Darker Than the Sky

by Matt Tracy

“What a satisfying read. A tale of loss and rebuilding, regrets and redemption, missteps and new chances.”

When a small plane crashes in the hills above Van Weathers’ ranch, it brings new clues to an old treasure map. His son Josh wants to go on a horse camping trip into the mountains to look for gold. Van isn’t convinced there’s treasure but thinks it might be an opportunity to repair their fraught relationship. In the wilderness of Big Sur, they find the plane crash wasn’t an accident, and they aren’t the only ones out there searching for treasure.

“Darker Than the Sky takes us from a cabin in the redwoods to the forests of Northern California to the Rocky Mountains to a cornfield in Iowa, then back to the dry golden hills and oak trees of Big Sur. Van’s story gains new depth and meaning in each location. So well done.”

“The stories around the campfire were my favorite part. Men being manly, but also talking about real worries and regrets and aspirations.”

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2024

About the author

When I’m not hiking in the hills with my wife and dogs, I like to read. I usually read a couple of books a week, in all genres. A good novel with great characters is my favorite choice, but I love non-fiction, science fiction, romance, detective stories, biographies, and of course, self-help books.

I have to admit (full disclosure) that I have read all of the Louis L’Amour books, oh, maybe three or four times each, and there are over 150 of them. There’s something soothing about them. They’re manly but for a thinking man. And they do have a lot of wisdom in them. If you read Happy Here and Now you’ll see that Louis is quoted there.

I like to cook, and I like to share the process of cooking with Maria and with my friends if they want to join in. My motivation for cooking usually comes from wanting to eat something cooked a certain way. When I get the idea of the taste in my mind I get excited and want to make it right away.

One of my favorite things is to sit with someone and hear what’s important to them and how it’s affecting their life. Lately I have gotten very good at asking a question and then being comfortable with silence while the other person thinks about their answer. It’s a very calm moment, that time between question and answer.

People ask how happy I am. I’m generally very happy now. Yes, things make me upset or scared or sad or impatient or frustrated or any of the other words that mean unhappy. When I start feeling that way, I notice it and take an action to correct it.

It’s like riding a bike. When you’re riding a bicycle, you’re continually in the process of falling down and correcting it but you rarely fall all the way to the ground like you did when you were learning. What I have learned, and what I put in Happy Here and Now are the tools to notice what’s making us unhappy and how to correct that so we don’t fall into unhappiness very often.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, engrossing book about a man in midlife who has spent his life fearing happiness. Using plane crashes as a metaphor for always remaining on guard, the author has crafted a beautifully written saga of lives intersecting, with, without revealing any spoilers, a perfect ending.

The characters were relatable as were the range of emotions they experienced as the story unfolded. Highly recommended.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

[Barbara J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot tell you in words how much I enjoyed reading Darker Than The Sky! From the very first page I was sinfully delighting in his prose. Then I became caught up in the story. The way he used the airplane crashes to define his personal journey was brilliant. I kept saying to my husband, listen to this or you have to read this book. The father/son relationship, finding love, being afraid in the midst of joy, the beauty of California, and of course, his final revelation, were each beautifully told.
I truly believe I have found my new favorite author!

[Barbara Rohde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an adventurous tale with the feel of a Western with the protagonist Van, and his son Josh, riding around the hills of Big Sur looking for treasure. They encounter numerous obstacles on the way as they try to repair their relationship.

Very readable with lots of action. I think this would appeal to students of high school age. As an adult I found it too moralistic and felt as if the author bludgeoned me over the head with the same message which was hammered home repeatedly. This really detracted from the narrative and seemed condescending to the reader.

[Megan Holman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say closer to 3.5 - 3.75 for this one. It took me until about 60% of the way in before I felt like the action picked up. I did feel like the writing seemed a bit disjointed at times, and I still am having a hard time figuring out the correlation between the plane crashes and the bad luck? But overall, it ended up being a very entertaining read, and I'm so grateful to Matt Tracy as well as goodreads giveaways for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

[Marisol Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

a winding adventure tale of a father and son, I loved the interwoven coming of age stories and emotional growth by all involved.

