Emotionally Engaging

Three main periods loosely interwoven. Gusatav's early childhood with his mother, and then befriending Anton at kindergarten and growing through school. The events before Guistav's birth from 1938 when Emile meets Erich (deputy police chief) and marries him and their early life together and separated as the clouds of war descend. And then Gustav's adult years from late 40s to 60s where he and Anton finally achieve their destiny. 

The Limits of Recursion

Not unlike Blake Crouch's previous offering Dark Matter, this one again concerns alternate realities and their interaction. Here they are linked by memories.

Contains some harrowing scenes of nuclear explosions in cities from the point of view of a victim.

The episode on the oil-rig converted to a lab somewhat stretches credulity, but the pseudo-science McGuffin is moderately convincing which helps with the suspension of disbelief. Towards the end started to think "come on, just get on with it and resolve things" but still kept on reading.

The Uses of Astrology and Empathy

In the end there is no real surprise, but getting there is a good trip.