Human

Human is the story of an inner struggle for understanding and illumination told by the poor sod whose tortured personality it explores. It follows the madcap progress of an unlikely inner-space potholer who eventually discovers truth isn't all it's cracked up to be where the mysteries of existence are concerned and ultimately moves out beyond all that (with a little help from his dead mother, a rock legend, a trippy professor, and an infamous scraggy cartoon character). Allegedly a journey into the would-be mystical heart of the human soul - and the only sure path to spiritual awakening you're likely to encounter this side of the great nothingness - Human purportedly charts the trail you need to follow if you genuinely want to find yourself without really trying. Yes – and draws you into the beginnings of the Fictish struggle for world domination; that too. Fictional, if you want to see it that way – but, then, what isn't?

Human is the story of an inner struggle for understanding and illumination told by the poor sod whose tortured personality it explores. It follows the madcap progress of an unlikely inner-space potholer who eventually discovers truth isn't all it's cracked up to be where the mysteries of existence are concerned and ultimately moves out beyond all that (with a little help from his dead mother, a rock legend, a trippy professor, and an infamous scraggy cartoon character). Allegedly a journey into the would-be mystical heart of the human soul - and the only sure path to spiritual awakening you're likely to encounter this side of the great nothingness - Human purportedly charts the trail you need to follow if you genuinely want to find yourself without really trying. Yes – and draws you into the beginnings of the Fictish struggle for world domination; that too. Fictional, if you want to see it that way – but, then, what isn't? Try the cover story if you still need convincing: So... A book called 'Human'; 'Fict or Fuct!' scribble on the cover. For crazycuts only, by the look (no quarter asked or given). Chap scrabbles out from an everyday life, searching for himself and his dead mother, wondering why he often feels he isn't who he says he is; that he isn't real. Struggles with the logic of existence for a bit; makes mind-expanding discoveries along the way about fact, fiction, and the arcane art of the soulcatcher; finally ends up somewhere unexpected, conspiring to recruit a genius like you to help save humanity from itself (through transcendence – whatever that is). Want to give it a whirl, too, don't you, doozy-drawers; change the world an' all? Course you do! Brilliant mind like yours? Who else, if not you, right? So what you waiting for, munchkin? Applause? More chance of catching the clap around here, oh worthy one... Open it, go on, why don't you. See if you don't end up somewhere interesting...

Den Holson was born in Dundee and currently lives in Glasgow with his wife and long time friend, who he met at university in Edinburgh. They have two grown up children. Once a milk boy, a sort of tailor, a library systems officer, and a digital research manager, he now spends his time messing about with words, having recently produced an album of self-penned songs called Take Me As You Find Me, a book of 'short poems and other word games' called Disarmament Talks, and now this little number, Human. Like the rest of us, Den is largely a figment of his own imagination, but that's okay 'cos he has a website now: http://www.denholson.com/.