Where Futures End

November 16, 2015
In this ambitious first novel, Peevyhouse tells five stories, each set further into the future and loosely connected to the others until, eventually, time begins to lose all meaning. Dylan is able to catch glimpses of another, fairy tale–like world, something that has caused him endless trouble. One day, he actually travels to the “Other Place,” where he spies “a distant city of glass like a gathering of soap bubbles,” ruled by a beautiful “Girl Queen.” Our world and an alternate universe have collided, he discovers, and people like Dylan can cross over, at least for a while. In the successive stories, the two worlds become increasingly entangled until disaster strikes. With each tale fitting into different subgenres of science fiction or fantasy—cyberpunk, heroic quest, mystical adventure—and new protagonists appearing every 60 pages, it’s a novel that keeps readers on their toes. Fans of adventurous, challenging fiction from the likes of A.S. King, David Mitchell, and Marcus Sedgwick should find this an exciting ride. Ages 12–up. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

Five interconnected novellas feature five teens and five narrators, with each novella moving farther and farther into the future. Delivering both fantasy and science fiction, the cast of narrators engages listeners with the individual characters and the dilemmas they face. Dylan's impossible questions lead him to another world. Brixney must find a corporate sponsor for her social media site or languish in debtor's prison. Epony banishes her presence from the Web and begins something brand new. Reef becomes a gamer in a futuristic virtual world. And Quinn, in the far future, discovers the secret that connects them all. Each story is told with an urgency that pulls the listener more deeply into the time-twisting situations. An intriguing must-listen is enhanced by the unique voice that delivers each story. E.A.B. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine