BookView Review

Gadeken’s latest is a compact yet ambitious allegorical work that uses speculative science fiction to examine anxiety, identity, and the difficult art of moving forward. The novel is set aboard a space station built of interconnected spheres, where an unnamed traveler passes through environments shaped by changing emotional states. Each space transforms inner conflict into a tangible experience. What begins as a surreal and disorienting journey gradually becomes a carefully structured meditation on the human condition, particularly the quiet anxieties we carry and the personal growth that follows their confrontation. Gadeken emphasizes that discomfort is not inherently destructive; instead, it becomes something workable, shaped through effort, resilience, and inventive responses, even when forward motion is imperfect or unclear.

The space-bound conceit is imaginative and accessible, allowing the story to move fluidly between worlds while maintaining thematic cohesion. The unnamed protagonist lends the story a universal quality, making the journey feel broadly accessible. Whimsical elements—like a sassy tulip or a sentient light—add personality without detracting from its emotional seriousness. Though concise and spare, the book delivers lasting emotional and philosophical resonance. 

Readers seeking reflective speculative fiction will be gratified.

***