Somewhere between M. John Harrison's Light and John Langan's The Fisherman floats The Immaculate Void, the newest accomplishment by Brian Hodge.
If those reference points excite you--and they should, if you're into thoughtful and frightening weird writing--it is easy to recommend Hodge's novel, wherein he plays cleverly with structure, time, and style while connecting tiny constellation dots and heavily burdened characters with some violent red slashes. A brother and sister, rock climbing, a child murderer, a missing Jovian satellite, and an anomaly in an oven are all key elements in this surprising book.
I'm somewhat new to Hodge--I didn't care for World of Hurt, though really savored Whom the Gods Would Destroy--and the high-minded concepts herein are as original in the world of cosmic horror as those found in The Fisherman. Although Hodge's images may not be as vividly detailed as Langan's, the length of this tale and its pace and the introduction of new ideas are more deftly accomplished and the emotional resonance similarly strong.
There is some really great sense of wonder sci-fi material here--Greg Bear, Greg Egan, M. John Harrison kinda stuff--and these inspired imaginings took my mind to some interesting places while nasty acts are enacted or recounted in seeming counterpoint.
Cosmic and intensely personal, The Immaculate Void is an outward glimpse beyond the ken of man and into the direct center of his mind. Well done!