This week, Travis and Amanda analyze the first half of SEA OF TRANQUILITY, a novel by Emily St. John Mandel. Mandel is back with another novel (after the much acclaimed STATION ELEVEN) that further explores pandemics...kind of. In its attempt at "soft," human-centered science fiction, this novel tones the intensity down almost to a mute. While juggling multiple story lines across a span of 500 years, Mandel spreads her interests -- and especially her style -- a bit thin. Listen in as we consider what happens when one of the most heightened and "genre-y" premises of science fiction is somehow, and almost impressively, dulled.