The Flying None

Goodfellow delivers a highly entertaining weird fiction tale situated at the intersection of punk rock and religious philosophy. Californian Gala Murowski, who finds direction for her life by calling random people in Ireland and asking for advice, is thinking of becoming a nun. “Genetically hardwired as a spiritual seeker” and at eternal odds with her mother, who’s fixated on angels, Gala heads to Saint Candy’s convent, an unconventional nunnery whose inhabitants don’t take their holy vows particularly seriously. There, Gala experiences a series of surreal out-of-body-experiences that send her soul flying to various places—a yacht, the papal quarters—to confront hypocrites engaged in deviance. But when a group of religious fanatics become aware of her ability, they intend to use her in a strange ritual—after which the cosmic and surreal aspects of the novella only intensify. This slim, punchy volume can be read in one go, but readers will find it worth multiple readings to unpack the sheer volume of its theological insight. Unruly, funny, and wildly original, this rebel’s take on the quirks, pitfalls, and ironies of religious devotion sings. [em](June) [/em]