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Rating: The Historical Void is a vaguely defined global event that has caused a kind of collective amnesia, but not only that; people seem to have returned to themselves in a slightly different way, with distinct perceptions and opinions about their lives and the world. In search of why the Historical Void occurred and who its perpetrators are, some scientists embark on their individual investigations, each without any connection to the others.
Ostrom Quinter is a kind of psychologist who is treating a very peculiar boy found on a deserted island; he becomes obsessed with the possibility that "someone" is manipulating the lives and careers of the most prominent people in the city of Barrakay.
Mem is a young scientist who works for the Core, the major scientific body in Barrakay; she has a leg problem which forces her to use a crutch. During a scientific mission, she meets and begins a relationship with Rick, a young scientist from outside the "official" circles, but she becomes entangled in a very dangerous conspiracy.
Tam (?!) and Gabriel are instead intent on exploring the coastal region of the desolated Quetzal, where a community we might call "hippies" lives in harmony with nature. Among them is a former astrophysicist who is investigating the remnants of the Historical Void, which has produced a kind of radiation.
Among the various other characters that complement the main plots, the Photographer stands out; he is indeed a photographer, who experiences firsthand (or rather in his brain) the radiation produced by a mysterious source that could be at the root of the Historical Void. This radiation impacts a "frontier city," causing scenes of madness and visions.
Finally, Jean Jacques Le Mer is the one who brings the aforementioned characters to the final revelation; he is a character with the traits of a modern "guru" about whom it's best not to say more to avoid spoilers.
The first thing one can say is that the novel is original; it incorporates science fiction but labeling it as purely science fiction would be too reductive and dismissive given the perceptible effort of the author. The numerous characters, many with mystical traits, and the varied situations that compose it are woven into a collage that has a final revelation that more or less satisfies the questions posed from the beginning; all of this within a modest page count, a format perhaps intentionally reminiscent of genre paperbacks from the past.
If the broad spectrum of concepts and reflections the author wants to suggest might unsettle at first glance, especially with the visionary opening of a chapter titled The Atoll, the overall writing style is fluid and engaging, rich but never heavy. The visionary amalgam that combines post-apocalyptic landscapes where wild nature dominates, lost souls searching for a truth "that is out there," and good storytelling, makes it a recommended read and a well-deserved Kipple prize.
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