In 1959, an unprecedented seismic event caused landslides around the tiny lakeside town of Pyrite Ridge. As part of the phenomenon, a segue occurs. It makes the lake plunge steeply down, creating a nearly impassable abyss. The town is effectively cut off from the rest of the world. Subsequently, an Air Force officer named Travis Sivart finds himself drawn to Pyrite Ridge by mysterious events. As Travis gets to know the town’s few remaining reclusive residents, he suspects that painful episodes from his past might connect him to Pyrite Ridge in an unexpected and profound way. Solving the puzzle might be the only way he can retain his sanity.

Life at the Precipice, by R.F. Vincent, is a novel that refuses to adhere to the rules of any single genre. Instead, it walks the line between drama and fantasy, with poignant moments of good-natured humor interspersed throughout. It is somewhat reminiscent of the magical realism style employed so effectively by authors like Haruki Murakami. There is also a contemplative quality that recalls the David Gutterson novel Snow Falling on Cedars, another book about a secluded island that exists almost entirely cut off from the outside world.

Vincent pulls off a rare feat with this narrative: he keeps the reader guessing about what’s real and what isn’t until the very end. It’s tempting to think of Pyrite Ridge as an allegory, with the various characters and circumstances representing parts of the protagonist’s subconscious. It’s never made explicitly clear, but one interpretation of the events presented could be that Travis Sivart has suffered a break from reality. Some or all of what he’s experiencing could be projections created by his own mind.

Ultimately, though, whether that’s true or not becomes irrelevant. When something like the fragile beauty of this story is encountered, trying to explain or quantify it can only minimize the experience. It’s better to simply drift with the narrative and allow it to cast its spell without too much analysis to hinder it.

Pages: 365 | ASIN : B0CDDYN1VV