An astonishing and immersive new novel, Pod by Laline Paull takes the reader into the depths of the ocean—and into the world of its fascinating inhabitants—through the eyes of the beautiful Ea, a spinner dolphin
Laline Paull returns with an immersive and transformative new novel of an ocean world—its extraordinary creatures, mysteries, and mythologies—that is increasingly haunted by the cruelty and ignorance of the human race.
Ea has always felt like an outsider. As a spinner dolphin who has recently come of age, she’s now expected to join in the elaborate rituals that unite her pod. But Ea suffers from a type of deafness that prevents her from mastering the art of spinning. When catastrophe befalls her family and Ea knows she is partly to blame, she decides to make the ultimate sacrifice and leave the pod.
As Ea ventures into the vast, she discovers dangers everywhere, from lurking predators to strange objects floating in the water. Not to mention the ocean itself seems to be changing; creatures are mutating, demonic noises pierce the depths, and whole species of fish disappear into the sky above. Just as she is coming to terms with her solitude, a chance encounter with a group of arrogant bottlenoses will irrevocably alter the course of her life.
In her terrifying, propulsive novel, Laline Paull explores the true meaning of family, belonging, and sacrifice—the harmony and tragedy of the pod—within an ocean that is no longer the sanctuary it once was, and which reflects a world all too recognizable to our own.
“A terrifying novel.” —Cosmopolitan on Pod
“Pacy, provocative tale of survival in a fast-changing marine landscape.” —The Daily Mail
“Laline Paul succeeds splendidly in rising to the most important literary challenge of our time— restoring voice and agency to other-than-human beings.” —Amitav Ghosh, author of Sea of Poppies
“Thought-provoking. The dramas of the ocean are played out in a perfectly compiled plot and, as you’d expect, the beauty of the underwater is vividly and sensitively written. It’s another conversation starter.” —The Belefast Telegraph
About the author:
London-born and of Indian heritage, Laline Paull studied English at Oxford, screenwriting in Los Angeles, and theater in her home city. Her most recent novel is The Bees, which was a resounding critical and commercial success in the United States and Britain. She lives in the English countryside with her family.
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media