Review of The Jonah Kit by Ian Watson

"Doing something new" or "Doing something different" is one of the most subjective aspects of science fiction, and literature in general. And never more so as we find ourselves a century-deep into mass publishing—literally millions of unique titles on the market. Going even deeper, the idea of "new and different" in American science fiction has largely been tied to technology, gadgets, sense of wonder, and the like. For European SF, new and different has more often been a product of style, technique, and fresh views to society, individuals, technology, and the human condition. Fightin' words if ever there were, the point I'm getting at is, if you're looking for something new and different in the latter vein, try Ian Watson's second novel, The Jonah Kit (1975).

A product of its times, the story of The Jonah Kit plays off the Cold War and the extremes of Soviet military research. Combine that with groundbreaking astronomy and visionary ichthyology, and the resulting tale bounces around a fair bit before making its connections known and drawing them together.

As such, The Jonah Kit would seem more American than European out of the gate. Cover copy reads: “A child and a dead astronaut—joined in the brain of a giant whale!” That exclamation point pushes readers to believe they will encounter the moistest, most innovativest story concept ever conceived on our green Earth (or sends them running in the opposite direction). But The Jonah Kit steadily reveals itself to be more of European lineage in terms of innovation. As the pages of the novel turn, Watson's dense books poetic style (referential rather than rhythmic), cold characters, and undertones of transcendence and existentialism become apparent. The novel is clearly supposed to produce ripples rather than a splash.

In the end, The Jonah Kit will not be every sf reader's cup of tea, particularly readers who appreciate core American sf. But if “new and different” mean allegorical diction, metaphysical themes, and a delicate combination of unlikely concepts, the novel is worth looking into. Like Watson's The Miracle Visitors, a few familiar devices play on the surface but it's clear substance exists deeper, and it's up to the individual reader whether that substance is meaningful.