An immortal warrior named B, who longs for death, is enlisted by a U.S. black-ops group to help them in exchange for their promise to help him die. The story delves into themes of immortality, identity, power, and the consequences of living through millennia, with a narrative structure that weaves together present-day events with flashbacks to key moments in B's long life.

Reader Review Summary

"The Book of Elsewhere" is a genre-defying, ambitious work that blends elements of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and literary fiction into a mesmerizing and thought-provoking exploration of life, death, immortality, and humanity's relationship with each of those concepts.

At its core is the compelling character of B/Unute - an 80,000 year old immortal warrior who has lived through all of human civilization. Reeves and Miéville deftly bring this ancient, powerful figure to vivid life through intricately woven narratives chronicling his vast lifespan. The second-person vignettes depicting key moments from B's past are magnificently written, immersing the reader directly into his eternal cycles of reincarnation after violent deaths. These interludes provide poignant meditations on the existential burden of immortality and the alienation of bearing witness to the whole of human history.

Balancing these transcendent segments is a more grounded present-day narrative, written in a cyberpunk-esque style reminiscent of William Gibson. B finds himself reluctantly recruited by a shadowy military force that promises to finally grant him the death he longs for after millennia of rebirth. This contemporary framing allows the metaphysical themes to play out in an absorbing cloak-and-dagger story full of mystery, danger, and sudden visceral action set pieces. The shifting perspectives and time periods keep the reader delightfully off-balance throughout.

Miéville's prose is, as always, a marvel - complex yet natural, poetic yet accessible. His talents as a world-builder are put to full use, conjuring uncanny images and scenarios that linger long after the book is finished. His collaboration with Reeves seems to have further unleashed his imagination into audacious and thrilling territory. At the same time, Reeves' presence is palpable through the distinctly masculine voice and existential angst of the central character.

Ultimately, "The Book of Elsewhere" is a stunningly original work that transcends genre limits to grapple with the deepest questions of existence, death, and humanity's place in the cosmos. It's an intellectual and aesthetic tour-de-force, brimming with enough mind-bending concepts and jaw-dropping imagery to easily reward multiple re-readings. While undeniably challenging and disorienting at times, the novel pays off for readers willing to immerse themselves in its labyrinthine meditations. Reeves and Miéville's achievement is a high watermark in strange and visionary storytelling.