[Matt Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I wrote it, so I think it’s good.

The writing is plain and direct, and the plot keeps the story moving, but between the action the characters explore family and acceptance and working through loss in a very real way.

Here are a few paragraphs from when Van arrives in Eureka, CA after catching a ride up the coast in a big rig:

I thanked him again and climbed down from the cab of the semi onto wet pavement. The gray sky was so low I thought I could reach up and touch it. In Big Sur, the land gave way grudgingly to the sea, and the mountains rose up in defiance of its force. Here, the two seemed to have made an uneasy truce, although chunks of rock rising from the waves told of past battles. The redwoods, too, were more at ease. Instead of defending their damp creek beds between dry hills as they did further south, they spread out, knowing they were the rulers of this soaked land.

I hiked on the shoulder of the road heading toward town until I smelled bacon cooking. At first, I thought I must be smelling it because I was hungry, like a craving, then there it was again. I stopped and scanned the surrounding landscape, searching for its source. To my left was a salt marsh that stretched almost a mile before it met the gray-blue waters of the bay. It was low tide, and I could see the mud between the grasses with rivulets branching and re-branching between them. To the right was a small meadow with a creek that cut through the grass and reeds, and pine trees rising dark behind it. A bridge took the highway over the stream, and I leaned over the edge and peered into the dimness below it. I saw two men huddled around a fire. “That smells good from up here,” I said. “Is there any coffee you might share?”

Here's part of an action scene:

As I turned, my right hand closed on a bar in the loose rock by the blockage. This was going to be easy. There’s one right on top, I thought. Then the bar wiggled in my hand.
I didn’t know where I had grabbed the snake, and I couldn’t see before it bit me. I expected the fangs to puncture my arm, so I slammed my hand and the snake into the wall of the tunnel. I let out a guttural scream and twisted my hand back and forth like a terrier with a rat in its mouth, trying to crush the snake into the rock. I felt more weight on one end, so I whipped that end toward the wall over and over. I didn’t know if I had the tail or the head, but I couldn’t let go. I kept slamming the snake again and again against the side of the tunnel. The snake stopped wiggling, but
I still didn’t let go. I held it at arm’s length, gasping in horror as I tried to see through the dust in the yellow light of the headlamp. After a moment, I saw that I had ahold of it toward the tail, and my panicked swings had knocked it out. With a grunt, I reached up and gripped it below the head, then found a rock and brought it down on the snake’s skull. I rolled onto my back in the dirt, breathing hard, sweat congealing on my skin and the adrenaline jitters dissipating in my body. My hands were shaking as my breathing slowed.

Here are a few paragraphs with Van and Josh and Russ around the campfire:

“When Mel talked about someone being there to guide his kids in his absence, I thought of Ed, the guy who lived in the cabin below us. I don’t think you met him, Russ.” He shook his head, and I continued. “He helped me figure things out after my dad died. I thought of how he had been such a quiet, powerful presence in my life, before we moved to Oakland. I took him for granted like kids do, thinking he was always there and would always be there. When I moved back to Oakland before classes started at junior college, I traveled down south to see him and thank him for being there for me, but he was gone. The Forest Service was trying to get people out of that canyon because we were all squatters in those days. I asked around, but nobody knew where Ed had gone. I wish I could have thanked him for watching out for me and for teaching me how to find that quiet space that you reach when you’re making something with your hands.”

Russ had been listening across the fire with his mouth open. When I finished, he stayed like that, thinking for a moment. Then he cleared his throat and said, “Ed knew what he was doing. He knew what he meant to you as a kid without a dad.”

I swallowed and squinted. “I hope so. It would have been nice to be able to thank him, though. A lot of times in life you don’t get to see the reverberations of what you do in the lives of the people you affect. It comes as a surprise when they tell you how much it meant to them because it had seemed to you like such a small kindness at the time.”

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darker Than the Sky by Matt Tracy is a highly recommended adventure tale and the story of a man's life.

Van always ties plane crashes to bad things happening in his life, so when a plane crashes near his ranch in Northern California, he is conflicted. Before the pilot succumbs to his injuries, he tells Van to save the toolbox in the plane. The box is filled up with mostly undecipherable notes concerning searching for lost gold. The notes do bring new clues to an old treasure map Van owns. This leads to a gold seeking camping trip with his son Josh.

Van and Josh pack their equipment, take horses, and head into the mountains to look for gold. During the trip Van takes to opportunity to bond with his son and shares his life story. They also meet Russ, another man out camping who Van knew when they were children. Russ tells great stories around the campfire while drinking whiskey, but there is a sense of danger around him too.

There is a Western vibe to the narrative, based mainly on the setting and action, but it is also a deep dive into Van's psyche, his life story, family, regrets, ambitions, and insights. The writing is slightly uneven. It is excellent in much of the story, especially in the descriptions of the land and wilderness, in action scenes, and as the two search for gold. It is engaging when Van is sharing his life story. It becomes less compelling when the narrative wades into his thoughts, feelings, regrets, musings, and emotional healing.

Van is a fully realized character considering there is so much written concerning his history, thoughts, memories, and struggles in the past and present. The association of airplane crashes with his personal fate is thoroughly explored. Josh is less explored as a character.

Enjoy Darker Than the Sky for the Northern California setting, the action/adventure story and the deep dive into a man's life. Thanks to BooksGoSocial for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/1...

[Mj · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting situation is presented early on concerning plane crashes and the negative effects on the narrator Van from the time he was four years old. Van has a difficult time accepting that he can be happy without something disastrous looming in the future. There are coincidentally bad things that happen in his life after five or six plane crashes that occurred. It’s almost like Van doesn’t feel he deserves to be happy.

Some of how the reader gains insight into Van’s inner conflict is through stories he tells his son Josh while they are camping together searching for gold. Some of these stories are long and told in such a way that it doesn’t appear they would be stories he would tell his son. One example would be the information he relates to his son about meeting and courting his mother, her becoming pregnant, etc. Other parts are separate chapters, which could have been identified with, perhaps, the year to better show the shift in time. Much needs to be included from earlier years to gain a better insight into Van’s personality and emotional state, but I think the format in doing this could have been a little different.

There were additional conflicts in the story which made it interesting. Josh has revealed he is gay. Acquaintances from the past resurface causing fear and confusion. There is danger with rattlesnakes, cave ins, and fire. All of this helps to move the plot along and keep things interesting for the most part. I do think the part about obtaining the gold bars from the cave could have been shortened and a little less predictable drama.

All in all, I think Mr. Tracy had an interesting idea for a story and brought it to a believable conclusion. There’s action, conflict, and growth of the main character. I thank Matt Tracy for my copy of his book, , and I’ve given him an honest review.

[Neena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set against the breathtaking landscapes of rural Northern California and Big Sur in 1977, Tracy’s latest novel offers a taut exploration of loss, identity, and the unpredictable nature of fate. The story follows Van, a man haunted by past traumas who believes that happiness invites disaster—a conviction that strains his connections with his family. This tension escalates when his son comes out as gay, exposing generational rifts and challenging Van’s understanding of fatherhood.

Tracy expertly balances Van’s emotional turmoil with external pressures, including financial instability and familial expectations, skillfully capturing the essence of human struggle. Jenny, his wife, serves as a stabilizing force, her wisdom and resilience grounding the story. The secondary cast is equally compelling. The stunning Northern California landscapes reflect Van’s inner conflicts, mirroring his struggles and aspirations. A subplot involving the discovery of a treasure map injects intrigue, intertwining the thrill of exploration with Van’s journey toward self-acceptance.

