The Lost Puzzler - (Tarakan Chronicles) by Eyal Kless (Paperback)

About the Book

"More than a hundred years have passed since the Catastrophe brought humanity to the brink of extinction. Those who survived are changed. The Wildeners have reverted to the old beliefs--but with new Gods--while others place their faith in the technology that once powered their lost civilization. In the mysterious City of Towers, the center of the destroyed Tarakan empire, a lowly scribe of the Guild of Historians is charged with a dangerous assignment. He must venture into the wilds beyond the glass and steel towers to discover the fate of a child who mysteriously disappeared more than a decade before. Born of a rare breed of marked people, this child, Rafik--known as "the Key"--was one of a special few with the power to restore this lost civilization to glory once again. In a world riven by fear and violence, where tattooed mutants, manic truckers, warring guilds, and greedy mercenaries battle for survival, Rafik may have single-handedly destroyed humanity's only chance for salvation--unless the scribe can figure out what happened to him."--

Book Synopsis

A brilliantly written, page-turning, post-dystopian debut from Eyal Kless, about a society hoping to salvage the technology of a lost generation, a mysterious missing boy who can open doors no one else can, and a scribe who must piece together the past to determine humanity's future.

More than a hundred years have passed since the Catastrophe brought humanity to the brink of extinction. Those who survived are changed. The Wildeners have reverted to the old ways--but with new Gods--while others place their faith in the technology that once powered their lost civilization.

In the mysterious City of Towers, the center of the destroyed Tarakan empire, a lowly scribe of the Guild of Historians is charged with a dangerous assignment. He must venture into the wilds beyond the glass and steel towers to discover the fate of a child who mysteriously disappeared more than a decade before. Born of a rare breed of marked people, the child, Rafik--known as "The Key"--was one of a special few with the power to restore this lost civilization to glory once again.

In a world riven by fear and violence, where tattooed mutants, manic truckers, warring guilds and greedy mercenaries battle for survival, this one boy may have singlehandedly destroyed humanity's only chance for salvation--unless the scribe can figure out what happened to him.

From the Back Cover

There's a world full of puzzles. Some will simply challenge the mind. Others will unlock riches. And some . . .

WELL, NOT ALL PUZZLES ARE GAMES

More than a hundred years have passed since the Catastrophe brought humanity to the brink of extinction. Those who survived are changed. The Wildeners have reverted to the old beliefs--but with new Gods--while others place their faith in the technology that once powered their lost civilization.

In the mysterious City of Towers, the center of the destroyed Tarakan empire, a lowly scribe of the Guild of Historians is charged with a dangerous assignment. He must venture into the wilds beyond the glass and steel towers to discover the fate of a child who mysteriously disappeared more than a decade before. Born of a rare breed of marked people, this child, Rafik--known as "the Key"--was one of a special few with the power to restore this lost civilization to glory once again.

In a world riven by fear and violence, where tattooed mutants, manic truckers, warring guilds, and greedy mercenaries battle for survival, Rafik may have single-handedly destroyed humanity's only chance for salvation--unless the scribe can figure out what happened to him.

Review Quotes

"Readers looking for a crafty puzzle that descends into the twisty depths of loyalty and betrayal will enjoy this far-future adventure." - Publishers Weekly
"This rich dystopian world includes snippets of technology that perplex most of the characters, a steady mix of storytelling and action, and intense character development that makes the book hard to put down. Kless' debut, first book of the Tarakan Chronicles, will leave readers eagerly awaiting more."

- Booklist
"Author Eyal Kless has created a rich and vivid future Earth that's inventive and attention-grabbing in equal measure." - SFX (UK)
"A coming-of-age story with a difference . . . intriguing and involving." - Daily Mail (UK)
"Kless, a professional musician, has crafted a debut novel in which all of the elements come together in something approaching perfect harmony, with bass notes of the post-apocalyptic and a multi-part melody of character-based intrigue." - B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog
"Evokes classics of the genre such as Jack Vance's Dying Earth series and Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun, throwing in elements of Mad Max and Indiana Jones...a virtuoso performance." - Financial Times
"[Rafik's] experiences have an emotional depth that cannot be denied, and that make the novel compelling." - Sci-Fi Magazine