Oh God, The Sun Goes

by David Connor

"A highly original and engagingly odd book." - Brian Evenson, author of Song for the Unraveling of the World

"...wondrous...mysterious...Connor lands plenty of stimulating riffs on themes of memory, love, and loss, all in lyrical prose and suffused with surreal imagery." - Publishers Weekly

An "indescribable marvel" (Jonathan Lethem) of a debut novel from a brilliant new voice

The sun has disappeared from the sky. No one can explain where it has gone, but one wayward traveler is determined to try. As our unnamed narrator begins his odyssey across the parched landscapes of the American Southwest, he is drawn into a web of illusion and mystery, a shifting astral mindscape that shimmers with the aftermath of loss—and the promise of redemption.

Oh God, the Sun Goes is a hallucinatory and deadpan picaresque that suddenly swerves into a love story of soaring poignance. Truly “the stuff that dreams are made of” – or maybe nightmares?

Apocalyptic, mesmerizing, and utterly unique, Oh God, the Sun Goes introduces readers to a young and keenly inventive mind.

4 one of a kind illustrations within and on the outside a cool holographic foil stamp cover.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Philosophy, Travel, Novels, Science Fiction Fantasy, Surreal

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Reviews

[Renee Godding · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 stars

Have you ever read a book that’s so marmite, that upon first finishing it, you’re not even sure whether you liked it yourself, let alone how to recommend it to others? Oh God, The Sun Goes was that kind of book for me… It’s an experimental, hallucinatory piece of speculative literature that leans heavy into its extended metaphor. Só far in fact, that it at times tips over onto its back and struggles to upright itself again. Although I didn’t personally love it, it strongly feels like the kind of book that literary critics and expensive-wine-book-clubs will praise to high heavens for its clever devices and intellectual overtones. Fans of a more grounded novel, will likely be less enamored.

Our story opens with a literal world-changing premise: the sun has vanished from the sky, and nobody has been able to explain why it happened. Our unnamed protagonist takes it upon himself to quest for answers. Following a series of clues, gathered from his subconscious mind, as well as a series of eccentric characters he meets along the way, he embarks on a roadtrip across the American deserts. With every strange city he stops at, it becomes clearer that what he’s traversing isn’t simply a landscape but a mindscape too.

If this premise intrigues you, and if you enjoy a bit of an existential puzzle; stop reading this review and pick up the book. It’s a short read that you’ll fly through, and has a unique feel to it. The closest comp-title I can come up with is Shadowbahn by Steve Ericson, and even that’s not quite it.
In order to explain some of the elements that didn’t work for me, however, I have to get into spoiler-territory.


As is heavily hinted at in the synopsis; the entire novel is an extended metaphor for loss. The missing “sun” isn’t really the Sun, and the journey is a reflection of the protagonists mind, processing a major event. Although that premise has great potential, I felt it remained too gimmicky and lacked the depth to resonate emotionally.
The author clearly enjoys showing off his knowledge of brain-anatomy; cities/burrows we stop at are “Amygdala”, “Hippocampus”, “Wernicke’s area” etc. Each of these chapters relate in some way to the function of that specific brain-part. There’s even an appendix at the end of the book in which all these references are explained, in case functional anatomy isn’t your daily bread and butter. To me, this approach divides the audience into two camps, neither of which will be happy. On the one hand, these references are going to fly clear over many readers heads, and your appendix at the end is going to be too little too late to help that. On the other hand, to readers who are familiar with it, the presentation isn’t nearly as clever as the author thinks it is, and there’s bound to be a few eyerolls at the pseudo-intellectualism of it all.
In my opinion, a book with this premise can take either one of two approaches towards success: go for emotional depth with the loss-story-line, or go the gimmicky route and be self-aware about it. Connor does neither: there’s too little development of the characters to relate to our protagonists grief, but the book is too overwritten and takes itself too serious to be enjoyed for its fun gimmick. Also, dear God, do not get me started on the writing during that one sex-scene. That thing is truly atrociously overwritten and almost had me give up on the book.

Overall, I appreciate the authors originality and willingness to take a risk. I can see it being a new favourite for a certain audience, but I don’t think I’m personally among it.

Many thanks to Melville Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Hailie · Rating 1 out of 5]

not my cup of tea ☕️ — i personally don’t have the patience to sit through one long metaphor that is also made up of numerous mini metaphors…but what do i know im just a silly little critter

[sheerin · Rating 1 out of 5]

do men even need to write books anymore haven’t we heard enough already

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.....". How many ways can you fashion metaphors for heartbreak? How many more creative and lyrical options can there be if you open up the field by adding twists that are absurd, dreamlike, clinical, philosophical, or magical? Well, Connor certainly has the skills and the nerve to keep you bobbing and weaving on a stunning walkabout that delivers a little bit of everything. Given the ambition on display here it's natural that a few bits don't work, but most of it does, and when it really works it can be stunning.

