Braken Fences, Wolf Kurtoglu’s first novel, has been described as ‘masterful’ (the Blether Region) and ‘the best novel written in Scots in recent times’ (Rab Wilson, Lallans). You can now enjoy listening to this ‘epic tale with believable characters’ in a year long series of exclusive fortnightly podcasts.

This fortnight we podcast the first instalment of Wulf Kurtoglu’s novel Braken Fences, a tale of adventure and romance set in a near future where the struggle between rationalism and religious fundamentalism has been fought to a standstill. Once again there are blank areas on the map. Beyond the partitioned Borders, genetic experiments have altered human senses, and Neanderthals mingle with bandits and Buddhist monks in the mountains of Central Asia.
Braken Fences explores themes of identity, allegiance and freedom, and for good measure throws in a scientifically plausible reason why the Neanderthals died out. The story opens in Delhi. Pandit Varshini is waiting for the return of his granddaughter Beatrice from a posting deep within the Fundamentalist Zone (FZ), where the Rational World (RW) maintains an old nuclear reactor.

A date for your diary: the second part of Chapter 1 will be podcast on 27 September 2012.

To find out more about the novel read Wulf’s blog here. You can buy the book here.