The Sol Majestic

A Novel

By: Ferrett Steinmetz

Narrated by: James Fouhey

Length: 13 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

"Narrator James Fouhey serves up a delicious feast of a performance in this unusual combination of science fiction, philosophy, and food." — AudioFile Magazine

The Sol Majestic is a big-hearted and delightful intergalactic adventure for fans of Becky Chambers and The Good Place.

"A feast of a book.”—Hugo Award-winning author Seanan McGuire

Kenna, an aspirational teen guru, wanders destitute across the stars as he tries to achieve his parents' ambition to advise the celestial elite.

Everything changes when Kenna wins a free dinner at The Sol Majestic, the galaxy's most renowned restaurant, giving him access to the cosmos's one-percent. His dream is jeopardized, however, when he learns his highly-publicized "free meal" risks putting The Sol Majestic into financial ruin. Kenna and a motley gang of newfound friends—including a teleporting celebrity chef, a trust-fund adrenaline junkie, an inept apprentice, and a brilliant mistress of disguise—must concoct an extravagant scheme to save everything they cherish. In doing so, Kenna may sacrifice his ideals—or learn even greater lessons about wisdom, friendship, and love.

Utterly charming and out of this world, Ferrett Steinmetz's The Sol Majestic will satisfy the appetites of sci-fi aficionados and newcomers alike.

©2019 Ferrett Steinmetz (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Much like the kitchen in which it’s set, Steinmetz’s culinary space opera is filled with variety. At its heart, it’s a complex, chaotic, and mystifying coming-of-age story of a young man becoming a lover, an aesthete, and an activist....Steinmetz (The Uploaded) elevates his story with lush details and vividly rendered characters, crafting a memorable love letter to the nourishment of body and soul as well as the dignity of work and service.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“The discussion around this novel implies that it’s a revelous romp, but that would be oversimplifying it. Yes, the characters are fun and mad, the descriptions of the restaurant and its inhabitants wondrous and sparkling. But like the food sumptuously described here, strange, surprising and satisfying notes burst through while consuming each chapter. Like Kenna, we arrive at the Sol Majestic for a meal and are served a new outlook on life — one that’s rather obvious but no less triumphant.” — The Washington Post

“The Sol Majestic by Ferrett Steinmetz is not a love letter: it's a love asterisk, a love starburst, radiating out in so many contradictory directions that it shouldn't possibly work, and yet somehow, gloriously, does. It is a feast of a book!” —New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire

Exceptional Audiobook

Very well performed, James Fouhey brought all the characters to life across a very wide range, from the Barnum-esqe head of the Sol Majestic to the monk-like lead.

Wow - Surprising, Enlightening, Illuminating

Over and over I said, "I did not see THAT one coming. A great story with characters that surprise in delightful and heartbreaking ways.

Great audible book!

Overall it was a good book! I read it based on the reviews. Loved the ending and the narrator was phenomenal! James Fouhey was outstanding like normal. I don’t think I have ever listened to a bad narration by him. He is such a good narrator I’ll listen to almost any book if he is the narrator.

Sooo Good!

I don’t know why this book doesn’t have more awesome ratings! I don’t think the description did the book justice- “motley gang of newfound friends” made it sound like this was going to be a fun adventure like book but it was instead a thought provoking amazing journey. I enjoyed every minute of it going from highest of highs to lowest of lows with the characters. I finished the book feeling inspired. Do yourself a favor and give it a try 🥰