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These Nameless Things
These Nameless Things
These Nameless Things
Ebook335 pages5 hours

These Nameless Things

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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Before Dan opened his door to find a wounded woman who had escaped from the tormentors in the mountain, his life had become rather quiet. He and the eight other people in the mostly abandoned town had become friends. They spent peaceful evenings around the campfire and even made vague plans to journey east one day and leave the ominous mountain behind.

But the woman's arrival changes everything. 
Who is she? How does she know so much about Dan's brother, who is still held captive in the mountain? Why are long-forgotten memories rising to the surface? And why does Dan feel so compelled to keep her presence in his house a secret?

Visionary writer Shawn Smucker is back with an unsettling story that invites us to consider two challenging questions: To what lengths will we go to assuage our own guilt? and Is there a limit to the things we will do for the people we love?
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJun 30, 2020
ISBN9781493423132

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Rating: 3.6065573524590167 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

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  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program for free, in return for an honest review.First, I want to say two things. The first is that I think this book does itself and readers a disservice by holding back the author's inspiration from the blurb. I think it would be more likely to attract interested readers, and also be more engaging from the beginning, if that literary point of inspiration/connection were advertised. As it was, the early chapters feel more vague than satisfying--enough so that I paged to the back in search of some sort of author's note. This isn't something I normally do, but it seemed so certain that I was missing something, I didn't see what choice I had. Sure enough, I found an 'Author Note' that referenced a particular piece of classic literature as a reference. I won't mention it here since the blurb holds it back, and so I suppose it would have to be considered a spoiler, but considering how directly the author works from that point of reference, and that he says he hopes this book will be 'a mirror' to that one... well, again, I think it's a disservice to readers, to pretend that that isn't a crucial piece of information. I've read other books that used the same reference point beautifully, and I would have read this one, too--with even more excitement--if it had been advertised in that fashion.The second thing I want to say is that, so far as I can tell, I'm the exact target audience for this book. I love mysterious, speculative works. I'm always glad to see literary allusions and reference points. And I love genre fiction as much as I love literary fiction.So, on to the review. As you've probably guessed by now, just from that beginning, this book just didn't hit the right chord for me. There were some fantastic scenes where the writer's talent shown through, but so much of the first half (especially) was based more in atmosphere than story, it was incredibly hard to engage with the book. And I never got to a point where I felt any real momentum, or compulsion to keep reading. I think the central problem is that the author was working from such a direct reference point, but he was trying also to make this book its own book that could stand on its own. As a result, we ended up with a fairly drawn-out story that didn't have a particularly cohesive or clear plot--until you understood the reference, at least, and could get some better feel for what was happening. But, at that point, it just seemed belabored.I think this probably could have been a fantastic novella. Or maybe it even would have been a great novel, if the writer had embraced his reference point a bit more and made it clearer from the beginning, really leaning into it. As it is, though, I kept reading simply because I'd started reading, and it's hard for me to imagine recommending this book except in a situation where readers wanted a work feeding off of that literary reference I mentioned.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    3.5 starsA village of only 9 people (all the others have already left, with the rest likely to leave soon, as well) is in the shadow of a mountain. A mountain that holds bad memories for everyone, though none of them remember those memories. Nor do they remember any memories of before the mountain. Dan vaguely remembers, though, that he has a brother. A brother who’s still in the mountain. Dan won’t leave until his brother comes out. I did get a peek at a review ahead of time that indicated something about religion in this book. Lucky for me, it wasn’t super obvious or hit-you-over-the-head with it. I mostly enjoyed the story, but the end was a bit... I don’t want to say too much, but I could have done with a bit of a different ending. I would have preferred not quite such a happy ending, but I guess with it being somewhat religious in nature, that’s how it ended. It was just a bit too happy/sweet for me.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    If you want a book that has a lot of twists and turns scattered throughout its pages, then look no further. I found myself turning the pages as quickly as possible because it was that good. I did recognize a lot of similarities with that of Dante's writing, which made it all the better. I definitely related to a few of the characters, and each and every one of their stories had a bittersweet tone to it. All in all, I greatly enjoyed this book and I hope to read more from the author in the very near future.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Smucker’s written a Christian allegory based on a modern updating of Dante’s Inferno, though with a definite Anabaptist, rather than Catholic spin. It’s a pretty good story, though not up to some of the classic Christian allegories. With themes of love and forgiveness, it’s a rather hopeful story, one I appreciated, but I suspect not for everyone.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell, for providing a complimentary review copy through the Revell Reads Blogger Program. A positive review was not required or requested and all words are my own.

    I had heard good things about Shawn Smucker’s “The Light From Distant Stars”, but, I have not yet read it. This is the first book I’ve read from the author.

    The premise was interesting – Dan being held captive, his escape, leaving his brother, hoping his brother escapes, and the arrival of a mystery woman. I honestly wanted to see where this was coming from and where it was going. Yet, that’s what I spent most of the time reading the novel wondering about – what were the nameless things and where was this novel going to end up? Where were we going on how were we going to get there?

    Let me just state this – this is a very well written, descriptive novel given the topic being dealt with.

    Since it is a Revell title, immediately I knew it’d be a clean read and also thought there would be some Christian/Faith themes in it. It is more of a “magical realism” read though. For someone who has read a lot of Christian Fiction, this doesn’t seem to cover anything in that genre. There are no scriptures, church references, or even mentions of God.

    The cover is absolutely stunning, yet haunting and surreal. It makes the reader wonder what the correlation is to the title and premise.

