Afterworlds
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2014-09-23 |
| Founder | Scott Westerfeld |
| Products | Young adult fiction novel |
Afterworlds is a novel penned by New York Times bestselling author Scott Westerfeld, released on September 23, 2014. The tagline for the book reads, "Darcy writes the words. Lizzie lives them."
Plot
Darcy Patel takes a break from college to relocate to New York City and revise her young adult novel, Afterworlds. Initially lacking both accommodation and acquaintances, she questions her choice until she becomes part of a community of writers who support her through the hurdles of debut publication. Through this experience, Darcy acquires knowledge about YA fiction, romance, and interpersonal relationships. The narrative alternates with chapters focusing on Lizzie, the main character in Darcy’s book—a teenager who enters the Afterworld after surviving a terrorist attack. This realm, existing between life and death, introduces Lizzie to a psychopomp who assists her in navigating the unresolved and haunting tales within the Afterworld.
Darcy's Story
- Darcy Patel – An eighteen-year-old Hindu author from Philadelphia who secures a two-book contract and postpones her college education to refine her manuscript in New York. She confronts the realities of beginning a career in YA literature while balancing newfound independence and romantic experiences.
- Imogen Gray – A fellow writer and trusted friend at their mutual publishing house; her debut novel, Pyromancer, initiates a trilogy centered on individuals with extraordinary abilities. Imogen’s true persona and sources of inspiration remain enigmatic to Darcy.
- Nisha Patel – Darcy’s fourteen-year-old sister who manages Darcy’s finances during her time in New York, often overlooked but handling responsibilities with notable maturity.
- Annika Patel – Darcy’s mother, whose own childhood influenced the creation of Afterworlds.
- Darcy’s father – An engineer dedicated to supporting Darcy’s professional achievements.
- Carla and Sagan – High school friends who visit Darcy during her stay in New York.
Lizzie's Story
- Lizzie Scofield is the central figure who survives a terrorist incident by pretending to be dead, subsequently gaining the ability to perceive and communicate with spirits while transitioning into the Afterworld. Individuals like her are known as ‘psychopomps’.
- Yamaraj is depicted as the original psychopomp to enter the Afterworld, acting as a guardian of souls for millennia. He mentors Lizzie throughout her journey and draws inspiration from Bollywood actors and Hindu Vedic mythology, commonly portrayed as a ‘Hindu death God’ within the story.
- Anna Scofield, Lizzie’s mother, has a backstory connected to her childhood friend Mindy, who was murdered.
- Mindy lingers near the Scofield residence after her demise and forms a bond with Lizzie.
Reception
Afterworlds has received mainly favorable critiques, with reviewers praising Westerfeld’s vivid depiction of literary passion through Darcy’s character. Critics tend to prefer Darcy’s grounded storyline over Lizzie’s supernatural plotline. Stephanie Zacharek from the New York Times remarks that Darcy's real-life narrative proves more engaging than Lizzie’s ethereal adventure. NPR critic Tasha Robinson describes Lizzie’s tale as exciting but ultimately serving as an exploration of Darcy’s creative process.