The Voids

(Paperback)

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Description

'After a couple of weeks, I found myself standing outside the voids in the middle of the night listening for human activity, for any sign of life at all. Voids are flats that have been vacated, that will never be lived in again. But there never were any signs of life. Only the wind whistling through vacant interiors.' In a condemned tower block in Glasgow, residents slowly trickle away until a young man is left alone with only the angels and devils in his mind for company. Stumbling from one surreal situation to the next, he encounters others on the margins of society, finding friendship and camaraderie wherever it is offered, grappling with who he is and what shape his future might take. The Voids is an unsparing story of modern-day Britain, told with brilliant flashes of humour and humanity. 'Finely written ... O'Connor creates a world ex nihilo, showcasing the lives of the forgotten.' -The Irish Times 'In an era when contemporary fiction is leaning ever more towards identity and relatability, it's gratifying to know there's still a place for a literary ride as wild as this.' -The Guardian 'This distinctive debut leaves you wanting to read more from O'Connor.' -The Daily Mail

Author Bio

Ryan O'Connor received the Scottish Book Trust Next Chapter Award in 2018; later the same year he was Highly Commended in the Bridport Prize short story category. He currently lives in Glasgow with his partner and young son.