    I didn’t seem to connect with any of the characters. They seemed like, outside of the situation they were in, they could be great people. But, they also seemed flat and empty. They were just “there” so to speak – people for Dan to converse with or to move the story along. Dan was obsessed with waiting for his brother to leave or be released. The story is told entirely from Dan’s POV in first person.

    The other people’s voices were the stories they told him or his interactions with them. They didn’t seem to have much of a background and noticeably there were no concerned and/or connected family members. No jobs, no real source of income. So, this should’ve been a hint to me as to what I was reading about.

    It was hard to connect with these people as I had virtually no clue what was going on. The author states this book has a “connection” to Dante’s Inferno, a book I’ve never read.

    By chapter six (6), I was beginning to have a lot of questions – what were these people doing on the mountain, what place did they escape from, what were they running from, what were they doing there, how did they even get to where they were coming from? Jobs? Family? Where are they?

    What was with the “leaving” ceremony?

    This was a grand ceremony as the people there weren’t made to stay forever. It was an “in between” space – from the mountain to the place “East”. It involves a bonfire with people burning their possessions, even books. And, I honestly couldn’t get into this.

    One woman, Mary, was able to leave.

    Admittedly, I wanted to just stop at this point. I honestly felt lost reading it. Still, I kept going. I didn’t know what to make of it. I really wanted to like this book and tried to see where the author was going. What was he trying to tell us?

    Most of the memories at the close of part one (1) seemed to revolve around Dan’s brother and a plane crash (Adam was the pilot) that occurred –

    Circe – lost a daughter
    Mrs. B – lost her husband
    Misha – first responder
    Miho – lost her mother
    Po – lost his wife

    We find these people have also been waiting for Dan’s brother (Adam) to leave the mountain. It was a freak storm that brought the memories. It was also a storm that seemed to have caused the events prior to the novel.

    In part two (2), Dan goes back to the mountain to rescue his brother. This is spurned on by a woman (Kathy) who arrives in the village – actually, there are two (Kathy and Lucia). There is also a fire in the village that causes everyone to want to leave immediately despite an unspoken agreement to stay there and wait. And, another question emerges – more actually.

    We then learn in part two (2) that there is no rescuing someone from “the mountain” – they can only leave of their own free will and by grace. They are held there by guilt. Yet another question pops up.

    It is in this part that Dan fully recalls the events surrounding the plane crash – the reason for the existence of the people in this story, the reason his brother is “missing”. Dan is also responsible for the crash as well.

    It is after this that the journey to bring Dan’s brother out really begins and the reader begins to have suspicions as to what is represented by the mountain, village, and the “moving East” part.

    However, what isn’t explained is the people prior to Circe, Mrs. B, Mar (the one who left), Misha, Miho, and Po. There were others there that escaped the mountain, stayed in the village, and left. Again, more questions.

    The ending is not something I can explain without giving it away. And, even right at the end, I didn’t know what I was supposed to be seeing or feeling. I didn’t know what was being accomplished.

    I couldn’t figure out was Abe’s part in this story. That is never really explained. There were no real references for me as to who he was, how he got there, why he was there, and why he was seemingly the leader. More questions.

    It had; for me; a dark, eerie, foreboding type of tone. It wasn’t a feel good read at all. I was still left with many questions. It is at times a slow-burn read and a rapid pace read.

    Very seldom does a Revell title leave me this confused or “down”. If I had known what the tone of this was and the message – I probably wouldn’t have requested it, or read it. I am glad I got to read it, but not sure I would re-read it.

