The Same City

“As well as the American setting, the ups and downs of our protagonist recall comparable arcs in the novels of Paul Auster and Philip Roth. … The plot is compressed and the prose tight… In his sixth novel Martín has delivered a clever and pacy modern fable.”—Ben Bollig, Times Literary Supplement
In the midst of a midlife crisis Brandon Moy bumps into a long-lost friend. Since they last met, their lives have diverged, and despite being happily married and well-off, Moy yearns for the excitement and adventure his friend, still a bachelor, enjoys. The next day, after his wife and son have headed out, Moy leaves late for the law firm where he works in the World Trade Center. His delay will save his life, for it is September 11, 2001, and the attacks take place when he is just a few blocks away from his office. After spending the day tending to the wounded he tries to call his wife, to tell her he is alright, but the phone system has collapsed. Brandon Moy then and there realizes he will be left for dead, a 9/11 victim—his chance to vanish and pursue his dreams.
Luisgé Martín is a Spanish writer born in Madrid in 1962. He has published short story collections, nonfiction works, and over five novels. He also contributes occasionally to Spanish publications, and has been awarded several literary prizes.
Tomasz Dukanovich is a British translator who lives in Madrid.