Down in the Sea of Angels

An intense and thoughtful time-hopping dystopian fantasy where three individuals, psychically linked through time, fight enslavement, exploitation, and environmental collapse. A great read for fans of Emily St. John Mandel.

In 2106, Maida Sun possesses the ability to see the entire history of any object she touches. When she starts a job with a cultural recovery project in San Francisco with other psions like her, she discovers a teacup that connects her with Li Nuan, a sex-traffificked girl in a 1906 Chinatown brothel, and with Nathan, a tech-designer and hedonist of 2006.

A chance encounter with a prominent political leader reveals to Maida his plan to contain everyone with psionic abilities, eliminate their personal autonomy, and use their skills for his own gain. Maida is left with no choice but to join a fight she doesn’t feel prepared for, with flashes of the past, glimpses of the future and a band of fellow psions as her only tools. She must find a way to stop this agenda before it takes hold and destroys life as she knows it. Can the past give Maida the key to saving her future?"Khan Wong brings past and future into intimate conversation with this thought-provoking and ultimately hopeful novel, weaving together three very different lives across time. Down in the Sea of Angels is a poignant exploration of the resilience of compassion, humanity’s (re)connection with the earth, and the bright beacon of community in dark times."
– Ren Hutchings, author of Under Fortunate Stars

"These vivid worlds will make your mind expand and maybe burst; these flawed wonderful characters will make your heart ache and maybe break."
– Sam J. Miller, Nebula-Award-winning author of Blackfish City





"These vivid worlds will make your mind expand and maybe burst; these flawed wonderful characters will make your heart ache and maybe break."
– Sam J. Miller, Nebula-Award-winning author of Blackfish City

"Khan Wong brings past and future into intimate conversation with this thought-provoking and ultimately hopeful novel, weaving together three very different lives across time. Down in the Sea of Angels is a poignant exploration of the resilience of compassion, humanity’s (re)connection with the earth, and the bright beacon of community in dark times."
– Ren Hutchings, author of Under Fortunate Stars

"A dazzling, time-bending thriller about three people living in San Francisco, separated by centuries but united by disaster. I was sucked in immediately, and delighted by the incredible worldbuilding and finely drawn characters. Every time I thought I had figured what was going to happen, it would get weirder and more fascinating."
– Annalee Newitz, author of Autonomous and The Terraformers

"An absolute must read that strikes a multitude of chords in these turbulent times and leaves you feeling like you can still make a difference.”
– Dan Hanks, author of Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire and The Way Up is Death

"In this beautifully intricate story, Wong shows how our past, present, and future are all connected, and how we can build towards a brighter world."
– Sunyi Dean, bestselling author of The Book Eaters

"With its visceral imagery and seamless blending of past and future, Down in the Sea of Angels is a treat to read."
– Ciel Pierlot, Compton Crook award-nominated author of Bluebird , and The Hunter's Gambit

"This stirring novel is an inspiration during trying times"
– Publisher Weekly

"As a newbie to science fiction/fantasy this book has left me wanting more"
– Left on the Shelf

"Down in the Sea of Angels is many things. It’s a meditation on the importance of looking after the Earth and looking out for those around us...filled with warm characters who make tough choices, drawing on reserves of inner strength and the friends around them. Down on the Sea of Angels is a gentle science fiction tale with a warm core, a vital message, and is well worth reading"
– Geek Dad

"this was a fantastic read...sometimes sad, sometimes empowering, and ultimately hopeful, and I enjoyed it a lot."
– Pages of Emma

"I loved this book so much. It was a great read, excellent pacing, captivating storytelling, and an impressive display of the conversations between the past and the future, and the benefits of having these connections."
– Book Riot

"Down in the Sea of Angels is heartwarming and I found something to enjoy in each of their perspectives. From the premise alone, I was obsessed. I love his idea of object holding memories and the idea of traveling in time introducing a fantastical layer."
– Utopia State of Mind

"The stories definitely pulled at my heartstrings, and I loved the relationships featured throughout the book."
– It Starts at MidnightKhan Wong has published poetry, played cello in an earnest folk-rock duo, and been an internationally known hula hoop teacher and performer. He's toured with a circus and produced circus arts shows in San Francisco, where he also worked as a grantmaker with a  public sector arts funding agency. His debut novel, The Circus Infinite, was a finalist for the Lambda LGBTQ+ Speculative Fiction Award 2023 and long-listed for the BSFA Best Novel Award.