    Fans of the genre and/or author might be interested in this book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was... fine. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it, either. I wish some things had been fleshed out more and there were some things that were kind of unnecessary to include.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    To be honest, I almost DNF'd this book because I felt like the story wasn't going anywhere, and the main character was getting on my nerves with how he reacted to whatever was happening. But I'm glad I kept on reading because by the end of the book, everything made sense. Without giving out too much details, this book was inspired by Dante's Inferno and it explores the concept of how we are all interconnected and that every decision we make, or action we take, creates a ripple effect.Thank you to LibraryThing and Revell Books for my copy.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    These Nameless Things by Shawn Smucker is a Christian speculative novel. Dan and a group of others live in an area at the base of the mountain. They have fled the mountain and are waiting for the right time for themselves to leave and move east. Dan is waiting for his brother to come before he leaves. Has an unexpected visitor from the mountain that he hides at his place. She tells him to go back to the mountain and get his brother. The people have had minimal memory and now their memory is coming back. The people each have a memory connected to Dan's brother.Speculative fiction is not my go to genre, but having read Shawn Smucker's past books I knew this story would leave me pondering it after finishing it. While the Christian aspect of this story is not plain to see, it is there. For me,it was easy to see evil and good in certain characters. This is not an quick story to read, I found my self stopping and thinking about parts as I read. The message of forgiveness and doing for others are very strong. I received an e-book copy of this story from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the most unique and unusual book that I have read in 2020, and perhaps in the past several years. It almost defies classification, and although I have a rather terrible memory, I know that this story is one that will remain with me, and one that I will be pondering for a long time to come. Since this is my first Shawn Smucker read, I don’t know if his other books are similar, but I intend to find out! “These Nameless Things” is a stunning amalgamation of allegory, dystopian, magical realism, and psychological horror. While reading, I found myself jotting down one quotation after another because the writing is so poetically profound. This is one of the few books that I plan to read again, likely more than once, and I anticipate discovering more details each time. As such, this novel would make an excellent choice for a book club or discussion group.Smucker has taken an age-old question and written a compelling narrative around it, addressing it from the future-set prologue: “Have you ever, for a flash of time, understood the significance of being? The miracle of existing?” Perhaps the best part of the story is looking back from the last page and realizing how the many subtleties click into place. “These Nameless Things” brings to mind the essence of several famous stories, including Plato’s Cave and Dante’s “Inferno.” It has a Twilight-Zone ambiance and an intentional timelessness to it. While it has vague references to Scripture and is a clean read, I find that the story is more thematically spiritual, with overarching Christian symbolism that is for the most part subtle. By this I mean that believers will easily recognize it, and those not of the faith will most likely enjoy the story for its own sake because there is no overt proselytizing. Along with the themes, some of the other aspects of this striking novel that appealed to me include the chapter titles and the anthropomorphism. I cannot remember the last adult fiction book I read that had chapter titles, and it was both refreshing and appreciated. It took me a while to understand what was happening in the novel, and for a while in the beginning I felt baffled, which is intentional on the author’s part and will make sense later on, and the titles helped to bring some comprehension amidst the surreal atmosphere. As an aside, the cover is beautifully done, depicting the haunting essence of the story, with the mountain looming in the background, an ominous juggernaut. “These Nameless Things” is ultimately a story about secrets, guilt, and forgiveness. Dan, the first-person narrator, relates that “The secrets piled up inside of me. They hibernated into cocoons, transforming into things that had lives of their own.” Later on, another character tells him that “In this place, our guilt consumes us…The only thing that can rescue anyone from this deep darkness is grace.” This is the redemptive message of “These Nameless Things”: hope in the power of confronting and confessing our guilt, and hope in the unmerited gift of grace.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a book that definitely made me think! In his author's note, Shawn Smucker talks about how Dante's Inferno influenced this story and even though I haven't read that classic, I am certainly intrigued with this book with its themes of grief, guilt, hope, and forgiveness. Dan is a person consumed by doubts and guilt and he blames himself for a tragedy that occurred because he allowed his brother Adam to fly a plane while he was under the influence of alcohol. After Dan and several others flee a mountain village that sounds a lot like purgatory, Dan feels even more guilt because he left his brother behind to endure the torture of that place. Even as he dreads the thought of returning, he can't forget that his brother is still there and he feels that he is the one who must save him.I had many questions left unanswered and I'm sure there will be many interpretations of this story. I recommend These Nameless Things to all who enjoy fantasy and allegorical fiction. I received a copy of this book through the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to post a positive review and the views expressed are my own opinion.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Yeah.. I get allegory but there is a limit. Also, based on the synopsis, what I got was not at all what I expected. To be honest, I was unable to finish this book. I did try skipping to the end in the hopes something there would make sense or tell me what was going on. Like god, it was a pipe dream. I like the cover, so there is that...
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "These Nameless Things" by Shawn Smucker is one part allegory, one part re-imagining of Dante's Inferno, several parts great storytelling, and all remaining parts pure inspiration.On the surface, this is the story of a man who escaped a terrible place and now waits for his brother to do the same. However, there is a lot more going on here than what is evident on the surface.The focus is on a few major characters, and all of them are drawn in vivid detail. Early on, I felt like I really knew Dan, Abe, and Miho. (That's truly a gift, by the way....when an author is able to make you feel connected to characters almost as soon as you meet them.) As I read on, and learned more about each one, that connection deepened. Each one is realistic, unique, and well worth learning more about.There are also mysterious elements in this book. As the reader learns more about the characters and their pasts, you'll try to solve the mystery of what (if any) connections they have along with them. You'll also try to figure out what the mysterious mountain actually is, and what happened there, as well as ponder the significance of leaving the village and heading east. I enjoyed trying to figure everything out along with Dan. Don't worry....everything you don't learn on your own will be explained in the end.There's a fair bit of action during one part of the book, but I won't discuss it to avoid spoilers. Suffice it to say that, in the end, you'll come away with a complete understanding of what actually happened to the characters. Hopefully you'll also come away with some new knowledge about yourself and your life.My recommendation: Read this book! Read it for the story of a man and his brother fighting to overcome the odds. Read it for what you'll learn from it, and walk away with. Most of all, read it because it's just a really good, well-written story!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is my second book of Shawn Smucker’s to read. I had trouble getting into the book. While the writer was wonderfully descriptive in not only visual terms but also the emotions of the characters I found the story very confusing. I would connect with parts this all of sudden be confused about what was going on. The characters didn’t seem to have much of a personal history other than an escape from somewhere on the other side of the mountain. I wanted to know more about them. It was difficult to follow a storyline. There kept being more questions, but no answers. I left me with a very unfinished feeling about the story. Also with this being from a Christian publisher I thought there would be a Christian theme running through it. There is no mention of scripture or God in the book. I loved the cover, it drew me in to read the book.I think a big part of the problem is that the dystopian genre is not for me. I received this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a hard book for me to categorize. I really enjoyed the story but was confused at times as to what was really going on in the lives of the people in this town. I loved the main characters but as the story progressed it was hard to know who they really were. Could what was happening be real or was this someone’s imagination. This really kept me wondering who and what these people were. This definitely kept my interest. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "There was a silence in his house that reminded me of the silence in my own house. A silence full of nameless things."I'm not sure how to describe what I just read. People have it shelved as fiction, mystery and thriller which I don't think quite fits. It's definitely fiction, but after that I have trouble defining it. Is it fantasy, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic? It's certainly suspenseful. It's a book you start reading and you're not sure what's going on, but what I loved is that I never felt confused - not once. I would say the author did a fantastic job of keeping me wondering. A very thoughtful and calm sense of wondering is how I would describe my experience throughout the entire book. And I think that same state of wondering is going to stay with me for a very long time. This was a really beautiful story. Many thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy and providing my honest opinion.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    From the beginning I could tell this was going to be a challenging read. It’s not because I didn’t like the book, rather that I couldn’t read it fast enough. The suspense starts right away and never lets up. Several people leave the mountain and discover what held them there , why they left and what affects it left on their lives. Just looking at the cover tells me there are secrets that once revealed will change many lives. I love the details the author gives as the story slowly progresses. The characters seem to come alive and I was mesmerized by them. What happened in those mountains seep out into a unforgettable tale of abuse, pain, secrets and an ending that delivers a punch to the mind. The authors reaches deep into the soul as the characters experience forgiveness, truth and a journey to discover their destination. I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Blogger Program. The review is my own opinion.