Alan McKee's novel Somewhere Else has won the Literary Titan Book Award. The book, which follows a 66-year-old history professor who can step into historical moments by touching artifacts, blends literary fiction with supernatural and psychological horror. It is available in paperback, hardcover, and eBook on Amazon.
Set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, McKee's novel introduces Joe Patterson, a history professor who discovers he has a form of temporal empathy, a term used by historians and educators that McKee extends into fiction. Through this ability, Joe can enter moments from the past, not as a memory but as a lived experience. The novel draws on Einstein's block universe theory, which posits that all moments in time exist simultaneously, and McKee's Author's Note separates the real science from the fiction.
Joe's gift comes with a cost. A malevolent presence has long preyed on minds like his, and his obsession with the past begins to erode his marriage and his sense of self. The story explores themes of memory, identity, and the danger of valuing cosmic significance over the people in one's life. McKee writes in first person for Joe and third person for everyone else, a choice that underscores Joe's isolation.
Readers and reviewers have responded to the novel's haunting atmosphere and intellectual depth. NewInBooks called it "Haunting, imaginative, and deeply unsettling," adding that it "transforms the wonder of touching history into a gripping meditation on obsession and identity." Literary Titan described it as "a literary speculative novel with the steady pull of psychological horror" and "a haunting first novel about history, compulsion, and the danger of valuing cosmic significance more than the person sitting beside you at breakfast."
Other reviews highlight the book's literary craft and emotional resonance. Sevag praised it as "a haunting masterpiece that seamlessly bridges the gap between rich literary fiction and spine-tingling psychological horror." Jose M. called it "a rare masterpiece that mixes a quiet exploration of memory, art, marriage, and the terrible weight of paying total attention to history." Michael N. noted that "Alan McKee's descriptions of pivotal moments in history are riveting," while Nyoka C. found it "a thoughtful supernatural historical novel with an intriguing premise, strong emotional stakes, and some genuinely haunting moments." Suzanna N. simply said, "Quiet, elegiac, and impossible to forget."
At about 46,500 words, Somewhere Else is accessible to a wide range of readers. It is aimed at literary fiction readers, particularly those 45 and older who enjoy character-driven stories with intellectual substance, as well as fans of speculative and psychological horror who appreciate ambiguity and dark, unresolved endings. Book clubs are also a natural fit, given the novel's theme and available Group Discussion Guide.
McKee's inspiration for the book began in childhood. "My obsession with history really began when I was about eight years old and I read a book called Johnny Tremaine," he says. "And I was so taken with the idea of a pre-Revolutionary War Boston that I've always wished that I could go back in time to visit. Of course, that wasn't possible, but it sure didn't stop me from thinking about it." That early fascination with history never faded. "As I got older, I learned about a theory in physics that says the past never really leaves. Every moment you've lived and every moment that's ever happened, it still exists. It's just somewhere else in the universe. Einstein called it the block universe. I picture it as an infinite hallway, one that runs the length of forever, and it's lined with doors on both sides. And behind every door, there's a moment in time waiting. Not a memory, the moment itself."
That concept became the foundation for Somewhere Else. "The main character, Joe Patterson, finds a way to open those doors. Not with a machine, but with something historians call temporal empathy. And it gives him a way of feeling his way into a moment so completely that something lets him in and he's suddenly able to visit some of the most consequential moments in history." But what begins as a gift soon turns dark. "His family begins to notice that he's become distant and distracted. His mind and attention, like those moments in time, are now somewhere else. And he soon realizes that he's not alone. A terrifying dark presence is his guide."
For readers interested in exploring the novel, more information is available at Alan McKee's author website. The book is available for purchase on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, and eBook formats.