There’s something deeply unsettling about the idea that our lives could have turned out completely differently based on a single choice or twist of fate. What if you could peek into an alternate timeline and see how things might have been? Scott Alexander Howard’s debut novel The Other Valley takes this concept to a fascinating extreme, imagining a world where parallel versions of the same town exist side-by-side, separated only by heavily guarded borders. It’s a premise ripe for philosophical exploration, and Howard delivers a poignant coming-of-age story wrapped in an intriguing speculative fiction concept.
A Town Out of Time
The isolated town at the center of The Other Valley exists in a strange temporal bubble. To the east lies the exact same town, only 20 years in the future. To the west, it’s 20 years in the past. This pattern repeats endlessly in both directions. It’s a brilliant setup that immediately sparks the imagination. How did this bizarre situation come to be? What keeps the towns synchronized? Howard wisely avoids getting bogged down in explanations, instead using this unique premise as a backdrop to explore deeper themes of fate, free will, and the weight of knowledge.
Our protagonist is 16-year-old Odile, a shy, awkward girl vying for a coveted position on the town’s governing Conseil. If selected, she’ll help decide who is allowed to cross the heavily guarded borders between time periods. It’s a weighty responsibility, and Odile’s motivations for pursuing it are complex. There’s pressure from her mother, who sees it as a path to status and respect. But there’s also Odile’s own sense that she’s meant for something greater, even as she struggles to fit in with her peers.
A Forbidden Glimpse of Fate
The inciting incident comes when Odile accidentally witnesses two masked visitors from the future—visitors she wasn’t supposed to see. She quickly realizes they are the parents of her classmate Edme, here on a “mourning tour” to view their son while he’s still alive. Armed with the knowledge that Edme is fated to die soon, Odile is sworn to secrecy by the Conseil. It’s a gut-wrenching moral dilemma. Should she warn Edme and potentially alter the timeline? Or keep quiet and watch events play out as “destined”?
This setup allows Howard to explore weighty philosophical questions about predestination vs. free will. If Odile knows Edme is fated to die, does that make it inevitable? Or could her foreknowledge be the very thing that changes the outcome? There are no easy answers, and Howard resists the urge to spell things out definitively. Instead, we’re left to grapple with the implications alongside Odile.
A Tale of First Love and Impossible Choices
As Odile draws closer to Edme, their budding romance takes on a bittersweet quality. He’s brilliant, funny, and sees Odile for who she truly is in a way no one else does. But the specter of his impending death hangs over every interaction. Howard captures the intensity of first love beautifully, while infusing it with an extra layer of urgency and melancholy. Every moment Odile spends with Edme feels precious and fleeting.
The supporting cast is well-drawn, from Odile’s status-obsessed mother to her fellow Conseil candidates. I particularly enjoyed Alain, Edme’s boisterous best friend who provides some welcome moments of levity. The town itself becomes a character in its own right, with Howard painting an evocative picture of this strange, insular community existing out of step with linear time.
Timeless Themes in a Time-Bending World
While the time-bending premise provides a unique hook, at its core The Other Valley is a classic coming-of-age story. Odile must navigate the universal challenges of adolescence—fitting in, first love, planning for the future—with the added complication of knowing a tragic secret. Howard uses the speculative elements to amplify familiar teenage feelings of being out of step with the world around you.
There are shades of Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven in how Howard explores the ramifications of altering the timeline. The ethical quandaries facing the Conseil as they decide who can cross borders are reminiscent of Le Guin’s Omelas stories. But Howard puts his own unique spin on these classic sci-fi themes.
The Weight of Knowledge
A central theme is the burden of knowing too much about the future. Is it better to live in blissful ignorance, or to have foreknowledge that you’re powerless to change? The Conseil members must constantly weigh the consequences of their actions, knowing that even small changes could have far-reaching effects. It’s a potent metaphor for the responsibilities that come with growing up and gaining a broader perspective on the world.
Howard also touches on interesting ideas about memory and identity. If the timeline changes, do we retain any trace of our “old” selves? Or are we completely rewritten with no awareness of what was lost? It adds an extra layer of tension to Odile’s dilemma—even if she saves Edme, would altering history fundamentally change who they both are as people?
Evocative Prose That Lingers
Howard’s background in philosophy shines through in the novel’s thematic depth, but he never lets it overshadow the human story at the core. His prose strikes a nice balance between lyrical and approachable. There are moments of real beauty in how he describes the town and its surroundings:
“Back at the outpost, wrapped in my towel, I watched the night rise from the blue-ridged mountains. Isolated trees bristled on the horizon like stray whiskers. Gradually the lights came on in town, and the promenade’s lamps spilled pellucid trails over the water. The wind carried errant music from the pavilion in the park.”
Passages like this create a dreamlike, slightly unreal atmosphere that perfectly suits the story’s premise. Howard has a knack for zeroing in on small, telling details that make the world feel lived-in and authentic.
A Bittersweet Ending That Raises New Questions
Without spoiling anything, I’ll say that the novel’s conclusion is emotionally satisfying while still leaving room for interpretation. Howard resists the urge to over-explain, instead leaving readers with plenty to ponder. I found myself turning the final pages over in my mind for days after finishing, considering the implications and wondering “what if?”
A Promising Debut That Lingers in the Mind
The Other Valley announces Scott Alexander Howard as an exciting new voice in literary speculative fiction. While there are echoes of other time-bending tales like The Time Traveler’s Wife or Life After Life, Howard’s unique premise and philosophical bent help the novel stand out. It’s an impressive balancing act, tackling heady concepts while still delivering an emotionally resonant coming-of-age story.
If I have one minor critique, it’s that I occasionally wanted to spend more time exploring the broader implications of the time-separated towns. There’s so much potential in the premise that I found myself curious about aspects that weren’t central to Odile’s story. But that’s a testament to how captivating the world-building is, and Howard was likely wise to maintain a tight focus on his protagonist’s journey.
Who Will Enjoy This Book?
I’d heartily recommend The Other Valley to fans of:
- Thoughtful, literary speculative fiction
- Coming-of-age stories with a twist
- Novels that explore philosophical concepts through narrative
- Authors like Ursula K. Le Guin, Ted Chiang, or Emily St. John Mandel
It’s the kind of book that rewards close reading and would make for great book club discussions. There’s plenty to unpack in terms of themes, character motivations, and the implications of the premise.
Final Thoughts: A Haunting Debut Not to Be Missed
The Other Valley is one of those rare novels that manages to be both a compelling page-turner and a thought-provoking exploration of big ideas. Howard hooks you with an irresistible premise, then uses it as a vehicle to delve into timeless questions about fate, free will, and the nature of identity. Odile’s journey is by turns hopeful and heartbreaking, building to a conclusion that will linger with you long after the final page.
For a debut novel, it’s remarkably assured. Howard’s background in philosophy lends depth to the themes, but he never loses sight of the human story at the core. I’m excited to see what he does next – The Other Valley marks the arrival of a promising new talent in speculative fiction.
In a literary landscape that can sometimes feel oversaturated with dystopian futures or well-worn tropes, The Other Valley offers something genuinely fresh and thought-provoking. It’s a haunting, beautifully written novel that uses its sci-fi premise to illuminate universal truths about growing up, making impossible choices, and learning to live with the consequences of our actions. Highly recommended for anyone looking for fiction that will make you think as much as it makes you feel.