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wow! What a deep book to be lost in, and I'll admit that it took me a bit to get into this read, but keep reading you will be glad you did.Be sure to read the author's note at the end of this read, and maybe before you start reading! It really helped me, and then the light bulb went on and I sped through this book.A book as a Christian really makes you think, and the consequences of sin, well, we don't like to think of our own sins, and a sin is a sin. While this is Dan's story, I did love Adam, and the deepness of this read, we are given the feeling that we left the mountain. There is also a lot of love, forgiveness, and beautiful friendship.This is a page turning read, and I found myself up late reading for answers. Kept going out to the next tree!I received this book through the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When I read the synopsis for These Nameless Things by Shawn Smucker, I knew it was a book I had to read. It ticked all the right boxes for me. Luckily, this book did not disappoint!The plot was very interesting. Dan lives in an idyllic small village. Everyone is happy and friendly until a beautiful woman arrives at Dan's door on the verge of death. Dan doesn't tell anyone about her as he nurses her back to health. However, strange things start happening. The crops don't grow right, and people are regaining painful memories they had long forgotten. When the mysterious woman convinces Dan to go back through the mountain, a place he had been tormented at and had escaped, to fetch his brother who is stuck there, Dan is torn. He misses his brother like crazy. All the while Dan is left wondering who this strange woman is who has a strong pull over him, and why does she want him to go back to the horrible place he came from to save his brother so badly.How amazing does that plot sound!?! The plot for These Nameless Things was solid, and it helps very much that Shawn Smucker is a very talented writer. Smucker has a way with words. The way he wrote and described everything really helped make it easy to envision everything that was unfolding second by second. He was able to put so much description into everything, but Smucker doesn't overdo it to the point where it becomes boring to read. He creates a very nice balance. I will say that the first third of the book is fairly slow pacing, but I kept reading because I did want to know more about Dan's brother and how the mysterious woman was connected to everything. For my perseverance, I was richly rewarded. The last two thirds of the book really took off! I found myself hooked on every single word, hungry for as much as I could get. I did not want to put this book down at all. I had to know what was going to happen to everyone. Yes, some of it was predictable, but it was a fantastic read nonetheless. While I would have liked to read some sort of epilogue or had more knowledge in what happened to everyone some time later, I think These Nameless Things ends well enough, and everything is explained leading up to the ending.I felt that every character in These Nameless Things was fleshed out very well. By the middle of the book (perhaps even sooner than that), I felt like I had become friends with everyone mentioned in the book. It was easy to picture each and every character as a real life person (mostly thanks to Shawn Smucker's excellent writing again). I did feel that although the character of Dan was written superbly, he came across as a bit selfish for the most part. I felt like he put people in so much danger by keeping secrets. I did love Miho and Lucia very much. Miho seemed to be the biggest voice of reason throughout the book. I just loved Lucia because she made me feel hopeful and happy. Abe was my favorite character though. I loved how optimistic he could become and how much he cared for everyone. He was the leader of the village, and I admired how seriously he took this title. It was obvious how much love he had for all of his village. I would love an Abe in my life. He had such a soothing presence.Trigger warnings for These Nameless Things include minor violence, death, a mention of rape, and alcoholism.Overall, These Nameless Things is a highly interesting read that makes you reflect on your own feelings and how you react to them. With Shawn Smucker's fantastic prose, this book makes it easy to get hooked. I would definitely recommend These Nameless Things by Shawn Smucker to those aged 17+ who are after well written novels with a touch of philosophy.--(A special thank you to the publisher for sending me a paperback of These Nameless Things by Shawn Smucker in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book came at a very inconvenient time in my life, but after following the author for multiple years and enjoying his work, I knew I wanted to read his books. And oh—what a pleasure to finally get to do so! Shawn Smucker has told a tale with many threads, but woven together so skillfully that I doubt you could come away with anything less than hope—even though the story itself sometimes seems to lack that very element.What I loved about this story the most was the characters. They shone here, in both their strengths and their imperfections. And though I feel like not a lot happened in the first part of the book, the characters and descriptions pulled me through, making me want to keep reading. Badly. Even when I really didn’t have time. I’m fairly certain I read the first third of this book in about one sitting—forgetting about everything else. Thankfully, dinner somehow still managed to get on the table in time that night!In many ways, this book was one after my own heart. It shows how much unforgiven hurts can lead us to be stuck where we are, and only through forgiveness can we find the way forward. There are many deep things touched on in this story, and if you enjoy reading fantasy with a depth of truth to it, I’d recommend you check this out. Some parts of the setting are weird, but in the end, it’s one that I think a lot of us can learn from. And that’s not counting the fact that the way this story was written is achingly beautiful and almost merits a discussion in its own right!Overall, I recommend this book. It isn’t necessarily a Christian story (although, if you’re like me, you will probably find a few allegories along the way), but it is a relatively clean read. I enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to trying out other books by this author.I requested a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    These Nameless Things is so different from what I usually read - which is one of the reasons I liked it. But mostly, I liked the unique premise! The narration is incredible and pulls you in immediately. I don't want to say too much. But there's a mountain. And people are under it. And the ones who come out are damaged, and they can't remember much of what happened to them. But Dan remembers something--he left his brother there...This is NOT what I was expecting. And I love a story that surprises me. I received a complimentary copy from Revell.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "We smell like exhaustion, like miles piled on top of miles, like time when it has already run out. Yet somehow we also sound like hope, like fresh water washing through the reeds."What an intriguing, thought-provoking novel by Shawn Smucker! His lyrical, poetic, mesmerizing writing style is captivating and the plot is quite unique. The author seamlessly integrates themes of guilt, unbearable pain, bonds of family, loyalty, hope, forgiveness, and redemption into a beautifully written, other-worldly kind of story. If you haven't read Dante's Inferno, I would suggest at least reading the synopsis of the classic work (like I did) before starting this book. The story is told in first person from Dan's perspective and he, along with several others, are at a village right outside of the mountain from which they had all escaped. Dan is waiting for his twin brother Adam. Most in the village have already left and headed east but the ones who have chosen to stay all have memories and past experiences that tie them together. The memories, including Dan's, are foggy and dream-like at first but they start rushing back to the people left in the village. The first few chapters can be a little confusing since the author is laying down the foundation of setting and characters but the story picks up pretty quickly once the cast of characters is introduced and relationships are explained. How each person's past and pain fit into the giant puzzle of the plot is surprising when discovered but also wonderfully redemptive when forgiveness is extended and accepted. It's an intensely emotional, unforgettable allegory and definitely worth reading. I received a copy of the book from Baker Publishing Group via Interviews & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.When I looked this book up, I saw that it was marked as a thriller. I don't think that's the right genre. To me, this was more literary fiction.There were suspense elements but if I bought this book expecting a thriller, I would have been disappointed.That being said, after I realized These Nameless Things wasn't really a thriller, I began to enjoy it more. What I enjoy the most about the book is the prose. Personally, I really liked Smucker's writing and found myself turning pages relatively quickly. As I read, I found myself wanting to react to the book so I started writing my thoughts in the margins. There were some things that were predictable and some things that were just plain weird and not always fully explained. I found myself okay with that. Not sure if it was the mood I was in but I was okay with not fully understanding everything. I will say that this book is not for everyone. I was fine with the message of the book and following the journeys of the characters. This kind of book is not something I would normally pick up but I found myself intrigued enough to keep going. I would recommend going into the book a bit blind and go on the journey of discovery with the main character.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I received this in the LibraryThings Early Reviewer program. The story sounded very interesting but it ended up just not being my kind of book. Having never read Dante's Inferno I was well behind the 8 ball. Having no knowledge of that story line I had no idea what was going on in this story. I would guess at things but just could not figure out where Mr. Smucker was going. I just kept getting frustrated when no one was getting anywhere. I became board and wanted to add this to my DNF list but I always finish books I receive from the early reviewers. If you like Dante's Inferno and want a book with Christian redemption overtones you might enjoy this book.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Shawn Smucker had a very interesting premise in doing a take on Dante’s Divine Comedy. He started off well, but somewhere in the middle the execution went awry. The beginning of the novel was captivating in the way he presents the world to you. You are excited to figure out what is going on, but then he moves into a section that seems to just redo the Inferno but with characters renamed. Like a Pride Prejudice and Zombies version of Dante. When we get then to the final section, I felt the finish was lacking depth. The Evangelical Christian publishing house, and Smucker specializing in Christian fiction may have stymied a more interesting ending. I felt that Smucker is a very good writer, but that this novel would have been better using Dante as a jumping off point instead of adhering to it and resolving the drama a little too patley. This felt a little too much like a Sunday school parable.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was torn between giving this 2.5 or 3 stars; I'll round up since I did admire the author's overall writing style. If a story that blends Dante's Inferno and a Sunday sermon revolving around forgiveness and redemption is up your alley then you might want to give this a shot. I thought it was an interesting story idea but for me it fell flat.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I don't mind stories that develop slowly but even for me, this was too slow to catch my interest. I read the first 100 pages or so (1/3 of the book) and in that time, we learn only a little and not much happens. I thought the premise was intriguing but I just couldn't work up the will to push through and find out what happened.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    With nods to Dante's Inferno and some Christian overtones, this was an interesting, quick read. I found a couple of the characters names too similar to keep them apart at first (Misha and Miho) and while the plot was purposefully vague in the beginning, it wasn't all that clear by the end. A fun diversion for an evening.

