Quarter Finalist

Assessment:

Steeped in mysticism and metaphysics, Curtis Mitchell's American Siddhi evokes storytellers like Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft at their most high-concept. Through a series of transcribed interviews, a sometimes-sailor named Quinn recounts the supernatural psychic phenomena he is attuned to and his struggles against a secret society out to transform the world. Fueled by visions, Quinn strives to quash a prophecy and preserve mankind's freedom. Briskly-paced and thoroughly researched, Mitchell succeeds where many of his contemporaries fall short: he has crafted a taut supernatural thriller based in real mysticism and philosophy that never feels preachy or gives way to the unnecessary sermons of an autodidact.

Date Submitted: August 08, 2016