[Ashley McMullen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I DNF'd this book at about 59% and where I stopped, it was hanging at around a two-star rating. I was intrigued by this story at first, curious to find out what happened to the sun, but then it fell into something that felt a bit more existential and speculative than I had anticipated. When sex (and the terrible writing of it) came into the plot, it lost me once and then twice, and I stopped after the second time.

I'm sure this book will appeal to those who want to pry a deeper meaning out of this book and parallel that meaning with life, but it just didn't do it for me. I don't really care if this ended up being a commentary on one's own mind, love, or anything in between. I didn't jive with it.

This was an advanced reader copy, so thank you to NetGalley and Melville House Publishing for giving me advanced access to this. It publishes August 1, 2023.

[Gavin Foster · Rating 2 out of 5]

This starts really good, and then it ruins itself by being a lame metaphor. Also, it has some of the worst descriptions of boobs I've ever read, which is really impressive given the damage men have already done in that regard.

[Olivia Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply weird, deeply beautiful book about everything and nothing. Such a lyrical piece of literature that it felt like one long poem. Coming August 2023 from Melville House Publishing—this one’s going to be big.

[Chryste Ferrara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pseudo-intellectual sludge. I’ll happily never consider it again. Sorta feels like if an AI tried to write a metaphor for loss. Almost—! Not quite!

[Jxn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read Oh God, The Sun Goes by David Connor, I was immediately drawn into the mysterious disappearance of the sun from the sky. The protagonist, an unnamed traveler, embarks on a journey through the dry, barren landscapes of the American Southwest to uncover the truth behind this strange phenomenon.

What I loved most about this book was its ability to seamlessly weave together elements of illusion, mystery, and redemption. The shifting astral mindscape is so vividly described that I felt as though I was in the midst of the journey myself. As the story progresses, the hallucinatory and deadpan picaresque suddenly transforms into a moving love story that left me feeling emotionally fulfilled.

Overall, Oh God, the Sun Goes is a unique and captivating read. It's the perfect blend of fantasy, mystery, and romance, making it a truly unforgettable experience. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read that will leave you feeling both satisfied and inspired.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not at all what I expected. It’s the literary equivalent of Avant Garde Jazz or surrealism, I don’t really understand my own feelings about it. But I do know that I’m keeping it in my collection because it’s incredibly odd.

It’s unlike anything else I’ve ever read and for that reason alone, I think it’s worth a read (and it’s a short one, took me almost 3 hours to finish and this includes all the times I had to go back a couple of pages/reread sentences to clear up my confusion)

[James Musial · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the end of this book I liked it a lot more than I had while reading it. I like that I don’t think it could ever be a movie. It reminds me of the power of the medium. Having said that, the imagery, the symbols, the pursuit- it makes me want to write a song.

[Ayz · Rating 2 out of 5]

i read this in an hour and i want my hour back

[Ed Erwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's just a metaphor. Sigh.

This was on the "new SF" shelf and the premise sounded wild: the sun has disappeared. That sounds like it could be wild and weird, just as I like. I wouldn't care if it made no scientific sense; I enjoy nonsense. But it just turns out to be an extended metaphor for loss, with an added layer involving traveling through a version of Arizona that also represents a journey through brain structures.

Could work for some, just not for me.

An epilogue describes some of the brain regions that were metaphorically(?) visited in earlier parts. Most readers won't want that much detail. Worse, many of the details were simply wrong. For example he says that the blind spot is at the center of each retina; it actually is off to the side. He refers to visual areas V1, V2, ... V5 in the brain as "fibers" rather than "regions". There's more. But I do give him credit for getting one thing right that many do not: you still have a pretty good sense of depth and relative distances even when using only one eye. The world does not become flat when you close one. Stereopsis, where differences between the images in the two eyes give a sense of depth, is useful mostly in a small area around whatever you are focusing on. So, good on him for getting that right, but why did he need to talk about that in this book at all?

Note: 1 star = "did not like it". It does not mean "I hate this."

[Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fever dream of faith, realization, and pretend travel through the brain.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a tough one. I'm glad I tried it. The unique and abstract prose intrigued me. I feel like it could have been put to better use, though, as the majority of the book felt repetitive and like you were going nowhere. Honestly, I skimmed through the last few pages and didn't bother to read the epilogue. Again, the potential was there for something cool and different, but it fell short in my opinion.

[abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
good prose

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

i truly have no idea what i read. i have it 3 stars bc idk how to feel about it?? the book was like reading a fever dream

[Thadeus Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t get it. That’s not exactly accurate - I understand that this is a book about loss and love and moving on. I understand that the Sun is hope, or the lack thereof, or something similar. I understand that H.A. doesn’t reconnect with M. But, despite understanding this story in broad strokes, I just don’t get it.

