ESCAPEs

In the novel "Escapes," Florence Satine and Buenaventura Escobar play a Scrabble game that determines their fate, revealing a corrupt Scrabble world dominated by the Scrafia. The game becomes a tumultuous romance with the game.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 22 October 2020
Publisher: Unnamed Press

Florence Satine and Buenaventura Escobar, two former world champions of Scrabble, find themselves in a precarious situation in Tunnards' debut novel. Their fate rests entirely on the luck of the draw from the Scrabble tile bag, a game that has become a global sensation broadcast live on ESPN. Set in an alternate 90s where Scrabble reigns supreme, the two former champions meet deep in the Argentinian Tigre Delta for one final game. The words they play not only reveal their past and present circumstances but also hint at their imminent demise.

By 1996, Scrabble has transformed into a massive enterprise. It has become the third-most televised "sport" in the world, attracting fame, fortune, and corporate sponsorships for its top players. However, the league is tightly controlled by a Scrabble mafia, known as "The Scrafia," which is plagued by corruption, match-fixing, and the unexplained disappearances of problematic players. When Florence and Buenaventura decide to defy the sinister Scrafia, they are reminded of the tumultuous romance that once dominated their lives—a romance intertwined with the game of Scrabble itself.

Escapes is a bilingual, lexicographical romp across the world, raising the stakes with each new letter placed upon the rack. The novel explores the complexities of language, culture, and identity as Florence and Buenaventura navigate the treacherous terrain of Scrabble's professional world. They face rival players, corrupt officials, and even supernatural forces as they strive to win the ultimate prize—the championship title.

Through their journey, the characters confront the darker side of Scrabble's popularity. The game has become a symbol of greed, power, and obsession, with players willing to do anything to win. The Scrafia, in particular, is portrayed as a ruthless organization that will stop at nothing to maintain its grip on the league.

Despite the dangers they face, Florence and Buenaventura remain determined to reclaim their place in the Scrabble world. They remember the joy and camaraderie that came with playing the game, and they are determined to restore that sense of wonder and excitement to the game.

In the end, Escapes is a thrilling and thought-provoking novel that explores the power of language, the consequences of obsession, and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy. It is a story that reminds us that even the most innocent games can become corrupted by the pursuit of fame and fortune.

Weight: 202g
Dimension: 133 x 201 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781951213114