s past resurface in flashbacks, we come to understand the terrible reality of his circumstance.
More Than This by Ness Patrick
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The very first line is how we begin, with Seth, our central character, drowning. In the subsequent chapter, however, he awakens to find himself in the dusty, abandoned home where he was raised in a suburban area of England before a tragedy devastated his family. The house where he passed away in the Pacific Northwest is also halfway around the world away. And he is utterly by himself.
Seth assumes at an away that this must be hell. After all, he did pass away. His dreams are rife with memories that transport him back in time and make him feel as though he is experiencing them. Could that also be a component of hell?
He searches for the tools he needs to survive while being wary of any hazards that may be lurking around every corner—and believe me, they are! Patrick Ness is a phenomenal author who has earned numerous honours, including the Carnegie Prize for Children’s Literature. This book is one of his earlier creations.
It begins with a masterful depiction of a boy drowning in a freezing sea before having his skull fractured and his cerebral artery and spinal cord severed by pebbles after hitting his head on them. It is quite clear that he is dead.
But he awakens in a strange, deserted location, nude save for some odd bonds. How can you find him? His investigation of this new world is fascinating in its detail, with a terrain that resembles a desolate battle zone, deteriorating homes, and a Marie Celeste-like setting. The young hero Seth, though, finds it to be strangely familiar. The few individuals he encounters and finally befriends are compassionately portrayed, with Thomas in particular offering a potent source of humour. He frequently recalls his life before drowning, eventually remembering his little brother who had been kidnapped. He suddenly understands why he attempted suicide, and he starts to wonder—no, hope—that there is something more than just this eternity and that this might not be the end.
