Title: Mostly Void, Partially Stars
Author: Joseph Fink
First published September 6, 2016
304 pages, ebook
ISBN: 9780062468666 (ISBN10: 0062468669)
Rating: 4.46
Overview
From the acclaimed authors of the bestselling novel Welcome to Night Vale and the award-winning podcast of the same name comes Mostly Void, Partially Stars. This collection of Season One episodes is packed with behind-the-scenes commentary, original illustrations, and an introduction by creator Joseph Fink.
Explore the enigmatic town of Night Vale, where every conspiracy theory is true and every resident is delightfully strange. With over 100 million downloads, two successful live multi-cast international touring stage shows, and a bestselling novel, this book is a valuable reference guide to past episodes and an entertaining read for fans new and old.
Featuring guest introductions by performers from the podcast and notable fans, Mostly Void, Partially Stars is a must-read for anyone looking to dive into the weird and wonderful world of Night Vale.
About the Author
Meet Joseph Fink, the mastermind behind the captivating Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn’t Dead podcasts, as well as the talented author of several New York Times bestsellers, including Welcome to Night Vale, It Devours!, and The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home (all co-written with Jeffrey Cranor) and Alice Isn’t Dead. Fink is also the creative force behind the children’s novel, The Halloween Moon, and has recently collaborated with his wife, Meg Bashwiner, on the memoir, The First Ten Years.
Together, they call the beautiful Hudson River Valley home.
Editoral Review
Mostly Void, Partially Stars by Joseph Fink is a unique novel that defies easy categorization. Part horror, part sci-fi, and part mystery, this book creates a strange and eerie world that unfolds with each turn of the page.
Fink is known for his work on the podcast Welcome to Night Vale, and he brings a similar sensibility to this novel, bending reality and shifting perspectives to keep readers guessing. The book is set in the fictional town of Night Vale, where strange and inexplicable events occur on a regular basis.
The central character is a radio host named Cecil Palmer, who reports on the bizarre happenings in the town. Along the way, we meet a cast of characters that are equally strange and intriguing, including a scientist studying the town’s strange geological formations, a mysterious figure known only as The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home, and a government agent tasked with investigating Night Vale’s secrets.
As the plot unfolds, we are drawn deeper into the mysteries of Night Vale, and the true nature of the town and its inhabitants is gradually revealed. Fink’s writing is superb, creating a vivid and fully realized world that is both captivating and unsettling.
The characters are well-developed, each with their own quirks and motivations that keep the reader engaged. One of the strengths of Mostly Void, Partially Stars is its ability to weave together various genres and themes into a cohesive whole.
At its core, the book is a meditation on the nature of reality, and the ways in which our perceptions of the world around us can be distorted or manipulated. But it is also a mystery, a horror story, and a satire of small-town life.
Fink balances all of these elements deftly, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. That said, the novel is not without its flaws.
At times, the pacing can be sluggish, and some of the plot points feel a bit contrived. Additionally, the book’s surrealistic style may not be to everyone’s taste, and some readers may find it difficult to fully immerse themselves in the world of Night Vale.
Despite these minor quibbles, Mostly Void, Partially Stars is a truly unique reading experience that is well worth your time. Fans of Fink’s work on Welcome to Night Vale will find much to love here, but even those who are unfamiliar with his podcast will be drawn in by the book’s colorful characters and eerie atmosphere.
Overall, I would give Mostly Void, Partially Stars a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. While not perfect, it is a well-crafted and captivating novel that will leave a lasting impression on readers.
Whether you’re a sci-fi enthusiast or simply looking for something a bit off the beaten path, this book is definitely worth checking out.
