"Dead Zero" by Max Fry, summary Automatic translate

Published in 2018, this novel depicts the daily life of Echo, where ancient dream monsters suddenly become a threat. The plot revolves around the visit of a foreign delegation and personnel changes in the capital’s police force. The book is part of the fantasy detective series "Echo’s Dreams." It is the fifth in the series, continuing Sir Max’s story after the events of "I’m Going to Search." It is followed by the novella "Dead Man’s Chest."

Disturbing news and intrigue

Sir Max’s ordinary evening is interrupted by a visit from the drunken architect Maldo Yoz. King Gurig VIII has commissioned the architect to build a palace for the Shinshi Caliph of Murana, Kutai An-Aruma, and his vast retinue. Deadlines are tight, and ideas are lacking. Max suggests making the building’s ground floors invisible. The concept creates the illusion of a floating structure. Maldo enthusiastically accepts the suggestion.

Soon, Deputy Chief of Police Tricky Lai brings devastating news. General Bubuta Boh has shaved his beard and secretly fled to Tasher to be with his new lover, Atana Turi. Tricky deliberately got drunk, which allowed him to blurt out the secret to Max and Juffin Halli, without breaking his promise to the general to remain silent. Meanwhile, Lady Kenleh, Melifaro’s wife, leaves her husband. She seeks refuge at the Shaggy House. She senses her husband’s love fading.

Lady Kayrena Umata is appointed general. She comes from a Drach family and has a very weak command of Obvious magic. However, Kayrena is an excellent cake baker, using her great-grandmother’s recipes. She treats the Secret Investigation detectives to a treat to improve relations. Kayrena discovers an old law and attempts to shift the investigation of magical crimes to the Secret Investigation. Juffin thwarts her plan, introducing new amendments to the rules.

Max accidentally offends Kyrena with his tactlessness. Trying to apologize, he invites the lady over. The visit goes poorly. Max’s house is noisy, and the lady feels uncomfortable. After she leaves, the detective discovers traces of an ancient love spell. The bitter truth is revealed. Kyrena bewitched the general to her friend in order to take his position. Melifaro also became an accidental victim of this drachkh magic. Max kidnaps Kyrena, shrinking her to a tiny size. He forces the lady to remove the spells on Bubuta and Melifaro. The couple reconcile. Max forces Kyrena to teach him the love spell. Then he releases the lady. Juffin leaves Kyrena in her position, entrusting Tricky Lai with the de facto leadership of the department.

The Shinshi Delegation and the Sky Monster

Sir Kofa Yoh brings bad news. Two hundred and thirty-seven Shinshi princesses from the Caliph’s personal retinue will arrive in the capital. The girls possess a special pacifying field. However, they are known for their nasty temperaments, enjoying robbing shops and starting brawls. The Shinshi are arriving in Echo. The guests are setting up uladas in the streets. Uladas are huge, springy palanquins that function like trampolines. The townspeople happily jump on them.

During the royal reception, Sir Shurf Lonley-Lockley is not bored. He meets the Caliph’s senior personal master of insults. The master methodically writes down ornate Shinshi curses in a notebook.

At night, Max notices a strange cloud in the sky. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, he sees a gigantic feathered serpent, woven from absolute darkness. Max frightens the creature with a sharp shout. Princess Taputa Kut-Kayata falls onto the roof. The girl sobs. The beautiful dragon she fell in love with a moment ago has vanished into thin air. Juffin arrives and explains the situation. The feathered serpent turns out to be a Devourer, an ancient creature from the void. Devourers feed on the consciousness of dreamers, luring their victims with the illusion of love. Taputa is the Daughter of the Red Desert, a creature made of the fabric of dreams. The monster mistook the princess for a dreamer.

Unexpected attachment and the search for a solution

To protect the girl from a second attack, Juffin forces her to swallow a drop of Max’s blood. The protection is too powerful, and the girl gains Max’s magical abilities. However, she is physically unable to survive without her savior. The princess is forced to constantly hold on to his clothes or hand.

Max becomes the guardian of the mischievous princess. He teaches her magic. Taputa quickly masters walking the Dark Path and sitting on the ceiling. The girl meets Max’s friends, cats, the talking dog Dreamarondo, and the immortal Illaiuni. Illaiuni tells of a check of the area around the Dream World. The immortal found no Devourers. The monsters have left the area.

Shurf searches for a way to destroy the creatures. He crosses the Bridge of Time to the Ancient Masters. The legendary sorcerers admit ignorance of the method to combat the void. In the distant past, Master Ergi the Hermit swallowed two monsters. The others entered into a non-aggression pact against the inhabitants of the World. This prohibition does not apply to outsiders. Max falls asleep. In a dream, he meets Lady Melamori. Enormous Arvarokh stormcreepers invade their dreamscape. The birds call the Devourers "Empty Ones." They forbid Max from mentioning the monsters. The stormcreepers warn: "Evil loves to be paid attention to." The creatures are composed of nothingness. Conversations about them attract a gray melancholy. Max promises to remain silent.

Hunting for the Void

Max decides to eliminate the threat himself. He journeys to the Dark Side. Standing by a glowing tree, the detective makes a request. He wishes to become a man capable of defeating the Death Eaters. Taputa follows him into the underbelly of the World. The Princess steels herself and retreats ten meters so as not to interfere with her conversation with the World. Max realizes the success of his spell. Returning home, he uses the love spell he learned from Lady Cairena. Max weaves a cocoon of imaginary red and silver threads. The spell is aimed at a Death Eater.

In a dream, the detective finds himself in an old movie theater with Shurf. The summoned monster appears on the screen. The Devourer envelops Max in a gentle darkness. Max commands the amorous creature to devour all its kind in the universe and then appear in reality. The following night, the monster appears over the roof of the Shaggy House. A vast darkness obscures the sky.

Shurf raises his hand in the Death Gauntlet. The weapon doesn’t work in the presence of embodied nothingness. Max grabs Shurf by the elbow and offers his own power to the artifact. The gauntlet activates. The monster crumbles into silvery ash. Lady Sotofa Hanemer appears on the roof. She treats the victors to wine. The threat to the dreamers is forever eliminated. The Devourers are no longer in the universe.

Max returns to the Dark Side. He asks to free Taputa from her magical bond. The girl returns to the Caliph, retaining her new magical abilities. The princess continues to visit Max through the Dark Path. Life in Echo returns to its normal course. Max falls asleep and is finally reunited with Melamori in a dream.