What happens when you put a wounded soul on trial before Power, Pleasure, Truth, and Silence—and let the reader sit on the jury?

Shadow-Dialogues at the Edge of Reason is a blend of literary fantasy, philosophical dialogue, and self-development workbook. It follows an unnamed Pilgrim expelled from his homeland by betrayal. Seeking answers, he enters a dream-city divided into four quarters, each ruled by a living Archetype that tests a different human drive:

• Power — a hooded monarch who speaks in hard strategy.

• Pleasure — a garden guide who offers comfort with a hidden price.

• Truth — a mirror-walled oracle who forces the Pilgrim to admit his own failings.

• Silence — a zero-gravity librarian who teaches by removing every sound.

1. Debate – In each quarter the Pilgrim argues with the resident Archetype; the dialogue is fast, clear, and anchored in real-world questions about ambition, habit, honesty, and attention.

2. Maxims – Concise aphorisms are embedded in every debate so readers leave each section with quotable, practical takeaways.

3. Parable – Several short, surreal scenes, including an auction where crowns are bought with future deeds, a ravine that builds a bridge from a single honest question—lets the Pilgrim test what he has just learned.

4. Interstice – Three reflection prompts invite you to apply the lesson to your own relationships, career, or creative life.

• Concrete tools, not vague inspiration. The Pilgrim’s encounters generate specific tactics: how to spot hidden power plays, how to enjoy pleasure without addiction, how to turn guilt into accountability, how to use quiet to defuse conflict.

• Story first, teaching second. You can read for the plot alone—a man trying to reclaim integrity after exile—and still come away changed.

• Built-in reread value. The aphorisms and prompts make the book a resource you can return to during a career pivot, a breakup, or any season when your old stories no longer fit.

“A novel that deconstructs itself into a mirror—I saw my own blind spots on every page.”
“Perfect for a book club: half the discussion is about the story, the other half about our choices.”

Open the gate, walk beside the Pilgrim, and decide for yourself: when the arguments end, which voice—Power, Pleasure, Truth, or Silence—will guide your next step?