Ascension: A Novel

A mind-bending speculative thriller in which the sudden appearance of a mountain in the middle of the Pacific Ocean leads a group of scientists to a series of jaw-dropping revelations that challenge the notion of what it means to be human

An enormous snow-covered mountain has appeared in the Pacific Ocean. No one knows when exactly it showed up, precisely how big it might be, or how to explain its existence. When Harold Tunmore, a scientist of mysterious phenomena, is contacted by a shadowy organization to help investigate, he has no idea what he is getting into as he and his team set out for the mountain. 
 
The higher Harold’s team ascends, the less things make sense. Time moves differently, turning minutes into hours, and hours into days. Amid the whipping cold of higher elevation, the climbers’ limbs numb and memories of their lives before the mountain begin to fade. Paranoia quickly turns to violence among the crew, and slithering, ancient creatures pursue them in the snow. Still, as the dangers increase, the mystery of the mountain compels them to its peak, where they are certain they will find their answers. Have they stumbled upon the greatest scientific discovery known to man or the seeds of their own demise? 
 
Framed by the discovery of Harold Tunmore’s unsent letters to his family and the chilling and provocative story they tell, Ascension considers the limitations of science and faith and examines both the beautiful and the unsettling sides of human nature. 

A New York Times Editors' Choice Pick

"You've gotta read Ascension. . .Old-school creepy. . .five-star horror."—Stephen King

"A weird and wonderful horror novel. . . Binge is an author to watch, and if his subsequent novels are anything close to Ascension, I'll be reading every single one. A fantastic achievement."—TJ Klune, New York Times bestselling author of In the Lives of Puppets and The House in the Cerulean Sea

"[Ascension] is smarlty paced, deploying twists and turns strategically to keep the reader moving. . .Binge's crisp prose moves well between science fiction conceps, Gothic terror and fast-paced action sequences. . .For fans of well-wrought science fiction and cosmic horror scares, Ascension is worth the climb."—The New York Times Book Review

"Perfect for readers who loved Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation, Ted Chiang’s Story of Your Life, or Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, Ascension is thrilling, breathlessly paced, and poses thorny questions about time, fate, grief, and the nature of the self. Is it the accomplishment that makes us human or the quest?"—Vulture, "Best Books of 2023"

"A lovingly retold version of a classic horror thriller, but with more humanity and real emotion; it is the story of a broken man and what redemption looks like in the real world. . .[an] excellent page-turner. . .Ascension is thoroughly recommended—a macabre, escapist pleasure for the thoughtful set.”—The Wall Street Journal