Book preview

These Nameless Things - Shawn Smucker

Books by Shawn Smucker

The Day the Angels Fell

The Edge of Over There

Light from Distant Stars

These Nameless Things

Once We Were Strangers

© 2020 by Shawn Smucker

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2020

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4934-2313-2

Scripture used in this book, whether quoted or paraphrased by the characters, is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

To Priscilla

Contents

Cover

Half Title Page

Books by Shawn Smucker

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Epigraph

Prologue

PART ONE

1. The Lie

2. Through Me, the Way

3. The Storm

4. The Woman

5. Remembering

6. More Secrets

7. Another Arrival

8. Someone Is Coming

9. Po’s Theory

10. You Never Told Me Your Name

11. A Real Shame

12. The Daughter

13. Po’s Story

14. When the Plane Fell from the Sky

15. The Fire

PART TWO

16. The House

17. The River

18. Into the Abyss

19. Voices

20. Dad

21. Crossing Over

22. Adam’s Rock

23. How Far We Have Fallen

24. Broken Things

25. Leaving

26. Up

27. Forgiveness

28. The Crossing

29. The Other Mountain

30. And We Begin Our Descent

Author Note

Another Captivating Story from Shawn Smucker

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Back Ads

Back Cover

"The undiscovered country, from whose bourn

No traveler returns, puzzles the will."

