The Houses of the Curious by John Bowie

The Houses of the Curious by John Bowie

The Houses of the Curious is an exuberant journey through a richly built science-fiction world painted in psychedelic visions and mythic fantasy.

Memories of a stranger thrust Aurora into a war between powerful corporations, machine armies, and a pantheon of digital beings. Pursued by a ruthless mercenary, Aurora and her friends must flee their home and seek out an exiled war hero. As she descends into a wondrous new world of technological marvels, the motives of her allies and enemies prove to be more than they appear. To save herself and humanity she must realize her destiny and face a terrible question: Is she even real?

The Houses of the Curious will appeal to readers who rallied behind the strong female protagonist in Lois McMaster Bujold's Cordelia's Honor, as well as those who lost themselves in the mythic depths of Stephen King's Dark Tower Series, found themselves in the philosophical coming-of-age quest of Frank Herbert's Dune, or dreamed of the cyberpunk future of Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell. First in the Parallel Series, The Houses of the Curious is a rich character-driven story, that paints timely philosophical themes in action and adventure in the heritage of The Matrix or Inception.