“The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.” blends the science fiction of Neal Stephenson and the historical fiction of Nicole Galland in a technology-meets-witchcraft-meets-time travel adventure that should appeal to fans of many genres.

The unlikely team of Melisande, a linguistics expert, and Tristan, an officer from a covert government agency, prove the existence and subsequent extinction of magic.

In order to bring magic back, they and a rich cast of supporting characters attempt a series of experiments and missions that may change the future as well as the past.

Through the newly formed Department of Diachronic Operations (D.O.D.O) they develop technology, assets and protocols to accomplish their goal. However, when the objectives of the government, the witches and various individuals diverge, the outcome becomes hard to predict.

This novel spans genres. Interwoven themes of technology vs. magic, modern vs. ancient, bureaucracy vs. science, and the quest for power vs. the quest for knowledge make this more complex than your average thriller.

There is a bit of romance and mystery. Science fiction and fantasy aspects are present, but not overpowering.

At points, the story is told through memos, posts, letters, journal entries and other documents. This provides shifting points of view and adds to the fullness of the storytelling.

This my favorite book of the past year. At its heart, it has well-developed characters and a complex story told in a captivating way. I’m hoping for a sequel because I look forward to spending more time with one of the best ensembles I have encountered in fiction.

I can’t wait to see where they go next. And if you read and enjoy “D.O.D.O,” follow it with “Seveneves,” also by Neal Stephenson. It is my favorite book of 2016 and also a mix of technology, intrigue and strong characters.