Emphyrio book cover by Ned Dameron

I had no idea what this book was about when I started reading it, but the first thing I noticed was the distinctive style of the writer. An e-book with a built in dictionary came in handy while reading it, and my vocabulary is improved after reading it.

Without giving away too much, it is set in the future, where space travel is commonplace and many worlds have been colonized by humans and other sentient life forms. The bulk of the story is set on a planet where evidence of wartime destruction is everywhere. The workers are skilled craftspeople, religious, and orderly. Most live in humble abodes, and most are on the dole. In the clouds above live the wealthy, who sometimes come down to the planet to slum and get their jollies.

The main character, Ghyl, and his father, Amiante, are woodcarvers whose intricate panels fetch fortunes on other worlds. Emphyrio is Ghyl’s search in the past that may make things better in the future.

Emphyrio is a revolutionary tome, one that will stay with me for a very long time — and a highly recommended story for others to read.