--- product_id: 39741033 title: "Radiance: A Novel" price: "€ 33.05" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/39741033-radiance-a-novel store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # Radiance: A Novel **Price:** € 33.05 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Radiance: A Novel - **How much does it cost?** € 33.05 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/39741033-radiance-a-novel) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Radiance is a decopunk pulp SF alt-history space opera mystery set in a Hollywood-and solar system-very different from our own, from Catherynne M. Valente, the phenomenal talent behind the New York Times bestselling The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making . Severin Unck's father is a famous director of Gothic romances in an alternate 1986 in which talking movies are still a daring innovation due to the patent-hoarding Edison family. Rebelling against her father's films of passion, intrigue, and spirits from beyond, Severin starts making documentaries, traveling through space and investigating the levitator cults of Neptune and the lawless saloons of Mars. For this is not our solar system, but one drawn from classic science fiction in which all the planets are inhabited and we travel through space on beautiful rockets. Severin is a realist in a fantastic universe. But her latest film, which investigates the disappearance of a diving colony on a watery Venus populated by island-sized alien creatures, will be her last. Though her crew limps home to earth and her story is preserved by the colony's last survivor, Severin will never return. Told using techniques from reality TV, classic film, gossip magazines, and meta-fictional narrative, Radiance is a solar system-spanning story of love, exploration, family, loss, quantum physics, and silent film. Review: Trippy, postmodern sci-fi--gorgeous - So, imagine that at around the time George Melies filmed A Trip to the Moon, we actually discovered space travel. And all the planets--the moon, Venus, Neptune, Mars, etc--were habitable. And unlike A Trip to the Moon, no one lived on these planets but giant callowhales, and these whales produced milk that facilitated our ability to live on these planets, though no one knows what these callowhales are. Okay, then imagine that silent films are considered so artistic that films are produced primarily without sound, and also in black and white. Now put yourself in the Hollywood, film-noir mentality. An Orson Welles movie, perhaps. Meet Severin. She’s the daughter of a famous gothic film director, and has always grown up under the spotlight as a beloved film icon. She becomes a documentarian, traveling the stars and making her own films. Her fifth film—The Radiant Car Thy Sparrows Drew—explores a city that’s disappeared on Venus, and a child that circles the city. She and her crew travel to Venus, begin filming. And then she disappears. Told through scripts, gossip columns, interviews, and a fictional first-person detective, Radiance explores the impact of Severin’s disappearance on those who loved her, as well as the history of a person who’s always been in the limelight. As always, Valente’s writing is mesmerizing and unique, and I’m awed by her ability to capture so many different tones. Radiance is her first science fiction novel (she has several sci-fi short stories, one of which was the jumping off point for this novel), and it combines the pulp aesthetic of 1950s sci-fi with postmodern storytelling strategies. This is a book that’s meant to be read fast. If you let too much time go by between reading, you’ll miss connections. It wasn’t until about halfway through that I realized what was going on with some of the parts, and I went back to reread so I could make sure I was following! But it’s utterly unique and beautiful. For sci-fi, fantasy, and film fans, you should absolutely read this. Review: Weird in a fun way - This is a weird one: a multi- point of view history of 20th century film making if Jules Verne style space travel had worked. Flits around through time and place, but if you have patience, the story comes together nicely. Very cool. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #592,649 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1,651 in Alternate History Science Fiction (Books) #3,366 in Exploration Science Fiction #5,607 in Space Operas | | Customer Reviews | 4.0 out of 5 stars 260 Reviews | ## Images ![Radiance: A Novel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71eShA-4kmL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Trippy, postmodern sci-fi--gorgeous *by M***Y on March 3, 2016* So, imagine that at around the time George Melies filmed A Trip to the Moon, we actually discovered space travel. And all the planets--the moon, Venus, Neptune, Mars, etc--were habitable. And unlike A Trip to the Moon, no one lived on these planets but giant callowhales, and these whales produced milk that facilitated our ability to live on these planets, though no one knows what these callowhales are. Okay, then imagine that silent films are considered so artistic that films are produced primarily without sound, and also in black and white. Now put yourself in the Hollywood, film-noir mentality. An Orson Welles movie, perhaps. Meet Severin. She’s the daughter of a famous gothic film director, and has always grown up under the spotlight as a beloved film icon. She becomes a documentarian, traveling the stars and making her own films. Her fifth film—The Radiant Car Thy Sparrows Drew—explores a city that’s disappeared on Venus, and a child that circles the city. She and her crew travel to Venus, begin filming. And then she disappears. Told through scripts, gossip columns, interviews, and a fictional first-person detective, Radiance explores the impact of Severin’s disappearance on those who loved her, as well as the history of a person who’s always been in the limelight. As always, Valente’s writing is mesmerizing and unique, and I’m awed by her ability to capture so many different tones. Radiance is her first science fiction novel (she has several sci-fi short stories, one of which was the jumping off point for this novel), and it combines the pulp aesthetic of 1950s sci-fi with postmodern storytelling strategies. This is a book that’s meant to be read fast. If you let too much time go by between reading, you’ll miss connections. It wasn’t until about halfway through that I realized what was going on with some of the parts, and I went back to reread so I could make sure I was following! But it’s utterly unique and beautiful. For sci-fi, fantasy, and film fans, you should absolutely read this. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Weird in a fun way *by J***R on December 9, 2018* This is a weird one: a multi- point of view history of 20th century film making if Jules Verne style space travel had worked. Flits around through time and place, but if you have patience, the story comes together nicely. Very cool. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ a wild ride through multiple genres *by T***F on August 19, 2024* radiance: a novel is a wonderful blend of fantasy, sci-fi, and noir that goes on a trippy ride across a fully inhabited solar system, set in a 20th century where movies are black and while, and mostly silent. The central mystery slowly unwinds itself, with the final expose (at least to me) being unexpected but reasonable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/39741033-radiance-a-novel](https://www.desertcart.at/products/39741033-radiance-a-novel) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-06-05*