First published 2023
Wala Kitu teaches mathematics at a university and specializes in nothing. Literally nothing. This peculiar expertise catches the attention of John Sill, a shadowy multimillionaire with plans that stretch far beyond ordinary villainy. Sill wants to harness the power of nothingness itself, and he needs Kitu to make it happen. What starts as an academic consultation quickly spirals into a globe-spanning adventure complete with submarine chases, helicopter pursuits, and yacht escapes. Kitu finds himself navigating a world of secret identities, vampire pilots, and loyal henchmen while Sill's headquarters features the requisite shark pool. The mild-mannered professor must deploy increasingly heroic schemes to prevent Sill from achieving his ultimate goal of absolute power over nothing, which somehow threatens the entire planet. This wild ride parodies the spy thriller genre while the unassuming Kitu transforms from academic to unlikely action hero racing against catastrophe.
Genres: adventure, action, comedy, academic
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, unlikely-hero
Setting: Submarine, Yacht
279 pages · Paperback · Influx Press