Throughout, Tracy weaves themes of fate, loss, and the complexities of parental relationships into the narrative, inviting readers to reflect on the delicate balance of joy and sorrow. Readers who appreciate literary fiction rich in emotional depth and complex character dynamics will find much to admire in this contemplative, evocative work.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like this book, one of the few who didn't. The book starts with Josh, Van's older son, telling his family he's gay. Van can't decide how to respond to his son. There is a plane crash near their home, and Van rescues the pilot. The pilot tells him to get the toolbox, and then he dies. Van connects the notes in the toolbox to a map his father had. Van believes that plane crashes mean he will lose something he loves. I'm not sure why some crashes augured bad luck and others didn't. For example, the Apollo tragedy, which wasn't a place, was a bad omen. Van worries that fate will get him if he's too happy. I know it's fiction, but there were just too many coincidences. Russ, his cousin Frank, and his Uncle Murray , people Van knew as a child, all appear as he and his son, Josh, hunt for gold. Van can't decide is Russ is a good or back guy. Josh and Van encounter a gay couple hiking in the mountains, and Josh spends some time hiking with them. The girls invite Josh to visit them at college and tell him there is a very supportive gay group of students on campus. Josh and Van search for the gold and there are several tragedies along the way. Van decides to stop being afraid and enjoy his happiness. I received a free copy. My husband did like the book. It does have the feel of a western.

[Jen Ghastin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darker Than the Sky by Matt Tracy is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure that feels like Romancing the Stone meets The Goonies—but with a heartwarming twist. At the center of the story is a father-son duo on a treasure hunt right in their own backyard, facing danger and discovering more about themselves along the way.

The novel is filled with vivid sensory details, from the thrill of horseback riding to the tension of a collapsing mine and the relentless danger of a creeping fire. The pacing is perfect, keeping readers on edge with each twist—murders, close calls, and near-death escapes. But beneath the action, the story explores deeper themes about ambition and family.

The father and son’s relationship is the emotional core of the novel, giving it heart amidst the high stakes. Tracy also weaves in a metaphorical layer with plane crashes, echoing the myth of Icarus: is chasing what you don’t have worth risking everything you do? It’s a thought-provoking question that adds depth to the adventure.

Darker Than the Sky is an exciting, well-written story with a tender message about the value of family and knowing when to let go and when to hold on tight. A perfect read for fans of epic adventures with heart.

[Jill Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Van and his teen son, Josh, see an airplane crash in a meadow on their property outside of Monterey. They couldn’t save the man inside, but he gave them a box with papers inside saying it led to a treasure in the nearby hills. They decide to take a week-long horseback/camping trip to see if they can find the gold. They run into an old friend, Russ, whose character is questionable, and worse, his cousin and uncle who are really bad people and want to steal the gold. On the way down from the hills, they are caught in a dry thunder storm causing fires all around them. Getting out alive almost didn’t happen for them. Once back home, the fires were closing in on their house, but his wife and second son were already evacuating with Russ’ help. Why he was there at that time was a mystery. The jist of the book for Van is that he witnessed 7 airplane crashes, and every time it happened, life was going good for him and then it was taken away. He felt all his life as though he was hiding from FATE so nothing he loved was lost to him. I liked the book because the storyline was so unique and different. Not your basic cookie-cutter storyline.

[Jk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a free Kindle copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway win and would like to thank anyone who had a hand in making that happen!

This is a unique little gem! It was refreshing to read something different from the usual fare. The author made several Louis L'Amour references and this did have a bit of the feel of a Louis L'Amour novel, which is a plus for me! Reading this made me feel nostalgic for a slower, more connected way of living and had me lamenting the fact that today's busy world full of endless distractions leaves little time for the kind of introspection these characters are so fruitfully engaging in out in nature. It also got me thinking about how meaningful chance encounters with strangers can be and how those kinds of interactions happen less and less often these days, much to our detriment. I felt like the plane crash framing device was a very clever and unique way to explore how some people may choose to deny themselves happiness as a way to forestall pain and loss. Overall I really enjoyed this and am so glad that I got the chance to read it!

[Gwyneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darker Than the Sky is an adventure book. It is a page-turner, with the back story of the main character unfolding as we get caught up in his ordeals and expeditions. The author puts us inside the character's head. The hero, Van, takes risks and then questions his actions. Listening to Van's thoughts and observing his actions is not always agreeable, as the reader may find the hero to be a bit naive and simplistic in his philosophy. On the other hand, the action and drama remind me of the Sacketts' series by Louis L'Amour. Although not a western, per se, it reads much like one, right down to the rattlesnakes, gold, and guns. The descriptions of hills, back country and all aspects of the terrain around northern California are detailed and easy to picture. We are present in every locale Van finds himself, able to smell the dry grasses, feel the heat, the grime, the sweat. Darker Than the Sky is a fun and engaging book that will keep the reader entertained right to the end.

[Nicki Ehrlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

News of plane crashes have always signaled a personal tragedy to come for Van Weathers. In 1977, he lives a good life on his ranch in the hills of Central California with his wife and two teenage sons. Van always seems to have one foot in his successful ranch life and the other, fearing too much happiness will surely bring misfortune. When a small plane crashes too close to home, he anxiously awaits what it might mean to his loving family. But before the pilot dies, he offers clues to a treasure that just might be attainable. Van’s oldest son, Josh, struggles to find himself and his place in the family. A horse camping trip in the mountains of Big Sur might be a treasure worth more than gold. But the father and son are haunted not only by the past but by present-day outlaws and nature itself.

An adventure in unconditional love and lessons learned. Pleasing prose and relatable angst make this a smooth read with a satisfying ending. (Beautiful cover design.)

[Saba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darker Than the Sky is a beautifully written novel that kept me flipping the pages. From the very beginning, I could tell there was a strong underlying message, but it wasn’t until later that everything clicked. Themes of family, self-discovery, and the importance of choosing happiness really stuck with me.

The author does an incredible job painting a vivid and descriptive picture of the main character, allowing us to experience both their past and present in a way that feels immersive. Learning about their journey over time made the emotional impact of the story even stronger.

The book’s prose is simple yet direct, much like Steinbeck’s writing—easy to read but layered with deep themes and emotional weight. It actually reminded me of The Grapes of Wrath in the way it explores human struggle, moral choices, and the idea that true wealth isn’t always material.


A truly insightful and inspiring read

[Sep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Van is concerned about his relationship with Josh, his older son. He hopes for an opportunity to reconnect. Then, an old treasure map resurfaces. Josh wants to hunt for lost gold, so Van and he saddle up and ride out into the California foot hills.

As the story progresses, it is clear that Van carries a lot of old baggage. He feels as though bad luck has been hounding him his whole life. Whenever he allows himself to be really happy, disaster strikes and he loses something he loves.

This novel is one adventure after another. With a great sense of time and place, Van describes major events in his life in Big Sur, Oakland, Chicago and norther California. As he and his son risk everything for the possibility of material riches, Van might discover something even more valuable--if he survives.

[Nancy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reflections on Life by a Grown Man

The setting around Monterey California is the most memorable facet of this novel. The dry, stony, fire prone landscape looms over all. The empty spaces accessible by horses even in these modern times seems unfamiliar to the eastern reader. As we learn more and more about our differences, east versus west, rural versus urban, each life outlook seems reasonable, but completely unapplicable to the other . Almost foreign.

The characters are almost all male, and any revealed introspection comes in short well considered bursts. The narrator is not willing to disclose or maybe not even in touch with some of the emotions a woman might experience in the same situation. Emotions and ruminations seem pushed to the side in deference to the plot. A pleasant but forgetable read.

[Peacejanz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Save your time and money. This author did little research - so many muddled things. He seems to imagine things and assume they are true. The Peace Corps comment near the end is just one example. He writes about taking a year off and working for the Peace Corps as if that is like getting a job at McDonalds or Target for a year. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, this attitude is offensive to me. One has to have at least a college degree, be trained to do something worthwhile in the world to help those less fortunate, have a volunteer attitude - do it for free because you want to help others. Peace Corp commitments are for two years -- and we do not get paid, we get a living allowance so we do not starve.

