Looking For Daddy

Patty Jansen’s novel follows Tom as he navigates a silent world after his father departs with volunteer firefighters to combat city fires. Communication networks fail, leaving the farm isolated from the outside. The narrative shifts when Tom discovers a large metal egg on the property. A metal-spiked echidna emerges from this shell, an event that prompts neighbor Mr McGregor to seek its destruction. While others flee or fight, Tom bonds with the creature, naming it Thing. This new companion shields him from hostile roads and zombies who arrive in town to recount their deaths. The story centers on Tom’s determination to locate his father using a map found at a vagrant campsite. This map guides him toward the origin of the global silence. The text examines themes of isolation, unnatural creation, and the breakdown of societal order. It draws upon gothic traditions where nature turns hostile and technology fails. Jansen presents a tale suited for readers who enjoy surreal horror and speculative fiction involving mutated creatures. Those seeking traditional jump scares or historical accuracy may find the premise too abstract. The narrative remains focused on the boy’s passage through a landscape where inanimate objects gain malevolent intent.