Neom

Finalist of the “Locus,” “Dragon,” and “Seiun!” awards! Best book according to Gizmodo, Foreword Reviews, Antick Musings, and The Speculative Shelf!

Neom is a city called Neom: a chaotic megacity and a techno-utopia on the shores of the Red Sea—the last stop before the Central Station, a transfer hub between Earth and space colonies. In the desert, an orphan boy named Saleh joins a trading caravan, hoping to earn a chance to leave the planet. But among the sands lie mechanical artifacts: some mysterious, others dangerous, and not all of them are intelligent. And recently an ironic, nameless robot dug up one of the region’s biggest secrets—the remains of the Golden Man.

Meanwhile, Nasu arrives in Neom—a terrorist artist who has lost her memory and hasn’t completed her last mission. And perhaps a single machine—holding a rose in one hand and lost love in its heart—can change the fate of an entire city.

“Can we just admit that Lavie Tidhar is a genius?” — Daryl Gregory, award winner

“The author returns once again to the universe of the ‘Central Station.’ A sparkling blend of philosophy, psychology, and storytelling. This isn’t a sequel, but a standalone chapter in a carefully constructed world.” — Library Journal

“Once again, the author creates a thrilling and unique image of the future. His characters are complex, his themes are strong and thought-provoking. This is the best side of science fiction.” — Kij Johnson

“In the author’s signature manner, biblical references and tributes to classic sci-fi are woven into a futuristic plot, all of it filled with empathy… This novel is a striking and human journey into the hearts of artificial intelligence.” — Foreword Reviews

“Bright and techno-mythological, Neom is infected with something special—flickering hope shining through all the horrors and wonders.” — David Brin

“This is Tidhar at peak form: unstoppable imagination, dense texture, ideas, and dazzling storytelling. A brilliant portrait of a community and its possibilities.” — Adam Roberts

“As soon as you finish ‘Neom,’ you’ll feel an irresistible pull to return to the Central Station universe—rich in ideas. I hope Tidhar will give us more journeys—either to Earth or far beyond it.” — Analog

“A real gem. Every new story from this universe reveals something deeply human in us and in our aspirations.” — SciFi Mind

“Wildly inventive, packed, full of poetry and strange wonders. It’s robots and jackals, deserts and broken machines—and at the same time it’s roasted tomatoes, soap operas, grandmothers doing tai chi, and tenderness hiding in every frame.” — Benjamin Rosenbaum

“Lyrical, anxious, and full of hope… A beautiful story about what we have, what we want, and what we’re willing to do for it.” — Los Angeles Public Library

“At times the tale becomes unhurried and reflective, which helps recreate the atmosphere of a ‘living’ city of the future… ‘Neom’ is definitely one of those fantastic cities you want to visit.” — Locus

“Impressively done. I’m thrilled by the author’s vision: the novel is both ultramodern and abandoned at the same time, and it wonderfully interweaves story, culture, and technology.” — The Speculative Shelf

“A well-built world that doesn’t overwhelm. The novel moves fast despite multiple lines and mysteries.” — Booklist

“Science-fiction ideas here burst like fireworks. Want something strange, beautiful, and slightly insane? Grab this novel.” — ParSec

“This isn’t a glossy techno-utopia of Saudi Arabia—it’s a lively, fascinating story with real people, machines, and miracles.” — New Scientist

“Like ‘Central Station,’ this novel combines scale and intimacy, a wealth of ideas and images, poetry, and bold moves. Highly recommended!” — Jake Casella Brooks

“This is a smart, humane sci-fi novel built on the legacy of classic ‘robots’ sci-fi, but in its own, deep, distinctive universe.” — Andrew Wheeler, Antick Musings

“With perfect precision, the author gathers scattered pieces of history to bring them to a finale where ancient war machines assemble again in the futuristic Neom. Stunning flights of imagination and craftsmanship.” — Watch

“From Levi Tidhar you always expect the unexpected, and this long-awaited return to the space-opera ‘Central Station’ brings poetry, action, memorable characters, delightfully odd landscapes, and boundless fantasy.” — Maksim Yakubovskiy

“Excellent author’s return to the ‘Central Station’ universe, where the fates of people and machines intertwine in a futuristic city on the shores of the Red Sea.” — Green Man Review

“The author transports us again to the enchanting world of the distant future of ‘Central Station’—this time into a calm, intimate story of self-realization and the search for a lost love.

Against the backdrop of personal stories, a vivid living world unfolds: ancient war machines, time-frozen terror art installations, and stories about monsters living in the Oort clouds. Tidhar explores the suffering of AIs striving for meaning despite the limitations of code and form. Fans of literary science fiction will be charmed by this world and its tenderly drawn characters.” — Publishers Weekly