Outrun the Devil

About the Book

Two interwoven stories. One voyage of discovery. It’s late summer of 1492 and a bold explorer named Cristóbal Colón sets out on an unprecedented adventure to discover a New World and carve his name in history. Joining his intrepid crew is a young man fleeing the ravages of the Inquisition while also striving to find his own path in the world. But also secretly onboard is a leader of the Church, committed to ensuring that the young man fails in his ambition, desperate as well to ensure his own place in the Inquisition hierarchy, even if it means sacrificing his mortal soul. Nearly 500 years later, a Dominican man flees his native land in the dark of night following the assassination of the country’s tyrannical leader and subsequent pursuit by that country’s vengeful protector. Making his way to America, the man flees from one danger, only to draw inexorably closer to another. The two stories, separated by the centuries, are linked in ways both tragic and astonishing. The characters are real, as are all the emotions, the aspirations, and the fears. Outrun the Devil is a story of discovery, terror, love, legacy, and just a touch of magic.

About the Author

BRIAN KENNETH SWAIN is the author of eleven previous books, including the novels World Hunger, Alone in the Light, Sistina, and Day’s End; the poetry collections Secret Places, My America, and Chicken Feet; the essay collection The Curious Habits of Man; the short story collections The Book of Names and Mind State; and the children’s book Hegel and Hobbes Have an Adventure. Brian is a graduate of Columbia University and The Wharton School. He grew up in Brunswick, Maine and now lives in New Braunfels, Texas with his wife Elaine, black chow chow Loki, and cats Suki and Mozart.