Depressed, newly divorced, and languishing away at a dead-end job, Tobias Munch dreams of becoming a famous author. He pines for Mia, a blonde barista way out of his league, but when she hits him with her car, his mundane, going nowhere life takes an unexpected turn.
Desperate to gain Mia’s approval, Tobias partakes in a psychedelic ritual that transports him to the in-between, a place the dead go to learn to let go of their bodies in preparation for the Great Beyond. After the effects wear off, Mia returns to Earth. But, thanks to the concussion from the accident, Tobias has fallen into a coma—indefinitely delaying his return.
Time is running out before they pull the plug and he dies for real. All he has to do is learn to let go of his body in order to save it.
Easier said than done.
The Reviews
"Unique and abstract--a tale of trust and humanity.
J. B. Velasquez’s debut sci-fi novel Tourist Trapped reveals an intricate world in which the reader is not fully asked to suspend disbelief, just to come along for a ride. Velasquez has a wonderful way of describing the situations and settings in which we’re thrown. The storytelling style feels natural with a good mix of point of view and dialogue. The descriptions and inner-workings of the "in-between" shapes the story well and makes it all feel somewhat plausible. This attention to worldbuilding is refreshing, and it kept the pages turning quicker.
It is uncomfortable to confront one’s own mortality, but the author does a wonderful job of showing humanity in every aspect. The witty, dry humor throughout compliments the story nicely. The author’s background in psychotherapy brings forward a unique perspective on introspection and how every aspect of character development is a type of growth. This novel might pass as a science fiction story, but there is realism snaking its way into Tobias’s musings. He might not be the strongest character right away, but he learns how to point himself in the right direction, and we get to watch how it makes a world of a difference." -Independent Book Review
"Tourist Trapped by J. B. Velasquez is an intriguing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat . . . There are numerous moral lessons to be gleaned from this fantastic story. Never have I read a science fiction story that had so many life truths." -OnlineBookClub.org
"Loved it! Velasquez takes Tobias's angst and turns it into madcap head trip. Some touches seem gratuitously bizarre, but overall, he creates an over-the-top fantasy world with its own peculiarly consistent internal logic. There’s also a satiric darkness that creeps into the narrative and drives the action forward. More than its oddities, Tourist Trapped succeeds because of its compelling plot and relatable main character who evolves over its course."
-Readsy Discovery
"I found aspects of this story reminded me of waking up from dreams, asking in the silence of my mind, 'Where did THAT come from?' . . . it's original, it's unique, and if you're a reader who likes to move away from conventional storylines now and then, this might just be for you!" -Author Ann M. Pratley
"The author weaved a brilliant, captivating story that keeps readers on their toes, filled with curiosity with its riveting, exciting plot, and crisp, vivid narrative, it's a story readers are going to enjoy." -Goodreads reviewer
Tourist Trapped