CIRCUMSTANCES

A novel focuses on a fantastical global search.

Sackitey presents a 22-year-old man known as Gold Coast Boy. To say that GCB, whose name derives from the former British colony that became Ghana, is a genius would be an understatement. Not only has he invented a “biomolecular submarine” that he uses to traverse the world, he can also casually discuss bioethics, ease the concerns of French airport officials in their own language, and even dazzle opponents in a soccer game. But for all his strengths, GCB cannot find his long-lost friend Ibrahim Mahamadose, aka IBM. And so GCB scours the globe in an adventure that takes him to places as disparate as India and Iowa. Over the course of his odyssey, he manages to fall in love, get married, and meet diverse people with a range of experiences. In Nigeria, he comes across Kofi, Julia, and Irene, three cohorts who happen to have a corpse in their “boneshaker” truck. At the Grand Canyon, GCB meets Americans Dick and Kelly. The couple are more than happy to talk about the time they spent in Africa. But where is IBM? Early in the story, GCB has a staid discussion with his family on such topics as whether or not the Bible condemns genetic engineering. (One character remarks, “Mankind should use God’s freely given genetic gifts to bring salvation to His people while glorifying His holy name.”) But once things get moving, they keep accelerating at a high speed. An encounter with armed Nigerian soldiers; a snowstorm in Minnesota; criminals in Tanzania—there is little that can stop the hero for long. While such an ambitious pace proves refreshing, the whirlwind of activity can leave readers perplexed at times. For example, an event involving an army of green sharks is as peculiar as it sounds without offering much lasting substance. Still, that escapade manages to make some points about the nature of friendship. Even if it seems likely from the get-go that IBM will be found, the fun comes in the journey, not the destination.

A playful international romp that never fails to surprise.