The Message

by Eugenio Volpe

A potent meditation on violence, The Message draws readers into the internal unravelling of Afghanistan War solider Adam Zane. Returning home to the existential squalor of Hartford, CT, Zane medicates his mounting anxiety by shooting hoops at the local court and hating pro basketball superstar Elijah "The Message" Adams. Unfortunately, his attempts to heal the wounds of one war are stunted by an onslaught of personal battles. If Zane can surrender his self-loathing… If he can lull the war shrieks… If he can combat his psychosomatic ailments… If his alcoholic mother can stay sober...If all these ifs stand at ease, Zane might advance his battered ego past the alienating forces of urban blight. The Message is a pin-pulled grenade clutched in the hands of readers.

99 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2014

About the author

Boston native Eugenio Volpe is a former PEN Discovery Award winner. His eBook The Message was published by SolsticeLit Books. His short stories have appeared in The Massachusetts Review, Salamander, New York Tyrant, Post Road, The Nervous Breakdown, and dozens more. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and son.

Reviews

[Martin Ott]

The Message, written by one of my favorite writers Eugenio Volpe, is a must-read for understanding the impact of war and coming home. Looking forward to what's next from this author.