Shortlisted for the People's Book Prize. Longlisted for the World Fantasy Award

"Marvellous, powerful, beautiful." (Kij Johnson, specialist in speculative fiction, multi-times Hugo and Nebula winner)

"Beautifully written; meaningful; top-drawer storytelling in the tradition of Atwood and Bradbury." (League of Extraordinary Authors)

Misty woods; drowned towns; secrets in the landscape; a forbidden life by night; the scent of bygone days; a past that lies below the surface; and a door in a dream that seems to hold the answers.

Paftoo is a "bod"; an artificial person made to serve. He is a groundsman on the last remaining countryside estate, once known as Harkaway Hall—now a theme park. Paftoo holds scattered memories of the old days, but they are regularly deleted to keep him productive.

When he starts to have dreams of the Lost Lands' past and his cherished connection with Lifeform Three, Paftoo is propelled into a nocturnal battle to reclaim his memories, his former companions, and his soul.

"An extraordinary novel in the tradition of the great old school literary sci-fi." (New York Times best-selling author Joni Rodgers)

About the author

Roz Morris's fiction has sold more than four million copies worldwide, although you won't have seen her name on the covers as she ghostwrote for high-profile authors. She is now writing acclaimed fiction and memoirs under her own name—My Memories of a Future Life, Lifeform Three, and Ever Rest, and the lighthearted travel diary Not Quite Lost. She is also a journalist, fiction editor and the author of the Nail Your Novel series for writers. She teaches creative writing masterclasses for The Guardian newspaper in London and is a regular judge on the Litopia YouTube show Pop-Up Submissions.