Jupiter is my favorite planet. I find the storms and the atmosphere beautiful. The idea of living amongst those swirling gases and turbulent storms is exciting and daunting. It’s also beyond the scope of technology that we have and could possibly foresee. So when Malka Older set her series of cozy mysteries on Jupiter, I was intrigued and pleased. After all, that’s what science fiction is for, right? Possibilities. Well, the second book, The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older continues to be set on Jupiter, called Giant in the novel. They’re on a platform that floats in the atmosphere and circles some portion of Jupiter. I don’t know how it works, and frankly I don’t care. I’m just glad it sits in Jupiter’s atmosphere and glad that Older delivers another cozy mystery worth snuggling up on the couch with a cup of something warm and reading.
TL;DR
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older is a wonderful followup to The Mimicking of Known Successes. Pleiti and Mossa are back, and we’re rooting for them to solve their mystery and figure out their relationship. Highly recommended.
From the Publisher
Investigator Mossa and Scholar Pleiti reunite to solve a new mystery in the follow-up to the cozy space-opera detective mystery The Mimicking of Known Successes, which Hugo Award-winning author Charlie Jane Anders called “an utter triumph.”
Mossa has returned to Valdegeld on a missing person’s case, for which she’ll once again need Pleiti’s insight. Seventeen students and staff members have disappeared from Valdegeld University—yet no one has noticed. The answers to this case may lie on the moon of Io—Mossa’s home—and the history of Jupiter’s original settlements during humanity’s exodus from Earth.
But Pleiti’s faith in her life’s work as a scholar of the past has grown precarious, and this new case threatens to further destabilize her dreams for humanity’s future, as well as her own.
Review: The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older
Mossa is headed back to Valdegeld looking for a missing person. But mostly she wants see Pleiti. Their long distance relationship means they have to take advantage of each opportunity to be with each other that they get. As she begins investigating, though, she discovers that more people have gone missing. No one seems to have noticed. Yet, there are people missing from the university. Students, instructors, workers, all gone without anything seeming to connect them. Meanwhile, Pleiti is dealing with the fallout from their last adventure. She’s become a curiosity at the university because of the part she played. Once again, they’re reunited in pursuit of answers. Their investigation takes them off Giant to the moon of Io, where Mossa grew up. What exactly is going on at this university?
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older is a first person point of view cozy mystery. Although, roughly half of this novel is dedicated to Pleiti contemplating her relationship with Mossa. Still it’s a great blend of genres: science fiction, mystery, and romance. It’s a fun, fast read with a satisfying mystery. Though the mystery isn’t as compelling as the romance. Highly recommended.
Pleiti
Pleiti is the main character, and in this book, she’s evolving from academic researcher to investigator. Throughout she’s setting aside her own research in order to pursue the mystery. Readers get to see her level up as an investigator in this story, and it works. In addition, we see her begin to have a little confidence in herself with respect to Mossa. The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles cements Pleiti as a character worth getting to know.
Mossa and Pleiti
About half of the book is dedicated to Pleiti reflecting on her relationship with Mossa. Because I liked Pleiti so much, I enjoyed these reflections. Pleiti sometimes ignores Mossa’s signals out because she’s not confident. She rationalizes away Mossa’s outreaches as part of the investigation or the case. I so identify with this. Pleiti cares for Mossa but won’t let herself be vulnerable and take a chance. Mossa, to be fair, is hard to read and is quirky. But I read Mossa as being vulnerable in this story in Mossa’s own way. However Pleiti refuses to acknowledge it’s affection toward her. In less skilled hands, this investigation into their relationship wouldn’t be as satisfying as it is here. In the first book, I loved the mystery part more, and here, I loved the romance part more. Older gives us characters learning vulnerability amidst the stress of a missing person’s investigation. It’s wonderful.
Conclusion
Malka Older’s The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles is a wonderful followup to The Mimicking of Known Successes. The setting, the mystery, the romance, it all works. Pleiti and Mossa are characters that you root for in many ways. The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti is a series that’s rewarding and fun. I’m ready for their next mystery, and their next cup of tea together. Highly recommended.
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older is available from Tordotcom on February 13th, 2024.
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