Lamella

DEBUT Mel is an adjunct professor struggling with the consequences of mishandling a student’s alleged plagiarism. His life is further upended by the sudden appearance of a daughter he neither remembers having, nor is ready to accept, though the creature that is purportedly his daughter seems to blend seamlessly into the life Mel thought he was so sure about. The shifting and tumbling of what is or is not real in the story make for a compelling read and offer a thoroughly enjoyable conclusion. Halper’s debut is an absolute delight. Subtly yet deeply disturbing, the novella features an unreliable narrator and unreliable reality that send readers on a spinning, psychedelic ride. The cover art by Dolce Paganne (a.k.a. Ceren Aksunger) is stunning and perfectly fits the twisted reality of the novella.