Colorado State University professor Dan Beachy-Quick explores the complex relationship between fathers and sons in his first novel (Coffee House Press, September 2013). The author introduces us to Daniel, a man abandoned by his lover and his father (his mother and sister are dead), who escapes his troubled existence by devouring fiction. When a mysterious young man with a link to Daniel’s past appears, the protagonist realizes he can’t avoid reality forever. This isn’t a simple beach read: Beachy-Quick’s background in poetry is evident in the book’s lyrical, stream-of-consciousness prose. The narrative’s unstructured chronology and occasionally overwhelming allusions to classic literature and fairy tales make it, at times, challenging to follow. Dedicated readers, though, will be rewarded with a rich tale that builds toward a surprising crescendo on the final pages.