The bond between five friends intensifies through their psychedelic adventures, forging a connection that does not let go.
In later years, when their lives have sprung apart, they reconnect.
The reconnection is not arbitrary; it’s linked to the death of one of the five.
From the Morning is in turn movingly philosophical and also kind of dreamlike, the first person narrative holds a complete view of the character with all his thoughts coming through uncensored and engaging.
It is a novel that captures the essence of the alternative scene in Johannesburg, from the 1990’s in a way that is accurate yet personal, from the mouth and mind of the main character, Aaron.
A fun read with meaningful interactions and a great recommended playlist.
Since having published “From the Morning”, Aragorn Eloff says, “I have the fiction bug now.”
Eloff is busy slowly drafting the structure of a second, mostly unrelated novel.
In terms of influences, Eloff votes experimental literature, referring to William Burroughs, psychedelic hyperfiction like Robert Anton Wilson, and sci-fi like Phillip K. Dick.
Eloff puts it best, “I’ve developed a taste for writers who can subtly lift the edges of the everyday, allowing readers a glimpse of its surreal underpinnings.”
Such authors include Haruki Murakami, Hari Kunzru and David Keenan.
Eloff has led an adventurous life, and although he dropped out of high school, he re-entered academia in middle age with a recognition of prior learning to complete a PhD in the philosophy of the psychedelic experience.
Eloff has just signed a contract to write an academic book as part of his postdoctoral research.
Eloff says he likes the idea of academia and fiction bleeding over each other.
Some of the adventures Eloff embarked on were being an event organiser, a vegan restaurant owner, a software developer, a (failed) documentary filmmaker, an experimental musician, and a long-time promoter of liberating causes like anarchism, radical ecology, and animal liberation.
Eloff decided to self-publish as he’s always been a fan of DIY culture, and it seemed to be the right choice for him as an anarchist.
From the Morning
Price: R 300
