A Voyage to Arcturus

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The novel features minimal science fiction, using an interstellar voyage merely as a backdrop for the narrative. Set on Tormance, an imaginary planet orbiting Arcturus, the story reflects a time when the concept of distant lands became less fantastical, akin to the worlds in Jonathan Swift's and Thomas More's works. Tormance serves as a canvas for philosophical exploration, with the protagonist, Maskull, embarking on a quest for meaning. He is drawn to Tormance by Krag, a friend of Nightspore, and they depart from a deserted Scottish observatory. However, Maskull soon finds himself alone in Tormance, where he encounters a few individuals, often leading to their demise. As he navigates through various lands, he learns of his own impending death and ultimately discovers that he is Nightspore. The narrative culminates in a revelation from Krag, known on Earth as "Pain," regarding the cosmos's origin. The characters and landscapes serve as archetypes to critique various philosophical systems, with the sparse population of Tormance underscoring the author's points. The author advocates a variation of the Demiurge doctrine, echoing certain gnostic beliefs.