Crimson in Quietus - by Eugen Bacon (Paperback)

About the Book

From the queen of genre-bending speculative fiction, comes the newest Sauútiverse offering, a mystery like no other, where the investigator is not a detective, but a sound scientist. In a world where sound is a tangible force, Muso'mi is a maadiregi-an expert in the art of consuming it. At the prestigious Mahadum, she researches the language of s

Book Synopsis

From the queen of genre-bending speculative fiction, comes the newest Sauútiverse offering, a mystery like no other, where the investigator is not a detective, but a sound scientist.

In a world where sound is a tangible force, Muso'mi is a maadiregi-an expert in the art of consuming it. At the prestigious Mahadum, she researches the language of silence, seeking to master the gift her mother calls theft. But academic intrigue turns to deadly peril when her friend vanishes after unearthing a hidden truth. Pursuing clues through pools of quietude across worlds, Muso'mi stumbles upon a horrifying discovery: a pattern of carnage left in fields of harvested silence. Now, the hunter becomes the hunted, as her unique expertise draws her into the orbit of a serial killer who understands the power of sound all too well.

Includes a glossary of Bantu, Afrocentric and made-up words from this cross-cultural tale written in gorgeous lyrical language packed with emotion.

Review Quotes

"One of the most intriguing books I've read this year. Muso'mi is a stellar protagonist. With its literary layers, Crimson in Quietus is the kind of book I will want to read multiple times." --Jennifer Brozek, author of Never Let Me Sleep and Last Days of Salton Academy

"Crimson in Quietus is an epic feat of Afrofuturism--lyrical, inventive and captivating, with prose that transports, and characters who linger long after the novel has ended." --Maxine Beneba Clarke, award-winning author of The Hate Race and How Decent Folk Behave

"Bacon gives us a compelling plot with a uniquely textural writing style that makes us question what we know about storytelling, identity, race and existence itself. Crimson in Quietus is an important novel, bringing something new--this is a must-read for fans of the wider sci-fi genre." --A J Dalton, author of Empire of the Saviours and Green Man Ascendant

"Bacon brings the story to life with sensuously vibrant prose, eddying the reader through the cosmos, conjuring with a deft hand and a playful turn every violent sonic storm, every heady sip of hoguro, every electric caress, every splash of color, every thrum of song, and every chilling, twisted thought. Brilliantly inventive and richly grounded in African mythology and culture, Crimson in Quietus is a sensory thrall and a formidable but worthwhile read." --Geneve Flynn, two-time Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson Award winner

"Eugen Bacon's Crimson in Quietus is an onomatopoeic thrumming of a novel about friendship, language, love and power, where the narrative shifts in drum beats, and hallucinogenic prose-poetry creates a uniquely African science-fantasy universe. The story is richly-detailed, fizzing with sensory description where technology, nature, and magic fit seamlessly into each other in a vibrant melange." --CL Hellisen, author of The Shape of Monsters and Cast Long Shadows

"Reading this book is like diving into a swirling ocean of sight, sound, and sensation. Bacon balances dashes of wit with visceral horror as her dynamic female heroines battle an unspeakable evil in a world where the study of science blends seamlessly with fantasy and magic. Add to that the African-inspired language, imagery, and mouth-watering descriptions of food, written in Bacon's singular, rich cadence, and it's like reading the creation story of a vibrant future." --Tara Campbell, Philip K. Dick Award Finalist for City of Dancing Gargoyles

"Eugen Bacon's voice is that of a gifted storyteller. And it's on fire with her novel Crimson in Quietus. Rich with poetic prose. Layered with folk horror and mystery. Highly recommend." --Cindy O'Quinn, Bram Stoker Award(R) winning author

"Eugen Bacon's Crimson in Quietus glows like a jewel in the dark: with energy, with propulsive poetry, with the ferocity and power of truth sung loud." --Kathe Koja, award-winning author

"Bacon has one of the most unflinchingly unique voices in modern fiction, be it in the speculative field or anywhere else. Crimson in Quietus is her most lyrical, ambitious work to date." --Keith Rosson, author of Coffin Moon

"Eugen Bacon has crafted a unique and utterly fearless literary mosaic that gleefully defies genre traditions and rejects all conventional standards of classification. Unflinching and written with such powerful poetry and lyricism, Crimson in Quietus is raw, intense, and captivating. One of the most extraordinary, mesmerizing, and magnetic novels I've ever had the honor of reading." --Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke

"Crimson in Quietus is another brilliant exploration of intimate human moments by Eugen Bacon. A superb study of silence delivered in the author's unique, lush, and lyrical rhythm. The Afro-centric language invites you to roll the sounds around in your mind and inhabit the incredibly detailed magic, myths, and traditions of the Sauútiverse. The speculative story insists you turn the pages and follow the adventures of these beautifully drawn characters as they discover the power of silence, friendship, grief, and love." --Australian Book Lovers

"Bacon sets this smart, metaphysical Afrofuturist saga in the multiauthor-created Sauútiverse, which imagines a binary star system supporting a federation of five planets where magic travels on sound waves. . . . Bacon's prose is as rich as the world-building, studded with neologisms derived from African language and legends (a helpful glossary provides both meanings and derivations). Her inspiring characters, many of whom riff on familiar archetypes (expectant mother, bickering lovers, supportive elder), persevere through extraordinary trials by relying on bonds of faith and affection. The result is both striking and stirring." --Publishers Weekly

"A satisfying science fiction hors d'oeuvre, enticing readers into the banquet of ideas offered by this richley imagined Sauútiverse. Recommended for fans of Arkady Martine and Stark Holborn." --Books and Publishing

About the Author

Eugen Bacon is an African Australian author. She's a Solstice, British Fantasy, Locus and Foreword Indies Award winner, a twice World Fantasy and Shirley Jackson Award finalist, and a finalist in the Philip K. Dick and Ignyte Awards, and the Nommo Awards for speculative fiction by Africans. Eugen is an Otherwise Fellow, and was also announced in the honor list for ' doing exciting work in gender and speculative fiction' . Danged Black Thing made the Otherwise Award Honor List as a ' sharp collection of Afro-Surrealist work' . Visit her at eugenbacon.com.