Is the word quixotic a spoiler? It certainly describes this novel about Zach Wells, a professor of geology, who goes on a strange quest to save people he is not sure exist. 

Zach’s daughter begins to have changes in her vision at the start of the book. They take her to several specialists and the news is not good. Around the same time, Zach finds messages written in Spanish asking for help in shirts he ordered on eBay. He searches for answers as he deals with the sadness of his daughter’s condition. 

This book uses lots of paleontology and chess references, along with other little known inside baseball type phrases to organize the writing. I understood little of it, but what I was able to follow or look up showed even more depth and complexity in this short but powerful book. There are several different endings in print, indicated by the color and direction of the compass on the cover. I just love the level of thought that Everett clearly puts into his novels. I highly recommend this book.