Nowhere

by Glenn H. Mitchell

Nowhere is the name we’ve given to that tempting and frightening uncharted space beyond the planets we mine and the wars we wage. Nobody has jurisdiction in it. Nobody is safe in it. Nowhere is a haven for criminals but even the most defiant won’t venture far into the void. Nowhere is a destination for the spiritual. Some say it’s the closest you’ll come to God. Others say, ‘careful what you wish for’. One thing we all agree on. There’s something out there. Nowhere is the place we’ll meet them, whoever or whatever they are. First contact. We laugh about the changing probability of it. We’re amazed it hasn’t happened already, and as we laugh we keep a nervous eye on the black periphery. It makes the hairs on our necks dance. Yet we continue to walk this thin line between bravery and stupidity, between excitement and fear, between us and them. It would be stupid not to fear them.

Genres: Science Fiction

292 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2014

About the author

Glenn H. Mitchell studied journalism and video production before a career in television, producing and writing programs for the ABC, Foxtel and SBS including co-writing the first series of popular Australian comedy, Pizza.

In addition to his novels, 'Nowhere' and 'Nine-Tenths of the Law', Mitchell's short stories have been published in The J.J. Outré Review, Crack the Spine Literary Magazine, and Midnight Echo. He was a winner of the 2016 Australian Horror Writers Association Flash & Short Fiction Competition, and on the competition's judging panel in 2017.

He is currently based in Phnom Penh where he writes novels, short stories and works as a freelance scriptwriter.

Reviews

[Micah Sisk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glenn H. Mitchell's first novel, Nowhere was a surprising find for me: well-written, engagingly paced, suspenseful, and mind twisting. And though it does contain elements of the old first-contact SF trope, it's really more of a relationship tale. The story revolves around an untrustworthy war criminal struggling with his own guilt, depression, and paranoia—greed and self-interested scheming—originally bent upon his own destruction...and an alien woman who may finally offer him salvation, or utter ruin.

Seen from our anti-hero's perspective, Nowhere echoes much of the relationship heavy writings of Philip K. Dick: the main character's mind is unstable, flicking every few paragraphs from fear, paranoia and violent intent to self-doubting hope, forgiveness, and kindness. And as with many of PKD's works, the female lead--the alien in this case, on a mission from a dying world—is the one who commands the most strength of character. Yet she is also the one who brings with her the threat of deception and death—or is that all in our anti-hero's mind?

I found Mitchell's handling of internal narrative to be compelling and well-paced, though it was his adept and entertaining grasp of dialog that really first captured my attention. This is an author who knows language, knows conversation, and who writes with convincing clarity and boldness.

Completely enjoyable...with one small "but"...I did find the ending a bit abrupt. It was not wholly dissatisfactory, given the relationship heavy angle of the book, but it was also not quite as fulfilling as it could have been.

Still, Nowhere is an excellent first novel and a quick, compelling read. 4-stars well deserved.