Not Till We Are Lost feels like another step on the ladder where the Bobiverse has stopped being merely a clever science fiction premise and become a sprawling universe of its own. There are still Bobs, ridiculous situations and plenty of opportunities for a carefully considered plan to go spectacularly wrong, but Dennis E Taylor has now built something much bigger around that original idea. The result is another entertaining instalment that feels familiar while continuing to push the series in new directions.

The appeal of Bob Johansson and his numerous copies remains at the heart of everything. What started as a daft way of getting a human mind into space has developed into a strong exploration of identity and what it means to be the same person. The Bobs may share an origin, but their experiences have made them distinct, and Taylor gets plenty of mileage from their disagreements, priorities and impressive capacity for stubbornness. I still find the concept entertaining, especially when these advanced digital beings behave like a group of nerdy mates arguing over how best to solve a problem.

The wider universe is compelling. By now, the underlying lore keeps getting deeper and more intricate, and that expansion is one of the reasons the series remains so enjoyable. Taylor has created a setting where earlier events continue to matter, alien civilisations have their own histories and motivations, and seemingly simple problems can turn out to have consequences far beyond the immediate situation. There is a genuine sense of history here. The Bobiverse no longer feels like a collection of clever ideas connected by a loose storyline. It feels like a living setting with layers and unanswered questions.

And, thankfully, the humour has not been sacrificed as the scope has increased. The Bobiverse is a more than worthy entry into the sci-fi humour field, largely because Taylor understands that the comedy works best when it comes from character rather than simply from inserting jokes between serious scenes. The Bobs remain gloriously nerdy, sarcastic and occasionally incapable of agreeing with themselves, which gives the larger conflicts personality. There are moments when the sheer absurdity of what is happening is enough to make me grin, particularly when enormous technological questions are reduced to something like an argument in a computer club.

I also like the way the series balances its huge ideas with recognisably human reactions. Taylor can be dealing with problems that involve entire worlds, advanced technology and consequences on a scale that would make most people run for the nearest bunker, yet the characters still worry about whether they have made the right choice or whether somebody else is about to do something catastrophically stupid. That contrast keeps it approachable. The Bobs might be digital consciousnesses spread across the stars, but they remain recognisably human in their friendships, frustrations, mistakes and rivalries.

The audiobook is once again elevated by Ray Porter, whose narration has become an important part of the Bobiverse experience. His quality of expression is effective because he can make small shifts in emphasis and timing do an enormous amount of character work. With so many Bobs and other personalities involved, that is no small achievement. Porter keeps conversations easy to follow without turning every character into an exaggerated voice, and he understands exactly when a line needs a little extra weight and when a dry delivery will make it funnier. His performance makes the whole universe feel more alive.

If I have a criticism, it is that the amount of information can make the book feel dense. There are technical explanations, strategy and plenty of lore to absorb, and I enjoy that side of Taylor’s writing, but sometimes wanted the story to get back to the characters. It is hardly a serious complaint, though, because the detail is usually doing useful work and contributes to the feeling that this universe has genuine depth rather than being a collection of convenient plot devices.

I particularly enjoy how Not Till We Are Lost clearly demonstrates just how far the original Bobiverse idea has travelled. The premise of one man becoming a computerised consciousness was clever, but Taylor has turned it into a much broader exploration of humanity, technology, alien cultures and the consequences of making copies of yourself. Somehow, despite all that expansion, the series has not lost its sense of fun. That balance is probably its greatest achievement.

By this stage, I am thoroughly invested in the Bobs and the increasingly complicated universe they inhabit. Not Till We Are Lost delivers the humour, the big science fiction ideas and the expanding lore that make the series such an enjoyable ride. Ray Porter remains an excellent guide through all of it, with that quality of expression bringing the characters to life and making even the more complicated conversations easy to follow. The Bobiverse still feels capable of surprising me, and after this many books, that is a pretty good reason to keep listening.

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