Frey for not portraying the main characters’ enemies as easy straw dogs, for example, the Christians, Republicans, white Alabamans, and other stock characters that usually exist only in “fundamentalist” flavour in science fiction. Kalp, Gwen, and Basil are hardly the ideal lovers from a category romance, but they’re not the usual dysfunctional couple/threesome that many writers use when they want to appear profound.And kudos to J.M. “I enjoyed Triptych‘s development of the relationships. and president of the Writers Guild of Canada –Jill Golick, co-creator of Ruby Skye, P.I. Write another! It was unput-downable! Congrats!!” The cover reveals nothing of the story within - part queer love story, part alien first encounter story, part time travel adventure, part mystery, part exploration of polyamory, all laced with skillfully woven dramatic tension and a sure understanding of the needs of the human heart.” We were talking about stories that challenge conventional notions not only of sexuality but of family, and she mentioned this debut novel by Canadian J.M. Frey, had I not first met the editor, Gabrielle Harbowy. “I would never have discovered Triptych, by J.M. “A brilliantly challenging piece of pure SF.” Todd McCaffrey, author of The Dragonriders of Pern series Frey continues to do with science fiction what she’s done in this book she might single-handedly be credited with reviving the entire genre. It’s a very impressive first novel and if Ms. Overall, not a bad book and certainly very impressive for a first novel.“I finished Triptych in one go last night, couldn’t put it down even. As expected with alien encounter stories, fear and prejudice is a prominent theme, but I did not enjoy the dastardly plan revealed at the end in a rather clumsy series of “action” sequences and a villain who was rather two dimensional. This part of the book clearly defines it as a bittersweet love story.There is some tension created in the knowledge that triptych is fated to fall apart and the knowledge that perhaps it could be saved with some convenient time travelling, but I felt the conclusion of the book fell a bit flat. Frey did an excellent job with this and with the creation of this alien race and their physiology and customs. I enjoyed reading about Kalp’s awkwardness and seeing humans and humanity through his eyes. Kalp is teamed with Gwen and the brilliant science-type, Basil. The few remaining aliens of Kalp’s world who escaped its destruction have arrived on earth, welcomed by the Institute (formed by the UN or such) with integration as the goal.

The next section introduces Kalp and is the highlight of the book.

Triptych by J.M. Frey