The Golden Sun follows a rootless protagonist named Cezal as he leaves everything behind and journeys toward his mother’s hometown after her recent passing. Set in the early 20th century, Robert Shafer’s novel largely takes place on a train, and Cezal realizes many of the passengers are there for similar reasons. Some are attempting to run from the meaninglessness that continues to creep into their lives, or heading in the direction of a new life altogether. As late summer turns to fall turns to winter, Cezal meets three unforgettable characters, each challenging a different aspect of his life-an older lady taking one last trip while she’s still spry enough, a wannabe ideologue who’s on his way to take over a suffering town, and an artist wanting to find inspiration from her past.

Throughout The Golden Sun, Cezal confronts some of life’s biggest questions: What is an identity based on? Where does one’s sense of morality come from? Where is society headed? As Cezal reflects on his journey, he begins to see himself and his own reality in a way he would never have expected.