Analog Sun
A Fable
A recovering addict journeys across California in search of purpose in the musing novel Analog Sun.
In Alex Woodard’s thoughtful novel Analog Sun, a man hopes to find salvation from drug and technology addiction.
Adam, who grew up on a farm, is now a heroin user living on the streets. His love for animals often dictates his direction, even when he’s in a drug-induced haze. As the novel begins, he passes out in an alley. He wakes up in a hospital room in the care of a firm but kind nurse who sends him to a rehabilitation facility. From there, he drifts across California.
Though the people Adam meets are central to his story’s progression, many are underdeveloped, serving most to move his story along. He goes to a farm on his brother’s recommendation, for example, but the farmer dies before Adam arrives; he leaves a long, philosophical note behind him whose words Adam takes to heart before moving on. Next, Adam hitches a ride with Max, a lonely man who lives off the grid. They have a thoughtful conversation about artificial intelligence, relating to each other through their talk. And at Max’s friend Greg’s house, Adam learns to surf, finding a sense of freedom and independence on the waves. But when Adam discovers that Max and Greg sought him out on purpose, he runs. Later, a farmhand, Sara, helps him bond with a horse.
Throughout the brief book, Adam’s interests define him, from the solace he finds on the buoyant, cleansing ocean, whose waters give him a high without drugs, to his appreciation of nature and history. He spends a night at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, marveling at the park’s stunning sights and musing over the canyon’s long existence. The scene is thick with details, and Adam’s enthusiasm contrasts with the tone of his earlier conversation about the downsides of technology.
Beyond his musings, Adam’s trek across California is a mysterious one. Though he decides to visit a horse farm on a whim, he arrives there and finds that they are expecting him. It is as though someone has planned the trip out for him. Thus, little feels random, though it’s hard to say why; themes of fate and destiny are suggested. After an unexpected reunion, though, an explanation is provided for Adam’s travels, resulting in a poignant, satisfying conclusion.
A potent novel, Analog Sun is about a man learning to release himself from the addictions of contemporary society.
Reviewed by
Anna Karnedy
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