Shakespeare, Hamlet

Why do we let our guilt consume us so?

Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy

"Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent as a guide from beyond."

Rumi

Prologue

A Confession

WE MOVE IN a loose group, winding through the trees. We are more people than you can even imagine, yet there is hardly a word spoken. We smell like exhaustion, like miles piled on top of miles, like time when it has already run out. Yet somehow we also sound like hope, like fresh water washing through the reeds. We discreetly share food with each other, nearly all of us strangers, nodding politely, and in spite of our condition, we cannot keep the inexplicable hope from showing in our eyes.

This is our first day out from under the shadow of the mountain. Which sounds exactly like something he would have said in that deep, rich voice of his, if he was here with us. And he would have smiled—how happy he would have been, saying those words!

Then he would have laughed, and the thought of him laughing is too much for me right now. It brings up an ache that makes it hard to breathe. I shake my head and try to laugh it off, but my grin falters, and any kind of sound I might make lodges somewhere in my throat.

It’s my fault he’s not with us. There’s no way around it.

How could I let him go back on his own?

It’s more an accusation than a question, and now the aching wells up behind my eyes. I squeeze them shut. I stop walking and think about turning around. It’s the guilt that threatens to consume me.

The path goes up and up and up, and everyone is so tired, but the old fears are fresh enough to keep us walking, to keep us moving through this heavy weariness. I reluctantly rejoin the movement up the mountain. Nearly everyone stares at the ground in front of their feet. Maybe that’s all that matters right now. One step after the other. Moving farther up. Moving farther in, away from her. Hoping she won’t find us, won’t convince us to go back.

Up ahead and to the left, I notice that the trees clear along the edge of the cliff, and I find myself walking faster, faster, stumbling over my own feet, pushing between this person and that person, mumbling my apologies, my voice strange in the voiceless woods. I get to the clearing and it is what I hoped it would be: an overlook. A cold wind blows up from the valley, rushes through that open space, agitating the leaves behind me into the wild rustling sound of secrets. I climb a kind of stone platform, and the rock is gritty under my fingers. There’s no snow up here, but the rock is cold. Everything feels present and real.

Have you ever, for a flash of time, understood the significance of being? The miracle of existing? That’s what I feel now, climbing up onto the ledge: the particular roughness of the rocks under my knees, the chill of the wind on my face. The unique expression of my existence, here, as I stand.

I look out over that huge expanse of miles that all of us walked through, and I scan the valley. I hold one hand up, shield my eyes from the glare of those bright clouds, and hope to see nothing out there except empty plains.

At first I’m relieved and my shoulders relax because all I see is the undulating ground stretching to the west, as far as the horizon. The wind continues to whip up around me, and I draw my arms closer to my chest, duck my chin down, and try to find warmth in my body. It is there somewhere inside of me, that warmth, that fire. I can sense the rustling of all the people hiking, moving up the mountain behind me. I can feel them glancing at my back as they pass, taking in my silhouette on the overlook, probably wondering why I would stop, why I would look back. This makes me angry. I want to turn and answer them, answer all of their unasked questions.

I knew him.

I loved him.

Do you have any idea what our freedom cost?

But I keep looking out over the plains, and finally I see something like two ants wandering along a dusty pile. I sigh. All the way down there in the valley, where we began the climb up this mountain, through the trees, those two small specks walk away, walk west. Their progress is barely visible, but there is nothing to stop them, not as far as the eye can see. We will soon be separated by this great chasm. Everything has fallen into a stark, dazzling white, the light glaring off endless miles of glittering frost. I can smell snow, but none is falling.

He is going with her.

I hoped that he might be among the last of the crowd, that he could possibly be tagging along at the back, that he would come up and surprise me. We would hug and I would laugh out loud—my first real laugh in a long time—and he would explain how he got out of going back and that all the wrong I had done was magically undone.

But he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t reverse my mistakes, couldn’t easily untie my deceptions, and the only option was for someone to go back. He is doing it. I strain my eyes toward the horizon, but even from that height, I can’t see the mountain we came from, the one whose shadow we have finally escaped. I don’t think I’d want to see it, but I search that far-off horizon anyway.

Do you see him? she asks, walking up behind me. Not long ago, she would have wrapped her arms around my body, moved in close and held me. I would have felt her warmth against my back. But not now. Not after everything that has happened.

I close my eyes, imagining. I shiver and nod. I can’t believe he has to go back. Unspoken are the words, It’s my fault.

We stand there in those words, the wind whipping them around us, catching on them, sailing away with them. She doesn’t offer any kind of consolation.

It was here all along, she says, a lining of amazement in her voice. This mountain was here, waiting for us.

Are you . . . I begin, then start over. My voice is hoarse, and I clear it against the dry, cold air. Do you . . . remember?

Everything. It’s all coming back to me.

Even before?

Even before.

Me too, I whisper.

How is it that a mind can contain so many memories? Where does it all fit? Into what nooks and crannies do we place these recollections of love and sadness, horror and joy? Into what tiny space of our minds do we put a person we met long ago, or a disappointment, or a lie? And where do memories go when we forget, and how is it that they can come rushing back, unbidden?

I am embarrassed by what I did, the choices I made. There are things I would rather forget, but because I can think of nothing else to say, a confession emerges: I’m such a liar. You know that by now, right? How many things I said that weren’t true?

She is still as a fence post. It almost seems like she’s holding her breath.

You know, I would lie for the fun of it, I whisper, even when there was nothing in it. Just because. I don’t even know why. What’s wrong with a person who lies for no reason?

I don’t realize she is crying until I hear her try to stifle a sob, like a hiccup. She moves closer but we’re still not touching, and we remain there for a time, watching the two people down on the plain. We cry together. She sighs a trembling sigh, and when she speaks I can tell she is trying to lift our spirits.

The rumor coming back from the front is that the higher you go, the warmer it gets.

Then we should keep walking, I say, but I don’t move. A great silence falls on us as the last people pass by behind us. He is not among them. I knew he wouldn’t be, was positive of this after seeing the two far-off figures walking away, but I had still allowed myself to hope.

There they go. She steps away, as if she can’t stay too close or she’ll give in to old impulses like hugging me or pulling me close. He saved all of us, she says, and I can hear the tears in her voice. And now he’s going back.

I nod again, the tears flowing. I wipe them away hastily with the back of my hand. They’re embarrassing, those tears. They make me feel small.

Dan, she says. It’s time. He’ll find her, and he’ll follow us over.

I look over at her for the first time since she came up behind me. Will he? Will he find her? Will he find us?

She doesn’t answer.

Will he find me? I ask, my voice tiny and quivering.

Wordlessly, we climb down the rock and turn toward the top of this new mountain, this fresh start, this beginning. We can see the tail end of the procession of people moving up the trail. We will soon be back among them, or maybe we’ll stay back a bit, find our own pace.

I wonder, I say quietly.

Wonder? she asks, falling into step beside me. I want to take her hand again, but those days are long gone. Wonder what?

My response is a whisper. I can’t imagine she even hears me. Can he really cross from there to us? Or is he lost? Forever?

The breeze snatches my words and throws them out into the void, but she hears them. And she smiles. He’ll find us.

So childlike. So trusting. I want to question her. I want to raise my flag of doubt, but before I can, she says it again.

He’ll find us.

PART ONE

1 The Lie

MONTHS BEFORE I stood on that overlook and searched for any sight of him, on the opposite side of the endless plains and under the shadow of the western mountain, the three of us laughed together—Miho and Abe and me. Miho was nearly crying, she was laughing so hard, shaking her head and trying to stop but then starting right up again, her body bobbing up and down. She waved a weak hand at us: Stop it! Abe and I grinned at each other, huge, sappy grins. We didn’t know what to do in the face of such laughter. When she did that, when she leaned back and laughed like that, I could sit and watch her for days. I felt lighter in that moment than I had in a long time, released, like a balloon untied and rising.

Miho caught her breath and sighed, and I was filled with something close to pure joy. What were we laughing about? I don’t know. I can’t remember, because there was a pause, and Abe said those three words, and everything we were laughing about melted away. They stared at me to see how I would handle the news, Abe with his steady gaze trained on my face, and Miho, her eyes dancing nervously from me to the sky to the plains and back to me again. I realized that’s why they had come up to my house: to share this news, to see how I would take it, and to talk me off the ledge if needed.

Mary is leaving.

We ended up sitting against the back wall of my house. I went from joyful to exhausted. We looked out over the plains, absorbing the gentle breeze, not saying a word. There was the smell of fresh green grass and wet earth coming toward us from off in the distance, and rain on the way. The breeze was cool and weightless, but I felt the heaviness of nameless things.

The horizon seemed impossibly far off, the clouds low, and I experienced a kind of dizziness, a spinning, an inability to determine what was up and what was down, and then a low-grade panic. Air was suddenly in short supply, and I wondered if this was what it was like to hyperventilate. I rested my head against the wall and stared into the slits of blue sky peeking through. But that didn’t help, so I closed my eyes completely.

Are you sure, Abe? I asked, and even though my question was aimed at him, I hoped Miho would chime in and tell me it wasn’t true, it was all just a joke. I watched a small speck drift across the red horizon inside my eyelids.

Please, Miho, I thought. Tell me it’s not true.

She’d like to leave tonight, Abe admitted. The deep, quiet sound of his voice stayed with me even when he stopped talking. His voice was like the earth, solid beneath the long, soft grass. If Mary left, would everyone else leave too? Even Miho? Even Abe? The thought of living there in town alone made me sick. I couldn’t keep waiting, not by myself.

We haven’t lost anyone for years, I said. Why is she leaving now?

We’re not losing her, Dan, Miho said, the tiniest exasperation in her voice. Everyone will leave sooner or later. You know that. There’s nothing lost. Everyone will leave, eventually.

She paused, and I could tell she was trying to decide if she should keep talking.

Even you, she added.

I opened my eyes and looked at her, took in her short, black-rooted, dyed-blonde hair rustling in the wind. Her eyes softened when our gazes met, and she surrendered a small smile that showed only at the corners of her mouth and the slopes of her temples. It was an expression as far removed from the minutes-ago mirth as I could imagine, but it was full of compassion. She had a triangle tattoo below the corner of one eye, like a tear. Another, much larger swirling tattoo filled with lines and shapes and blocks made its way up her neck, touched her jaw below her ear, extended up along her temple, and edged her hairline like a kind of border.

I remembered when she had received those tattoos, and why—she had been so sad, trying to cover up the marks of what had happened to her in the mountain. We had all tried to cover up our scars, most of us through distraction or busyness or work or fun. Some of us used tattoos. Some of us, eventually, tried to escape the horror by simply leaving, walking east. I had held her hand while Lou filled in the dark lines. How tightly she had squeezed my fingers, until the tattoo was hurting both of us. Lou had left town soon after that, headed east over the plains. No more tattoos, not after he was gone.

That was long ago.

It’s only Mary St. Clair, she said quietly. It’s only Mary. As if to say, It’s not me. I’m not leaving you.

Abe gave her a sideways glance, a kind of reproach, but he didn’t say a word.

Maybe today it’s only Mary, but who will it be tomorrow? There are only nine of us left in town. Eight after Mary goes. What will I do when everyone is gone?

But I didn’t have to say anything. They knew what I was thinking. They knew my concerns.

Maybe we should leave with her? Miho suggested, her voice timid as the breeze, her long, slender fingers finding mine in the depths of the cool grass. Maybe now is the time?

You can go anytime you want, I said, and the words escaped without emotion. She didn’t remove her hand from mine, but I felt her stiffen. Why was I always pushing her away?

Dan, Abe said, and he could have gone a thousand different ways.

That wasn’t a nice thing to say.

You will have to go sometime too.

Your brother is never coming over that mountain.

But he said none of those things. He was the kindest man I knew, the kindest I had ever known.

Dan, he started again, I am not leaving without you. Do you hear me? Miho is not leaving without you. You know that. We’ll wait. We’re in no hurry. Mary’s leaving doesn’t change any of that.

I did know it, but in the way you can know something with your head and not your heart, the way you can know a calculation is correct but still feel you’ve not done the work quite right. I was always second-guessing myself, always wondering why.

The breeze shifted direction, now blowing out into the plains, away from us, and it was suddenly cooler. There was an ominous feeling in the dropping temperature, the shifting of the wind. I might have suspected there was more change on the way than simply Mary’s leaving.

I should have seen it coming.

The wind was trying to tell me.

The air charged around the house in gusting swirls. The long grass panicked, spinning, and out on the plains it billowed and rolled like waves in the sea, flashing white when it bent over and dark green when it stood up again. The movement was hypnotic.

I wanted to say something to ease the tension, something like, I’m sorry or I know or Of course, you’re right. I didn’t want to spoil Mary’s upcoming departure, and I didn’t want her leaving to change anything about us or the village. It had been a long time since anyone left—I had begun to believe no one else would go, that the nine of us would spend eternity here, together.

I gently pulled my hand out from under Miho’s and stood up. I stared out at the plains again, and the breeze burst around the house, this time colder and carrying drizzle. I pushed my hand back through my wet hair and it stood on end. I imagined I was a wild man setting out. The wind ripped at my shirt.

What if he never comes over the mountain, Abe? My voice felt empty, and the two of them felt far away. What if I wait and wait, and he never comes?

It was a hard question, one I ignored most days. But not on that day, and the question tied the knot inside of me tighter and tighter until my breath was hard to find.

Did I ever tell you the one memory I still have of him, from when we were boys? I asked. I had, many times. But they didn’t stop me. Adam and I were standing beside the creek bank, looking out over the water. The creek was swollen and fast after days of spring rain. He started climbing one of the trees—you know, the kind with branches that hung out over the water? And I pleaded with him to come down. But he didn’t listen. I don’t think he ever listened to me.

I stopped, and I sensed it approaching again, the anxiety.

He kept climbing out over the water, grinning back at me the whole time, laughing at my concern. I have a feeling he did that often. And then the branch he was on broke, and he disappeared down into the water, branch and all, and was swept away. My voice trailed off. I ran along the creek, screaming, ‘Adam! Adam!’ I tripped over rocks, branches scratching my face. He popped up to the surface, still holding on to the broken branch. When I saw him, I shouted his name even louder, and when he heard me, he looked over at me. And he grinned. He was being swept away, and he was still grinning.

I shook my head in amazement. I remember pulling him to shore, pulling the branch and him and everything else. I never knew I could be that strong. I pulled him up out of the water and we sat there together, soaking wet. He was breathing hard, and I was crying and angry and relieved. I didn’t know what to say to him. He scared me so bad. I think he did that a lot too. I don’t know. It’s hard to tell, but that’s how it feels.

But it was all a lie.

I didn’t have any memories of my brother apart from knowing he existed. None of us in town remembered anything of consequence about our lives before the horror of the mountain. I mean, we each had a few minor facts to lean on, maybe the existence of a family member or two, the image of a place, but the stories of our lives had been erased from our minds by what had happened to us in that forsaken range.

Abe had tears in his eyes. The three of us, we’ve been here for a long time. His old voice wavered. Miho made a sound of assent, a quiet sound, and Abe continued. I was here long before either of you escaped to this place. I’ve seen a lot of people come over that mountain, and I’ve seen a lot of people leave us, head east over the plains. This village will be here as long as you need it to be. He grunted, as if completely convinced by what he had just said.

What if no one’s left in the mountain? I asked, agitated and shaken. What if Adam already came over and I missed him? Or what if he’s still in there but he can’t leave on his own? What if they won’t let him leave?

They. I shuddered at the thought of the ones who had kept us there, flinched involuntarily as if I could feel it all again.

Miho reached up and moved her finger in a line along the tattoo on her forehead. We’re not leaving without you, she insisted. Not even if it’s only the three of us left here. Abe and I, we’ll wait with you.

I turned a short circle, not knowing where to walk. We were all getting good and wet now in the rain. I felt like I was losing my mind. Maybe sleep would help.

Are you sure Mary’s going to go through with it? I asked. It’s a long walk. Maybe she’ll change her mind.

Abe nodded. She’s leaving tonight.

In the rain? I asked.

I expect if the storm comes, she’ll wait until tomorrow. Don’t blame her, Dan. It’s her time. When it’s time, it’s time.

I bit my lip, nodded. A round of thunder rolled down toward us from the mountain. And if it’s still raining tomorrow evening? I asked, feeling petulant and angry. I wanted to argue with someone. I wanted to irritate everyone close to me. I knew it wasn’t Abe’s fault, but I had to take my disappointment out on someone.

"She’s

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