[Crystal Tipton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. I found the writing excellent and some of the sentences I stopped and read multiple times because I loved their meaning. I also loved the characters and their growth throughout the novel. I think I could have done without the plane crashes and their connection to fate for the main character and while I do understand that those connections were the main idea/theme of the novel, I think it could have been just as effective without those two pieces. But perhaps I was looking too literally at the plane crashes and not seeing how they related to life. Either way, I look forward to reading another Matt Tracy book!

[Patsye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that I like to read a chapter at a time and then stop and think about it. It is mostly about a journey camping with a man and his son, and an exploration of the man’s fears, hopes, dreams, and relationships. The writing is thoughtful. I felt that many of the side characters were rather heavily drawn but it does include many shades of gray in morality judgments. It paints word pictures in a love story to the west and its glorious scenery. I felt the end needed more ambiguity, and shouldn't have been wrapped up as neatly as it was, but I found it an interesting read.

I received a free copy from BookMovement but this review is my own opinion.

[Bonnie Goodrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through Goodreads. I could hardly put it down! I really enjoyed the plot line and the characters in this book. Van Weathers lives on a ranch in the hills of California. Over the years there have been hints of gold hidden in the hills but no one has been able to locate it. It kept me guessing the entire time. The author did a marvelous job building up the suspense and developing the various characters. I would like to read other books by Matt Tracy. If you like mysteries or stories set in the West you would probably enjoy this book.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and engaging, this book had my attention from page one. Set in Northern California, it uses airplane crashes to relate to life. Plenty of action and great character interaction leads us through the trials and tribulations of a man's life, with a fantastically satisfying ending.
This is not my usual type of book/genre, but I'm so glad I took the chance and switched it up. I recommend this book without any hesitation.

[Kristine Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way Matt unveils each characters past and present leaves you with a clear vision of who they are, where they’ve been and what they stand for. I found myself numerous times empathizing with each character and identifying with them in a way that left me constantly wanting to know more about their lives. This story is filled with adventure and raw emotions of what life encompasses… I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more work written by Matt Tracy

[Michael Casper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was intrigued by the summary, but ultimately felt this was a let down. An interesting story, though the pacing was odd. Felt like there was no room left to breathe- not in an action packed way, but in a “here’s my thought, now I’ll explain that thought, then I’ll foreshadow something, now here’s the explanation”. Also felt the moral messaging was repetitive; I found myself skimming over paragraphs by the end.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviews I read suggested this may be an allegory for living a specific way, so I was prepared to set this aside. I was pleasantly surprised that it is not. Yes, it reflects on the benefit of letting life happen, and taking choices when presented, but that is a good lesson in any healthy life.

The story did seem a bit dry at points. To be fair, that could be as much a result of my ADHD as from the writer's style.

Overall, this is one I enjoyed.

#goodreadsgivaway

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from BookMovement giveaways. I had not read anything by Matt Tracy but I will be looking for more. It was a page turner! Making peace with the tragedies of our past is something we all struggle with and finding a way to accept and handle them can haunt us.
I loved how Van and Josh worked together and the support they gave each other. Jenny was a rock star too. I hope the next book continues to follow them and we find out what happens next to this family. And Russ!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started the book, I could not put it down. I had to know what would happen next. You come to know the characters through the stories they tell. I loved the family connection-father and son. Also loved learning more about a topic I don't know much about (hiking, mining). This is not a book I would normally pick off the shelf but it is very interesting, well written, and filled with descriptive writing. Would definitely recommend.

[Kayla Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out strong but then seemed to slow way down and didn’t really pick up again until the very end. I felt like there was a LOT of time spent in the flash backs which I think is why the middle felt so slow. I get why the flashbacks needed to be part of the story, but I think they could have been shortened up quite a bit and still served their purpose. That would have provided more opportunity for a more fleshed out and active story.

[Della · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe me, I was rooting for the good guys. A fun-to-read adventure story that propels a finely interwoven, character-driven narrative with strong, relatable characters and and dialogue. Darker Than the Sky is an exciting story with the challenges of the Big Sur mountains, bad guys and contemporary existential struggles.