In sixteen diverse and entertaining stories, Gordon R Clarke takes us on a journey from the struggle of ancient rebels to the aromas of an unexpected future, delivering the flavours of five continents, spiced with both comedy and philosophy.

He leads us through the terrors of madness to the peace of the Thai countryside by way of an indiscreet Christmas letter from Spain, a funeral in North Carolina, a pizza incident in Singapore, an altercation in Crete, and a mysterious evening in Budapest.

Throughout, the question of what is real and what we can never know haunts the collection, reminding us not only of the impermanence of all things but also the joy of human connection.