Circadian Web

by Alistair Conwell

In a mesmerizing tapestry, four seemingly disparate lives intersect in unexpected ways. A freelance writer, a Tibetan Buddhist monk, a Latin tutor, and a science teacher, each dance along the edges of their subconscious as they embark on a journey that intertwines science fact, science fiction, esoteric spiritual themes and profound psychological insights. As their narratives flicker across four seemingly disconnected timelines, mysterious women emerge, their enigmatic presence potentially a beacon of hope or a precursor to plunging down the rabbit hole of chaos. Are they guides illuminating the path to self-discovery, or temptresses leading each man deeper into the labyrinth of his own psyche?

In ‘Circadian Web’, nothing is as it seems—almost everyone harbors a secret. As you unravel the intricacies of each character’s life, you’ll be compelled to question your understanding of time, identity, truth and even reality itself.

328 pages, Paperback

Published August 5, 2025

About the author

Alistair Conwell was born into a Eurasian family in India but grew up in Australia. He has post-graduate degrees in psychology and business communication.

Alistair's books and articles have been published internationally, and he has been interviewed by US, Australian, Canadian and UK podcasters about his books.

Reviews

[Liz~In~Colorado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Circadian Web
By
Alistair Conwell

OK ... I've tried and tried on this book. I think I've restarted 30x. NOT exaggerating. The story seems interesting, but I can't seem to engage! It skips between 4 ppl and different alternate timelines over 45 chapters. I have skipped ahead to get a feel for where its going.. (do any of you do that???) The concepts are a dizzying web of quantum physics, philosophical science fiction, and it's mystically thought provoking. I "think" it will be good in the end- I just can't get there right now.

I'm thankful to the publisher Collective Ink of the National Book Network for sending me this physical book, and feel just terrible that I'm struggling with it.... but I need to give this a break and come back to it another time.

For those reasons I'm assigning a 3* and if I get back to it and finish, then I will re-adjust my ratings. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Liz🌷

[Carolyn Mathews · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title of this extraordinary novel suggests, the concept of time is an intrinsic factor of its plot. Or, rather, plots. Just as there are four circadian rhythms, so there are four separate timelines interwoven throughout the book. Each one has its own main character: freelance writer, science teacher, Latin tutor, and Tibetan Buddhist monk, all of them experiencing an increasing sense of scepticism. As someone interested in, yet not fully conversant with, quantum theory (which also has four principles, by the way), I particularly enjoyed the protagonists’ conversations on that subject, some approving, some not. Once readers acclimatise to the format—akin to adjusting to a new time zone after a flight—they’ll be rewarded with an abundance of action, danger and even romance in this fast-moving, experience, vibrant with intelligence and wisdom.

[Grant Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of time-bending, POV-swapping narratives such as Slaughterhouse-Five, Hyperion, Ghostwritten and Station Eleven, I can say that Alistair Conwell's debut novel belongs in the same bracket as his more illustrious peers. I'm not exactly surprised that the author comes from diverse roots and has travelled the world - his peripatetic experiences evidently serve as the threads from which his Circadian Web is spun. I mean, he's also a postgrad in psychology, which explains how the writing is so deft at stripping back the layers of the subconscious without it ever coming across as a lecture.

Anyway, the story: I don't do recaps, so all I'll say is that it's an immersive journey through the tangled depths of the human experience in a way I'd never encountered before. Four distinct characters who feel like they could walk off the page, lived-in settings and dialogue that sometimes comes across as Socratic. In short: Circadian Web invites readers to explore the timeless mysteries, collective traumas and questions of identity that bind us all.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intelligent and thought-provoking, Circadian Web weaves a cocktail of science, religion and enlightenment between four seemingly disparate protagonists set against a background where fundamentalism and free-thinking are distinctly at odds. Propelled by questioning societal expectations in scenarios only a heartbeat away from our current reality, Circadian Web confronts such issues unflinchingly, threading a path through existences which serve not only as warnings but guides. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Susan Plunket · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘It’s not often that a novel which engages big questions like the nature of ultimate reality also turns out to be a page-turner. But that is what Alistair Conwell has achieved with Circadian Web. I couldn’t stop reading. He grabbed me and I had to keep going to figure out what was happening … If you want to feast on a big page-turner … lots of action, and various points of view on the big questions of existence, fasten your seatbelt and jump into Circadian Web.’

[Xiaoning · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept behind the book is interesting, but not really original and is a bit far stretched. I am not all clear about the author’s agenda and how he plans to achieve it. The world is unnecessarily dark, cruel and violent in each part of the protagonist’s “adventures”. There are a lot of stereotypical characters and bigotry for no particular reason. The plots do not even contribute to any concrete idea.

[Edan Dayan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a deftly constructed story that transports the reader back and forth effortlessly through four different times. The futuristic elements are cleverly handled to feel natural and at the same time capture the reader’s curiosity. The plot of ‘Circadian Web’ is fast paced and will keep you guessing. If you think you have the plot figured out before the end, you don’t. It is more complex, and interesting, than you think

[Andrew Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought-provoking exploration of the human psyche, blending speculative elements with psychological depth. An original and imaginative mix of thriller, science fiction story, and reflection on spirituality and religion. I especially like the way the writer includes some of the hot topics of the moment and imagines how these might evolve in the future.

[Michael Strelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hang onto your time-traveling hats. This book is an intelligent, carefully thought-out, and discursive trip into religion and quantum physics. It has echoes of many of today's issues. Alistair Conwell has found the sweet spot between paradox and truth in a narrative full of excitement and heroic adventure.
Michael Strelow author of John and Julie and Robert

[John Gastil · Rating 4 out of 5]

To quote one of its characters, this sci-fi adventure is a "walking bundle of surprises." Conwell offers a deeper meditation on mysteries beyond the time and space in which we (think we) live.