There are a couple things I loved. Connor renders individual vignettes of love and loss beautifully, with simple and direct prose that carries a sadness underneath. The erotic sequences were filled with intimacy and an admiration of the human form - Again, nicely written, without any hints of the cringe that I find in most modern-day sex scenes.

The problem is that these genuinely good moments are scattered throughout a confusing, repetitive story. Our protagonist wanders Arizona in search of the Sun. He finds a man asleep with an egg on his head. He learns that the bees are gone and finds them again inside “The Mind.” He meets a man trying to build a city on the surface of the Sun. He goes to Utah and watches the Sun rise. Confused? Now imagine 210 pages of this, filled with characters who repeat the same phrases in threes and references to the parts of the brain without obvious reason.

Like I said, I just don’t get it. I wish I had - Connor’s writing certainly makes me *feel* like something profound is being imparted. But the story and prose are ultimately confusing enough to prevent me from exploring that feeling.

[Emilio Bankier · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this book is being marketed as science-fiction then surely someone in the marketing team needs to be fired, for it is far from science fiction, and surely not the right book for the average science-fiction reader.

Well written, picturesque book. At times I thought it was a film novelization-the frames clear and well-lit.

It is not perfect, and the sex scenes stand out as utter catastrophes in an otherwise beautiful book. The whole book being a metaphor did not quite satisfy me, but I'm not sure it was supposed to. The book did not leave me quite fulfilled, but there too, I'm not sure it was supposed to. This is around 3.5 stars, but I'm not upset at having to give it 4. The prose is very good at times. Not bad for a first novel.

[Chris Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

To say this book is not for everyone is a massive understatement, as the wildly mixed reception on Goodreads indicates. The spirit of Donald Barthelme is alive and well here -- Oh God, The Sun Goes is trippy, funny, very cerebral, and very weird. Most of its critics seem to not be thrilled with the detour it takes about halfway through, and I'm not totally sure I loved it either, but when all was said and done I found this to be a fascinating and surprisingly tender experiment, and I'm already eagerly awaiting David Connor's follow-up.

[Max]

Well, I did say I wanted to read more experimental fiction...

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

A surreal little exploration of loss and perspective. This was certainly creative, but I wouldn't exactly say it was novel. The message was a tad heavy handed, and the overall reading experience was okay.

The sun is gone. Where it was in the sky is just grey. But everyone seems to be taking it fairly well. Our narrator moves through his day to day as before, but without the sun and with curiosity as to where it went. He sets out to find it, first going to the 55+ retirement community of a well-known scientist who studies the sun. On the way, he meets the creator of the 55+ community, a man who is devoted to creating many such communities all around the world, and also on the sun. Our narrator then delves into the subconscious, quite literally traversing the regions of the brain where he ironically confronts the reality of the situation. A woman who is no longer in his life.

This reminded me a lot of one of my favorite video games, Disco Elysium. But this is not one of my favorite books. The allegory was heavy handed but clumsy, but the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. It certainly wasn't bad, but more.. just nothing. By far my favorite part of the book was in the Epilogue where a dance between men was tediously narrated page after page. I felt that its inclusion really enhanced the message of the book and I found it to be really enjoyable.

[Veronica Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel as though I read this book with my third eye, like it was speaking to my higher self with really no consideration for my ego and whether or not I understood.

This book puts the weird in weird fiction and for that, it automatically gets a like from me. However. It was weird, dare I say too weird? It felt like the transcription of a fever dream, in which things seemed to make profound sense and then immediately unraveled the moment you tried explaining it out loud.

[Sovi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Libro interessante, quello che si prova durante la lettura è simile a quando ascolti i Pink Floyd per la prima volta, non si capisce bene cosa stia accadendo ma è comunque un'esperienza piacevole. La parte clou del libro è astratta, forse un po' troppo.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4 (full review to come)

[Kai · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m pissed off bc I was excited about this book but I dnfed at 50%. After checking reviews it solidified how I was feeling about it.

[clarah rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit pretentious with the metaphors but that’s what i was expecting after reading blurb. still enjoyed. was a 4 star read up until the end— it really lost me.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly could maybe tell you 2 things that happened in this book, very weird.

[Noemi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC. I had a very hard time getting through this book because it was difficult to hold my interest. I found myself having a hard time focusing on what was happening in the story. I feel like there is potential and it’s a great effort but ultimately it was not for me.

[Kevin Thomas James Atteridg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entrancing and lyrical and a new all-time favorite.

+

“No memory comes readily to me now. If I try hard, I can glimpse barely into that old world once lighter. I can imagine who I might have been there, a person who held a job, a lawyer, a salesman selling insurance over the phone?”