Third Loch from the sun

 I stumbled across this one at WorldCon in Glasgow last year. You know how it is, wandering the dealer's room, picking up flyers, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone who looks like they want to talk about their self-published epic. But I’d previously attended a panel about Scottish sci-fi and saw the novel on one of the dealers' tables.

Third Loch from the Sun isn't your hard-science, physics-heavy, spaceship-battles-and-wormholes kind of sci-fi. Not by a long shot. This is firmly in the "soft sci-fi" (also occasionally known as low-fi) camp, which in this case means it's more a general fiction book with just one thing sci-fi, just a single element in an otherwise non-denominational fiction. Even then, Burke isn't bogged down in explaining the minutiae of future tech or the exact gravitational pull of some distant moon. Instead, he uses the speculative elements as a backdrop for exploring character, atmosphere, and some genuinely intriguing ideas. It's more about the human experience within a slightly altered reality, rather than the mechanics of that reality. Think less The Martian and more… well, something you'd read on a rainy afternoon when you want to relax and not think too hard. It's a relaxed read.

The (one) sci-fi bit isn't some far-flung future or a grand space opera. For a start, it's a contemporary story, set right here and now, or at least, right there on a (fictitious) remote Scottish island. Our protagonist, Jake, is just a lad on a summer job, trying to navigate prickly locals and a boss who's a bit of a rogue. The only real twist is a first-contact scenario involving tiny, flying aliens that look more than a little like fairies. It's a genuinely charming and unexpected way to introduce the speculative element, grounding it in a believable Scottish setting. Burke builds a quiet, contemplative atmosphere without resorting to cheap tricks. Having said that, it does take a bit of getting used to, and given its "low-fi" credentials, is only one magic wand away from becoming a fantasy. I can imagine some might struggle with this, after all, it's almost considered a mortal sin to mix the two genres - and for good reason, I've read some eye-watering attempts. But the rest of the book makes up for any misgivings about the genre. The characters feel real, flawed, and a bit weary, making them easy to connect with. The story meanders gently along, and really, most of the book's journey is about the characters themselves more than the fact that aliens are visiting. There's also a good deal of humour woven throughout Jake's observations and interactions, which adds to the overall charm. The humour also extends to the interactions with the alien beings, who appear to have picked up on some human eccentricities, without the wider context.

Burke’s writing is clean, even evocative at times; he paints vivid pictures without getting bogged down in excessive description, which I appreciate. You get a strong sense of place, even if that place is centred around a fictional loch on a fictional, distant island. And the central mystery, while not a grand, galaxy-spanning conspiracy, is compelling enough to keep you turning pages. I was quite sad to learn it wasn't a real island, as it's an idyllic setting, and one I'd have loved to visit sometime.

So, if you're looking for a blockbuster space opera, this isn't it. But if you're after something more thoughtful, character-driven, and happy to lean into the "soft" side of sci-fi, Third Loch from the Sun is worth a look. A solid find from a random WorldCon wander.