Into the Void

by Emma Stein

The country of Anglina is teeming with social upheaval, and its officials have found an unlikely national hero in a philosopher and social activist named Horace. The Anglinian government has appointed the effeminate, irreverent, and stubborn scholar to undertake a journey around the world to learn the secret of other countries’ success. Unfortunately for Horace, most of the societies he visits turn out to be drastically different from what he expected, and he repeatedly sends scathing but witty reports about his travels and the people he encounters.


Horace is dedicated to serving his country and takes pride in his assignment, but as his journey progresses, he begins to suffer from isolation and repeated failures at integrating into different societies. Not only does he grapple with bureaucracy, language barriers, and foreign climates, he is also confronted with ghosts from his own past. Incarceration in one of his destinations unleashes waves of self-doubt and an identity crisis, but Horace perseveres in the name of Anglina and out of self-respect. His determination pays just as he has all but lost hope, Horace encounters a series of communes whose inhabitants welcome him into their ranks and open his eyes to more a liberal and egalitarian way of life.

ebook

First published August 12, 2015

Reviews

[Mave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was once again pulled into a story that was so completely captivating I could not put it down. I really loved the epistolary style, the correspondence Horace and Addie have exchanged.
It's the story of the fantastic travel of Horace, his explorations of new countries and his wonderful discoveries. It was easy to identify with him..
It is an intriguing and interesting book, addictive and a total page turner. The author takes you deep inside the story and leaves you on the edge of your seat.
Highly recommended.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horace’s correspondence home gives his insight into politics, people and places he visits while searching for ways to make his home country better. Horace finds himself an odd duck in most places he visits even finding himself in prison for a time. He does not give up on his quest and sends letters that detail what he sees, experiences and feels back to his friend Addie in Anglina from each place he visits. There is a bit of a “Gulliver’s Travels” feel to the story though I cannot put my finger on why I felt that way as I read Horace’s letters.

This was not an easy book for me to get into as it is not the type of book I usually read but there were parts that made me consider and wonder and made me cringe and often feel thankful to be who I am and have lived where I have in spite of how bad some of the times and places I have lived in have been.

If you are a person who enjoys reading correspondence about unusual imaginary places, events and peoples then this book might be worth taking a look at.

Thank you to the author and Tirgearr Publishing for the copy of this book to read and review.