by Joanna Russ
First published 2018
Jai Vedh's starship explodes during a routine voyage, stranding him on an unmapped world that resembles Earth. He discovers a human settlement whose ancestors lost contact with their origin planet centuries ago. These colonists have evolved remarkable mental abilities: they read thoughts, move objects with their minds, and transport themselves instantly across distances. They have built their entire society around these psychic powers. A woman named Evne becomes Jai's teacher, guiding him as he begins to unlock his own dormant mental capabilities. Just as he starts mastering these extraordinary skills, a rescue ship arrives to take him home. The Earth he returns to bears no resemblance to the world he left behind. This Nebula Award nominated novel experiments boldly with narrative structure while exploring how power transforms both individuals and civilizations.
Genres: science-fiction, literary-fiction, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Earth
Period: 20th-century
169 pages · Kindle Edition · Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy