Synopses & Reviews
A poignant and fantastical first novel by a timeless new literary voice.
With all the elements of a classic fable, vivid descriptions, and a wholly unique style, this idiosyncratic debut introduces a new and exciting voice to readers of such authors as George Saunders, Kurt Vonnegut, and Yann Martel.
In Light Boxes, the inhabitants of one closely-knit town are experiencing perpetual February. It turns out that a god-like spirit who lives in the sky, named February, is punishing the town for flying, and bans flight of all kind, including hot air balloons and even children's kites. It's February who makes the sun nothing but a faint memory, who blankets the ground with snow, who freezes the rivers and the lakes. As endless February continues, children go missing and more and more adults become nearly catatonic with depression. But others find the strength to fight back, waging war on February.
Review
"We expect a vibrant imagination in our authors, but charm is an underrated quality, and Jones has both in spades." Time Out Chicago
Review
"The premise here is strange, but simple. Jones does not attempt to blister the story with literary haymakers. He keeps his language clean and fresh. But he is able to pair techniques to render beautiful images . . . Marvelous." New Pages
Review
"Jones's startingly imaginative voice is like some winged thing — brave, victorious, and solitary. LIGHT BOXES is a beautiful, heartful work." Deb Olin Unferth, author of Vacation.
Review
In his debut novel Shane Jones achieves a glittering clearness that allies it to Brautigan’s In Watermelon Sugar. There is sense that curiosity and hope are the qualities we most require, that we must resort to in our peril. Balloonists, aloft!" Jesse Ball, author of The Way Through Doors
Synopsis
Novel about a war waged by a group of balloonists against the month of February.
About the Author
Shane Jones lives in upstate New York.