"The Book Catchers" by Max Fry, summary Automatic translate

This book is a philosophical urban fantasy, written in 2023. Svetlana Martynchik, writing under the pseudonym Max Fry, brings together the fictional magical city of Lane and the real-life autumnal city of Vilnius within the novel’s pages. The author’s voice regularly intervenes in the narrative, openly commenting on the character creation process and the laws of the world.

Two worlds and the power of words

The narrative is divided between several dimensions. The main setting is Lane, the capital of the Society of Ninety Illusions. This world was formed from human dreams. The air here is salty and sweet, and the sky above the city center is completely mirrored. The locals, called adrale, possess a powerful gift: every word they speak instantly materializes.

This is why the Adraele are physically incapable of writing fiction. Attempting to compose a fairy tale would create real, fictional characters and irreversibly alter history. To gain access to fiction, a special caste of people is trained at Lane Humanities University. Their profession is called "Book Catchers."

For decades, students memorize complex alien languages. After graduation, the Hunters travel to other dimensions. They designate our world with the TX-19 encoding. The discovered manuscripts are translated with strict adherence to the rules. Each story begins with the protective phrase: "In this book it is written that…" Reading such stories halts the aging process of the Adraele and grants them vivid dreams.

Meeting in Fano

Ana Dilani, the head of the translation department at the publishing house Seњ∆э, decides to terminate the contract. She complains to the director of Teko Mashshi about the declining quality of the texts from TX-19. She senses bitterness and hidden poison in the new works. She leaves her cat, Tucha, in the director’s care. To sort out the situation, Ana Dilani takes a vacation and travels to the Italian city of Fano.

On a deserted pebble beach, she meets up with her old friends. Experienced Hunter Shala Khan and young specialist Ta Ola are enjoying their time together. In human reality, they use the names Samuel and Tim, while the girl calls herself Nadya. Samuel asks Tim to find a text imbued with an incomprehensible meaning. Tim confesses to knowing such a secret place. He persuades his friends to accompany him to Lithuania.

Secret Fortress

An unusual establishment operates in Vilnius. A woman named Dana opened a bar called "Fortress" in the basement of a former art studio. The establishment operates without a license and attracts only those who are truly welcome. Casual passersby avoid the basement. A mystical barrier conceals the sign from outsiders.

A young man named Artur works alongside Dana. His body is inhabited by the reincarnated soul of the deceased artist Petras, Dana’s former friend. A unique community forms around the bar. Among Dana’s visitors are the elderly philosophy teacher Arunas, the taciturn Poet, and the German photographer Otto Strich, nicknamed "Corpse." Dana’s pets — Artemiy the marten and Rausfomstrand the cat — are full members of this strange group.

Jurate Groups

Jūratė occupies a special place in Vilnius life. Outwardly, she resembles a stern boss in a white tracksuit. Jūratė works as a kind of coach. She gathers groups of people on the streets and in parks, helping them overcome their basic fear of nothingness.

During her classes, Jūratė makes the townspeople take off their shoes and stand barefoot on the cold ground. She teaches them proper breathing through their feet and palms. Jūratė’s students walk down the street with their eyes closed, learning to trust their surroundings. Gradually, they regain their calm. Jūratė’s presence at the bar guarantees luck and spontaneous miracles.

Memories in Grasse-Can

The plot temporarily shifts to the city of Gras-Can on the Third Continent of Sri. This settlement is constantly shifting in space. The Hunter Ann Hari, known as Misha, arrives here. He locks himself in his father’s empty house and descends into drunkenness.

Adrale Shii Koray Aranakh arrives to help his friend. He charters a plane and causes an airstrip to materialize right next to the city. Ann Hari shares a terrible secret with his friend: In a drunken state, he remembered his past life.

Many years ago, Ann Hari lived in the reality of TX-19. He was an embittered, failed artist. He committed suicide, sacrificing his life to create Gras-Can with the power of his dream. Shii Koray Aranach consoles his friend, explaining that the city turned out beautifully, and Ann Hari himself has earned the right to be reborn in the world he created.

Rebirth in Lane

While Delani Ana is traveling, tragedy strikes in Lein. Hunter Tam Kin dies during an expedition into the warring reality of Shigestori. The guards on duty at the Grand Publishing Council are the first to notice their comrade’s death. Teko Mashshi personally goes to the deceased’s widow, Sarelika Ta Mitori, to deliver the sad news.

Upon arrival, something surprising was revealed. There, Keane refused to fade into oblivion. By sheer force of will, he was immediately reborn in Lane as his wife’s newborn daughter. The infant retains the stern mannerisms of the Hunter and screams menacingly when her mother reads poorly translated texts aloud to her.

An unrealized probability

Tim brings Samuel and Nadya to his Vilnius apartment. Soon, the Hunters arrive at the Fortress bar and meet Dana, Artur, and Jūratė. The guests are instantly captivated by the atmosphere.

The next day, Jūratė invites the Catchers on a tour. She leads the guests through a dark basement, which then leads them out onto a warm autumn day. Jūratė takes them to an empty pizzeria. While the friends eat hot pizza, Jūratė tells them about the nature of Vilnius.

The city stands on the edge of possibility. In the past, reality rejected positive change, attempting to destroy the best possible outcome. Jūratė turned out to be the guardian spirit of this unfulfilled, beautiful world. Together with ancient trees and hundreds of stubborn people, she holds the remnants of this reality from disappearing.

Salvation through texts

Jurate collects fragments of a rejected bright future. These nuggets manifest themselves in the form of brilliant unpublished paintings and books. Jurate gives Nadya, Samuil, and Tim a selection of these manuscripts.

The hunters must translate these texts into their own languages and publish them in Leine. The attention of readers from another dimension will energize the unfulfilled reality. This will give Vilnius a chance for a full existence.

Samuel is deeply grateful. On Christmas Eve, he comes to the Fortress with gifts in return. The guest distributes treats from Lane to Dana, Arthur, Naira, and Trup. Those present draw a humorous retablo of thanksgiving.

Later, Jūratė lights a cigar given to her by Samuel from the otherworld of Tönsi. Green, fragrant smoke envelops the trees and streets. Samuel promises to return to continue his work of saving this fragile world.