“The creator of the universe is dead, the world is his tomb, and you can even view his corpse. . . .”
In Lost Kings we pick up the thread of John Pulkis, last seen at age sixteen in The Thought Dial. Now he’s twenty and facing a conflict that is not romantic but vocational and spiritual. Without exactly being able to articulate it, he’s in search of meaning.
His adult life stretches before him; how should he spend it? Is there an organizing principle around which he can order it? What might he be willing to devote his life to? These questions roil under the surface when John arrives at a crucial decision point with his friend and traveling companion Stephen. And John is alarmed to discover that even though he is young and free in Europe, with a van of his own, he is only a hair’s breadth from despair.
Set in 1979, Lost Kings recalls a time when the world was a bigger place. There was no Internet; there were no mobile phones; and international calls, though available, were expensive. You lived for the letters that you hoped were waiting for you at the next major post office. Traveling abroad, you really were far from home and faced an unfamiliar world on your own. It’s difficult to experience that kind of solitude today, but you can taste it when you join John and Stephen on their European adventure.
When I first drafted the story in 1993, I had an idea that I would write a series of short stories featuring John Pulkis—rather as Ernest Hemingway wrote his Nick Adams stories (although I hadn’t yet heard of Nick Adams). But other things got in the way and only two stories, The Thought Dial and Lost Kings, have seen the light of day. As with The Thought Dial, Lost Kings is based on actual events, altered, augmented, and recombined to create a new story. I’m hoping that it conveys some of the power and urgency of that time and place.
So climb aboard the boys’ VW Westfalia, settle yourself on the bench seat behind them, and get ready for myth, magic, and the wintry beauty of the Italian countryside, where John Pulkis is about to face the next turning point in his life.
Readers’ Thoughts on Lost Kings:
“I urge you to discover this A-List piece of literature for yourself and enjoy its many layers.” Ken Korczak
“Two friends, John Pulkis and his friend Stephen are traveling in a Volkswagen and will soon know if they can make it around the world. The two are running low on money and have life decisions staring at them. Great short story with some Zen.” Robin Atkins
“Fundamental life concepts are questioned during an adventure to travel the world, leaving the answers to the reader’s imagination. A short story, a long-lasting idea.” Manal Jamaleddine
“One word – amazing! It is a short, enticing, engaging read that might also lead you to think about life and the world.” Shefali
Buy Lost Kings Now
6 Other Ways to Read Lost Kings
From Amazon
On your Kobo
With iTunes, on your iPhone or Apple device
On NOOK from Barnes & Noble
From Smashwords, for all non-Kindle e-readers
From Scribd, along with hundreds of other books, magazines and audiobooks
Sign up for my mailings to get discounts, private updates, and early access to my publications—plus a free copy of my 1980 short story, The Hermit, my first serious literary work.
