Shadow World
by Chris Impey
Genre: Science Fiction
Word count: 104,000
Ian McEvoy is done with Scotland. No one’s ever used his first name – Ian; he’s always been just McEvoy, even to his mum. The Scotsman is leaving his hardscrabble childhood behind and looking for adventure. He’s shadowed in his travels by turbulent family history, a precarious relationship with alcohol, and large segments of his life that seem blank.
McEvoy soaks up science like a sponge. As he learns from the scientists he encounters, he realizes that there are profound puzzles built into the fabric of nature. His personal challenge is the puzzle of his past and his tenuous grip on reality. McEvoy forges on from his boisterous youth in the Arizona desert to a surprising climax in the twilight zone of northern Sweden. Does McEvoy’s final insight have anything to say about our own sense of what is real?
This book is available from Amazon. Chris, how did you come up with the title for your book? Does it have any special meaning?
Shadow World refers to the parts of a person’s inner life that can be hidden or in shadow. It also refers to the hidden structure in the physical world, and to patterns invisible to the eye. The title alludes to Plato’s allegory of the cave.
Who was your favorite character and why?
McEvoy, the first person narrator of the book, because he jumps headlong info life even as his obstacles mount. The Scotsman is untutored but curious, tender yet capable of violence, brave but fearful of his inner demons. We are drawn through the narrative in his wake.
Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
The main theme is the world within the world: the fact that we view nature through semi-opaque glass and we have imperfectly understood the fundamental workings of physics and biology. A parallel theme is the fragility of our sense of self and the evanescent nature of reality.
What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
They might say that the writing is lively and engaging and full of ideas. They might be surprised that fiction can be so richly informed by frontier scientific concepts. The might comment on how much they liked the first person protagonist McEvoy.
Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book:
“It’s a wonderful mixture of science, philosophy and story-telling. A great read!”
Where can people learn more about your writing?
http://darkskiespress.com/books-by-chris-impey/
This sounds intriguing. It will have to go on my reading list.