If you like your Sci-Fi blended with horror and your lore extensive, look no further than Daniel Kraus’ new book The Sixth Nik. If you want to feel good at the end of reading a book, skip it.
As the 55th Niffakoq, Sisilla is all of nine-years-old, but with the brain and comprehension of a PhD candidate. From her earliest days, she has known she will die before puberty and the six (well, five) dime-sized discs in her head (niks) will be collected and implanted into the next child chosen for her role. She must complete her “Chore” before death. This Chore involves going to a planet far out in distant space to encounter human beings whose ancestors were shipped off to avoid another worldwide plague. This new generation may or may not be safe to encounter. What does Sisilla care? She assumes she’ll be dead soon and her colleagues will return home only four years older while their earth counter parts will have aged 33 years. Sisilla is also has been holding back a secret; one of the niks has forced its way out of her brain, leaving her with a permanent pink eye. She carries it like a talisman, and feels emotions that no Niffakoq has been able to feel before. She is terrified that if anyone finds out she does not have all six implants in her head that she will fail and let down everyone who counts on the success of her Chore.
The Sixth Nik is an intense read for multiple reasons. If you have a short attention span or don’t want a lot of backstories, I can tell you from the start The Sixth Nik is not going to be your thing. The first 30% or so of the book is worldbuilding and term heavy. Sisilla goes on tangent after tangent, explaining in great unemotional detail about the history of nearly everything she sees and everyone she encounters. The material isn’t particularly challenging; there’s just a lot of it to get through. You will have to adjust to her terms and observations very quickly or sputter out. Many unfamiliar words she will explain, but quite a few things you have to figure out from context clues and roll with like some new teenage slang terms. There is a bodyguard named for the number of murders they’ve committed and tales of a mad scientist who created black holes in their basement that end up unraveling sound science that trolls everyone with Nazi propaganda phrases. You’re no doubt going to find something weird and wild in her explanations. The characters are interesting but often end up feeling like caricatures instead of characters. When explaining this book to my partner, I said it felt like the crew was taken from that Netflix show Inside Job and changed up a bit.
This book is also a tough read as it does not shy away from body horror. Their spaceship is made of flesh, including bulging walls and tumor beds. Pieces of flesh and brain move away when certain parts of the ship need to be accessed. That I could deal with. Descriptions of the supposed disease that wraps peoples’ internal organs in hair? Cakewalk. I’m no stranger to body horror and splatter punk. If you’re uncomfortable with severed limbs and walls made of brain matter, this probably isn’t a book for you.
The next section contains spoilers and there’s a trigger warning for sexual assault. Please feel free to see yourself out the way I wish I had.
Yes, I agree Science Fiction should say something about our world and how we see it growing and changing. True, it is important to not silence those who have endured assault. However, holy smokes I don’t want to read about forced hentai-like impregnation of a child in a world where we already have the Epstein files. I especially don’t need a nine-year-old being like “well, at least I’ll be dead soon” to justify it. This is a child sexual assault followed by attempts at forced birth. I live in Texas, I don’t need someone reminding me this stuff happens daily. If you must torment them, find a new horror to inflict on your female characters, I beg of you!
In short, The Sixth Nik was a book I tried, didn’t finish, and needed a shot of vodka afterward for my trouble. This is definitely not a book to read if you’re already at your emotional and mental limit.
The Sixth Nik is available June 23rd from Saga Press.
Hello; I was relieved to read this post; I read the first 160 pages of this book. The first 30 pages had me thinking it would be a top shelf favorite. But soon after that, the book moves into territory that isn’t good fiction, regardless of the context. Descriptive sexuality of a nine year old girl? Broken glass bottles in people’s backsides? Whew! Even if the book becomes amazing in the 2nd half, nothing can make up for subjecting a reader to that. After reading your review, Im glad I quit before the impregnation… I’m a 45 year old white guy, I think movies like Hellraiser 2 (unrated) and even I Spit on Your Grave 2 (unrated) have their place. But not the Sixth Nik. And, although I love many books by Joyce Carol Oates, I think her last novel the Fox also crossed a similar line. Some subjects just aren’t entertaining. But both of these books have rave reviews… Anyway, thanks for your review of this book… -J.m.m