Arrival Screenwriter's Debut Sci-Fi Novel Sounds Pretty Cool

Arrival was one of the best movies of 2016, earning “Universal Acclaim” on Metacritic and landing Academy Awards nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography, among many others. The screenwriter for Arrival, Eric Heisserer, is now set to release his debut novel–Simultaneous: A Novel–on October 28. It sounds every bit as impressive as Arrival, and it’s already earning tons of early praise. Preorders are now open at Amazon, so give it a look if you want a mind-bending thriller to help ease you into these chilly fall nights.

$28 | Releases October 28

Simultaneous follows Grant Lukather, a federal agent working in the Predictive Analytics department of Homeland Security. He’s tasked with listening to potential terrorists’ conversations and preempting any attacks. And when he learns of a potential explosion in New Mexico, he’ll set out on a mission with unexpectedly high stakes.

Along the way, he’ll meet up with Sarah Newcomb–a therapist who has recently discovered a strange phenomenon while practicing hypnosis. The two, along with help from one of Newcomb’s patients, will set out on a thrilling quest that takes place across not just multiple locations, but multiple timelines and consciousnesses. The novel is earning plenty of praise from big names like Josh Malerman, the author of Bird Box, who said “Heisserer has outdone himself.” Leigh Bardugo, the author behind the Shadow and Bone trilogy, called it, “A twisty, mind-bending thriller that will keep you guessing until the final gut punch.”

Since Simultaneous: A Novel doesn’t release until October 28, you can bide your time by watching the Arrival 4K Blu-ray, which is just $16.21 on Amazon. It includes both the 4K and standard Blu-ray versions of the film, along with a selection of bonus features that detail the movie’s creation, as well as the scientific and anthropological ideas underlying its sci-fi concepts.

Looking for more mind-bending novels? Check out 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami or Bright Eternity by Daniel Zeigler. The former follows Aomame, a character who notices the world around her is suddenly starting to look different–and she believes she somehow has entered a parallel reality. A paperback version is available for $14.87 (was $22), though there’s also a newly released 1Q84 Hardcover from The Folio Society that looks absolutely stunning, thanks to a vibrant purple design and surreal illustrations.

Bright Eternity, meanwhile, is part of The Brightness Trilogy, and it explores the idea of cheating death. NewEden Life Sciences has developed a program that can add decades to your life, but some family members of participants are noticing dramatic changes in their loved ones. It follows a journalist as they investigate what’s happening at the divisive biotech company. For more great novels, check out some of our favorites below.