First published 1992
Meer Fastet lives in the outer rings of Ana, his days filled with long houses and work circles. Kedar Nanchen belongs to the central city, moving through the high bank and honor school. The two men come from different worlds within Ana, but they become friends before everything changes. Kedar transforms into something Ana calls a traitor. Years pass. On his deathbed, Kedar makes one final request. He asks Meer to venture beyond Ana's boundaries into the wasteland and bring his body back to the city. Meer must leave the safety of Ana and face the dangerous lands outside. The journey forces him to confront guilt he has carried for decades. The task becomes more than retrieving a body. It becomes a reckoning with friendship, betrayal, and the choices that define a life.
Genres: fiction, drama, adventure, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-friends, fish-out-of-water, redemption
Setting: Ana, Wasteland
Period: Years Pass
289 pages · Paperback · Headline Feature