The Gone-Away World

Abstract

The novel is set in a post-apocalyptic world and follows a number of events related to the so-called “Go-Away War”, a global conflict which greatly impacted humanity, killing billions of people. This conflict is marked by the use of “Go-Away Bombs” and other technologically advanced weaponry developed for warfare purposes, and these bombs are specifically designed to not leave any traces of those killed by them or any kind of wreckage left as a result of attacks; they actually have the power to make matter cease to exist. However, it is discovered that all that had “Gone Away” is actually transported to different locations on planet Earth, floating around and eventually appearing, for instance, during violent storms. All this matter is named “Stuff”, and what is terrifying about it is that it takes the form of things which nearby people are imagining or thinking about, spawning an infinite number of, for example, grotesque monsters or other beings, which are promptly referred to as the “New”. In order to deal with these new entities, a corporation (“Jorgmond”), which also acts as the remaining governmental authority in a devastated world, produces a substance – “FOX” – which is delivered by the so-called Jorgmond pipes, spread throughout the planet and which end up defining where the remaining humans settle after the war. The Gone-Away World essentially explores the ethics of advanced weaponry and technological advancement, presenting the potentially catastrophic results of such developments, while also indirectly criticising corporate culture and the centralisation of power.