Girl in the Road

A young woman called Meena wakes up one morning covered in blood. There are mysterious snakebites across her chest. She knows she's in danger but something has happened to her memory. All she can do is run - but why? And from whom?

As Meena plots her escape she hears of the Trail - an extraordinary, forbidden bridge that spans the Arabian sea, connecting India to Africa like a silver ribbon. Its purpose is to harness the power of the ocean - Blue Energy - but it also offers a subculture of travellers a chance for sanctuary and adventure.

Convinced the Trail is her salvation, Meena gathers supplies - GPS, a scroll reader, a sealable waterproof pod. And so begins her extraordinary journey - both physical and spiritual - from India to Ethiopia, the home of her birth. But as she runs away from the threat of violence she is also running towards a shocking revelation about her past and her family.

'It's transfixing to watch Monica Byrne become a major player in science fiction with her debut novel . . . Beautifully drawn people in a future that feels so close you can touch it, blended with lush language and concerns of myth. It builds a bridge from past to future, from East to West. Glorious stuff' - Neil Gaiman

Short-listed for Kitschie Awards 2014 (UK)
Long-listed for DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2016 (UK)

“The Girl in the Road is a brilliant novel - vivid. sparky, fearless, intense with a kind of savage joy . . . utterly unforgettableUtterly captivating . . . an electrifying debutThe road trip novel you didn't know you were waiting for. A genuine and extraordinary journey. Take it”

The Girl in the Road is a brilliant novel - vivid. sparky, fearless, intense with a kind of savage joy . . . utterly unforgettable

Utterly captivating . . . an electrifying debut

The road trip novel you didn't know you were waiting for. A genuine and extraordinary journey. Take it

Monica Byrne studied at Wellesley College and MIT. She's a freelance writer and playwright and lives in Durham, North Carolina. For more information visit monicabyrne.org and @monicabyrne13

'The road trip novel you didn't know you were waiting for. A genuine and extraordinary journey. Take it.' John Scalzi One day Meena gets out of bed covered in blood, with mysterious snakebites on her chest. Someone is after her - and she must flee India at once. As she plots her escape she learns of The Trail, an energy-harvesting bridge across the Arabian sea. It has become a refuge for itinerant dreamers and loners on the run. Now it will become Meena's salvation. With a knapsack full of supplies, Meena sets off across the bridge to Ethiopia, the place of her birth. But as she runs away from the threat of violence, she is also running towards a shocking revelation about her past. 'It is transfixing to watch Monica Byrne become a major player in science fiction ... Beautifully drawn people in a future that feels so close you can touch it' Neil Gaiman 'A brilliant novel ... vivid, sparky, fearless, intense with a kind of savage joy ... utterly unforgettable' Kim Stanley Robinson 'Utterly captivating ... an electrifying debut' Helene Wecker, author of The Golem and the Jinni

A young woman called Meena wakes up one morning covered in blood. There are mysterious snakebites across her chest. She knows she's in danger but something has happened to her memory. All she can do is run - but why? And from whom?As Meena plots her escape she hears of the Trail - an extraordinary, forbidden bridge that spans the Arabian sea, connecting India to Africa like a silver ribbon. Its purpose is to harness the power of the ocean - Blue Energy - but it also offers a subculture of travellers a chance for sanctuary and adventure.Convinced the Trail is her salvation, Meena gathers supplies - GPS, a scroll reader, a sealable waterproof pod. And so begins her extraordinary journey - both physical and spiritual - from India to Ethiopia, the home of her birth. But as she runs away from the threat of violence she is also running towards a shocking revelation about her past and her family.'It's transfixing to watch Monica Byrne become a major player in science fiction with her debut novel . . . Beautifully drawn people in a future that feels so close you can touch it, blended with lush language and concerns of myth. It builds a bridge from past to future, from East to West. Glorious stuff' - Neil Gaiman

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