Chile - Pedro The Vast - Simon Lopez Trujillo
31st Jan 2026:
Found whilst reading a 'most Anticipated science fiction books of 2026' on the new scientist web page. Usually these lists are pretty crappy, but this time it pulled up a gemstone, as I don't have a Chilean author on my radar, so it's always nice when one is delivered to me without much effort. I just need to pop to my local book store to see if they can source me a copy.
11th Jane 2026:
So I walked to the high street to pay for the papers, and then walked over the road to Dormouse Books. Dormouse is a great little independent book store in the sleepy market town of Belper, I've ordered loads of books from here especially, when I can't find a second hand copy. So I walk in and go to the desk and ask the owner if she could order me a copy of this rather obscure Science Fiction from Chile. A few clicks on her computer later, then a quizzical look at the shelves behind. She steps out from her desk crouches down and pulls a copy from the lowest shelf. "Thought So, here you go Andy!".
I'm stunned and actually slightly disappointing, its a massive bonus that I don't have to wait to get a copy of the book. But a little disappointing that my book isn't obscure enough to not be stocked in a small town bookstore.
The book is stunning, beautiful artwork, a great finish, just a really well put together book. It's quite a short book at only 130 pages, but beautiful things can come in small packages.
The Story:
The Story predominantly follows Pedro and his two children. Pedro works for a large lumber company in Chile and contracts a fungal infection that attacks him incredibly fast and is hospitalised. Some of his colleagues contracted the same infection but all died very quickly from the infection. Pedro, whilst in hospital met with a local priest who took Pedro's condition as some sort of greater sign and Pedro's condition became the catalyst for the priest becoming a cult leader with Pedro's fungal infection being a symbol for greater connectivity in the world and like fungal species that are huge, and somewhat vast! I really enjoyed the story, as I'm a gardener and a huge fan of fungi and mushrooms. Having read lots of books on mycelium.
Now, i'm not sure how science fiction this book is. There are no aliens or space ships, but there is a very aggressive fungal infection, that hints at an intent from the fungi. The infections always follow mass deforestation. So maybe we are dealing with sentient and malicious fungi. And that definitely comes under science fiction. And there was that episode of the x-files that had a very deadly fungi. So yes it has its place on my science fiction shelf.