Synopsis
Stepping off a long-haul star freighter from Earth, Saras Kaveri has one bag of clothes, her little flying robot Kili . . . and an invitation to compete in the galaxy’s most watched, most prestigious cooking show. Interstellar Megachef is the showcase of the planet Primus’s austere, carefully synthesised cuisine. Until now, no-one from Earth — where they’re so incredibly primitive they still cook with fire — has ever graced its flowmetal cookstations before, or smiled awkwardly for its buzzing drone-cams.
Corporate prodigy Serenity Ko, inventor of the smash-hit sim SoundSpace, has just got messily drunk at a floating bar, narrowly escaped an angry mob, and been put on two weeks’ mandatory leave to rest and get her work-life balance back. Perfect time to start a new project! And she’s got just the idea — a sim for food. Now she just needs someone to teach her how to cook.
A chance meeting in the back of a flying cab has Saras and Serenity Ko working together on a new technology that could change the future of food — and both their lives — forever . . .
Review
Interstellar Megachef is a book to be devoured. It’s a sumptuous sci-fi treat that’ll delight the palate of your imagination and leave you with a very pleasant aftertaste.
Lavanya Lakshminarayan exploded onto the sci-fi scene last year with The Ten Percent Thief — a dark and brooding masterpiece where the concept was high and the revolution was imminent. If you’re expecting more of the same, then guess again! Interstellar Megachef subverted all of my expectations in the best possible way. This isn’t some grim and gritty dystopia with philosophically challenging conundrums at the fore. This is a book full of brightness and fun. It’s a celebration of food and how, in our future, humanity could very well become what it eats. This isn’t a steak to be dissected and chomped on, it’s a confectionary treat topped with popping candy and sprinkles that will leave you smiling and hungry for more.
I adored the way that this book took me on a tour of the universe in the way future societies might think and feel about food. In this story, the chef is the explorer of worlds. It’s not The Bear In Space. And it’s not The Great Alien Bake Off. It’s got a unique flavour that’s told across the backdrop of rich, diverse, multicultural galaxy.
The links between food and culture are explored so intriguingly here. It’s a universe where certain cooking styles are deemed barbaric because of the misapprehensions and prejudices of so-called advanced civilisations. And, by the same token, the excessively pretentious and needlessly complicated menus of some cultures are derided for being too inaccessible — depending on where you’re from. Just like throughout history, class and nationality are the boundaries over what kinds of meals are served and to whom. And it’s this subtle exploration of what that means for our humanity that creates a layer of depth and weight beneath the flashy, sweetly intoxicating flourishes of world-building and character-study.
In terms of characters, I loved the relationship between Saras and Ko, the two standouts of the book. Saras is a chef from Earth with secrets to hide, and she’s the wildcard contestant for the Interstellar Megachef competition. Whereas Ko is trying to redefine what food can be in a stimulated and simulated reality, but she hasn’t got a salt-pinch worth of culinary skill. How these two mismatched idealists find their lives intertwining is a constant source of joy to read.
Also, shout out to Kili, who should win an award for “best robot companion of 2024.”
If you’re guessing that the plot will unfold like a series of Masterchef, with each chapter being the next round, then you might want to keep an open mind. There’s not much of the contest itself in the book, although the competition does make for a perfect bookend to the story. What you’ll find instead is a densely layered universe to explore, with characters that pop and sizzle. You’ll find joy, hope, and a reminder of how food can bring us together, no matter where we’re from.
Stylistically, there’s a lot of wit, banter, and wordplay on display, which made me grin. But my biggest reaction to the story was salivating over the lush descriptions of the dishes created throughout the chapters. I ate twice my body weight while I was reading it. So, spoiler alert: this is a book that’s best enjoyed with your favourite snacks.
The future of food is such an interesting concept to explore. But even more impressive is how the journey of Interstellar Megachef reflects what food is meant to be. It’s a treat. It’s a means of uniting us. And it deserves to be relished. There’s a reason why a space donut stands front and centre on the front of the book, and it’s because this novel is every bit as moreish, delicious, and fun as a pink-frosted ring of pastry.
I thought I had food all figured out. I mean, I’ve been eating it my entire life. But Lavanya Lakshminarayan has somehow managed to do something new with it. She’s served up a dish unlike any I’ve had before. My compliments to the chef. Now all I need is a second course!
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