What do an awakening A.I., a forsaken soldier, a boy coming of age in an unusual world, a convict serving a life sentence, a mom desperately trying to protect her child, and a man resolving to abandon all desires (including using the bathroom) have in common?

From sci-fi to war stories to surrealistic dark comedies, this collection from Christopher Eustache takes you on a journey to every corner of the imagination in an attempt to tackle some of life's most perplexing questions:

Is humanity's future as dark as its past?

Is pain truly necessary to know pleasure?

Is there meaning in life? If so, how do we find it?

And is there any value in its pursuit if it all ends in the same place-death?

Gripping and at times oddly comedic, these tales are a unique blend of dark, entertaining, and poignant. If, by the end, you find yourself further astray in the existential jungles of life, then hopefully you can take solace in knowing that there is someone with you, lighting a fire nearby.