Middle-aged writers desperate for a life-changing break in the literary world, Natalija and Jerome embark upon their poetry fellowship with the unconventional mentor ‘The Black Magus.’ As they make their way through the unexpected Ten Books of the Triangulum Project, one thing is certain: they are both searching for the same light, and to do so, they need to make the leap, love, and surrender.

Author James Shelley has fashioned three distinct characters and revealed their commonality through deep-rooted psychological assessment – laying bare a convoluted and confronting take on humanity and the art of writing. The Black Magus is a philosophic character whose idiosyncratic guidance consisted of strong religious themes, mental illness, and seeking beyond the conscious mind and basics of literature. The allegories he adopted as part of his mentorship transported the students and the reader into a subconscious state of coping mechanisms the brain can manifest and remain alive. Hence, the Deep Translucent Pond.

He resembles a modern-day Van Gogh stuck on a cycle of great intellect and manic thoughts. The term “un-machined” is used early and frequently throughout The Deep Translucent Pond and sets the tone for the novel. The Black Magus is not interested in surface-level emotions and forces Natalija and Jerome to strip back mediocracy and analyze the places they go to when everyday life becomes overbearing – and why that is. The use of topics in The Ten Books of the Triangulum Project was strategic. It produced the interrelation needed between each character’s journey to uncovering their personal demons, creating an unruly sophisticated literary piece that masterfully leaves many thoughts unanswered.

The Deep Translucent Pond is a must-read for magical realism and literary fiction lovers. This will compel the reader from start to finish and leave behind a profound sense of the purpose behind human existence and the tangibility of reality.

Pages: 192 | ISBN : 1956635793