Chikopana is a heady cocktail of a novel with flavours ranging from Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away' to Melvin Burgess' 'Junk.'
A velvety smattering of Philip Pullman's Dark Materials also curdles within the pages.
There is darkness and hope, crulety and kindness. It is a story about spirituality in an increasingly corporate world and freedom in a surveillance society; a story about friendship and universal love.
What is Chikopana about?
Due to an economic crisis in London, Ella migrates to Chikopana. She gets a job at a Pan-Pan bun factory and her assigned Pan-Pan buddy, Masa shows her the ropes. It doesn't seem too bad but she soon realizes she is being duped; if she signs the contract she will be joining the other Pan-Pan employees in a life-time of poverty, debt and servitude. Why hasn't Masa warned her? She has another new friend, Sticks who lives in an abandoned bike park. Perhaps, she should join him and live as one of the unpeople. 'We get by,' Sticks tells her. But she doesn't know about Sticks' shady connections with Koban, boss of the subterranean ‘Understreets,’ or about his deadly addiction to 'nixxie' pills.
When she disappears, her Chikonese Pan-Pan Buddy, Masa is worried. His father advises him to go and see the wise 'Octi.'
'That crazy, old homeless guy?' asks Masa. But his experience with the Octi will prove to be profound, and although it may not help him find Ella immediately, it will propel him on a life changing journey of his own.
Meanwhile Ella is experiencing the horrors of the Understreets. The boss, Koban believes she is a ‘Supreme Tari.’ What does he mean and why is everyone in the Understreets haunted by ghostly animals?
She will soon learn. And she must escape but will she have to leave without Sticks ?
Masa discovers a forgotten Chikopana in the north but doesn't realise that his new friends, the Taris, are also under threat from Koban and his black 'Irativ' magic.
Ella, Sticks and Masa experience different realities that split them apart. In the end, their paths will cross again and bring them together to stand up for Chikopana and for each other, with everything they have.
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