Myth of Pterygium

In the debut novel, "Myth of Pterygium," a failed poet in Mexico City faces vision loss, personal crises, and the complexities of being an arms dealer in a quasi-dystopian world. The story explores the dissonance between artistic life and family responsibilities, as the protagonist is forced to take a job in his family's weapons dealing enterprise. The novel is set against the backdrop of Mexico City's societal challenges, including traffic jams, pollution, and the threat of drug cartels. The protagonist's right eye condition, a pterygium, adds to his struggles and blurs the lines between reality and imagination. The novel's conclusion is startling.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 22 March 2022
Publisher: Autumn House Press

This captivating debut novel takes readers on a mesmerizing journey through a vaguely dystopian, yet remarkably realistic, Mexico City. Endless traffic jams, relentless clouds of pollution, economic hardships, and the ever-present threat of drug cartels paint a vivid picture of the city's landscape. The unnamed narrator, often referred to as Arthur, bears a striking resemblance to Arthur Rimbaud due to the similarities in their lives. However, Arthur faces a profound dissonance as he juggles his artistic aspirations with the responsibilities of providing for his family. A failed, penniless poet with a child on the way, he is compelled to take a job in his family's weapons dealing enterprise, a revelation that connects him to the corrupt Mexican armed forces and drug cartels, responsible for the escalating death toll in the country.

Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, the narrator grapples with a deteriorating condition in his right eye, a pterygium, which is gradually eroding his vision, blurring the events of his life. His wife's complicated pregnancy, extortions by the drug cartels, and his own relationship to his writing all become intertwined in a tapestry of confusion and uncertainty. As the narrator's life spirals out of control, the novel swiftly moves towards a startling conclusion, leaving readers breathless and pondering the profound implications of their journey.

"Myth of Pterygium" has been acclaimed as the winner of the 2021 Autumn House Rising Writer Prize in Fiction, a prestigious recognition selected by the esteemed Maryse Meijer. This novel showcases the author's exceptional talent and storytelling prowess, offering a captivating glimpse into the lives of ordinary individuals caught in the grip of a dystopian world.

Weight: 186g
Dimension: 140 x 217 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781637680292