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Hello Reader,

Shortly before my novel, The Astronomer was published, my editor said she would kill me if I revealed the ending (that is, whether Franz Herbert's journey into the cosmos was real or imagined).

It's been three years since publication so hopefully the death sentence has been lifted. In any event, that has been the most common question I've been asked by readers.

Thoughts about the ending seem to fall into five categories.

It's Ambiguous – The narrative doesn’t confirm whether events (Franz Herbert’s cosmic travels) are real or imagined, and the protagonist’s ultimate fate is left uncertain.

“I’m not certain if Franz is dead or alive at the end—it’s open to interpretation.” – Goodreads reviewer

It's Open-Ended – The story doesn’t wrap up in a conventional sense, leaving the outcome unresolved and inviting readers to draw their own conclusions.

“The ending makes you think about what really happened rather than giving closure.” – Reader comment to the author

“I loved how it made me think about the nature of reality long after I finished the book.” – Goodreads reviewer

It's Philosophical – Because the novel deals with consciousness, reality, and perception, the ending is conceptual, emphasizing ideas and themes over narrative resolution.

“It’s more about pondering the cosmos and the human mind than tying up the story.” – Literary review

It's Literal - Franz is literally flying around the cosmos in a spaceship, making scientific discoveries. This interpretation invariably leaves readers unsatisfied. I’ve been asked: Where did he get his spaceship? How can you walk around on planets without a space suit? Do you really expect me to believe he flies inside a black hole or hurtles through space on a beam of light? Readers who interpret the book this way end up hating it (the book).
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Who knows what it is! Franz Herbert is an Unreliable Narrator – The ending is cast in terms of the unreliable narrator trope, where ambiguity is intrinsic because the story is told from Franz’s subjective (i.e. unreliable) perspective, leaving truth uncertain.

“We never know which parts of his experience are real—his narration keeps us questioning.” – Literary review

My intention? To be honest, I wasn't thinking about any categories. I merely wanted to encourage philosophical contemplation and discussion, to satisfy thematically not narratively.

Which interpretation is most common? I’d say a combination of the first three categories: most people classify the ending as ambiguous and open-ended, with a philosophical or speculative bent. The uncertainty was intentional, as I said, stemming from the unreliable narration and the novel’s focus on inner experience rather than plot closure.

One of my greatest joys as a writer is seeing the different interpretations people have of my work. And, really, all are valid. My goal is to get people to think and reflect (and not to frustrate them too much in doing so).

Literal readers, don’t despair! My upcoming novel, Floating On Air, is heavily plot driven, though I can't help veering off into the philosophical realm at times. (I was a philosophy, major in college; so I guess it's in my blood.)
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This Month’s quote

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"It is just that we should be grateful, not only to those with whose views we may agree, but also to those who have expressed more superficial views; for these also contributed something, by developing before us the powers of thought."
​―Aristotle

384–322 BC. Ancient Greek philosopher and a student of Plato. Dante called him "the master of those who know." Known as the first scientist, Aristotle is considered one of the most influential people who ever lived. He has been called the father of logic, biology, the scientific method, rhetoric, psychology, criticism, individualism, meteorology, and, well--you name it!

That’s all for now

Thanks for reading and hit me up with questions/comments anytime (simply reply to this email). I’ll do my best to respond quickly. And feel free to forward this email to anyone who you think might enjoy my writing.

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Best,
​Brian​
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