An unusual and remarkable dystopian novel

A Free Man is a satirical tall tale presented as the drug and alcohol fuelled conversation of two old friends getting reacquainted over one night. It’s also a boy-meets-girl story of the worst kind and a time travel story about a future where the world is ruled by robots and humans are vermin. When timelines cross, the world as we know it bends . . .

Skid Roe is completely self-absorbed and delusional. His struggle to exercise free will is constantly hampered by the physical manifestation of his inner demons and by the norms and rules of contemporary life. He’s both aided and hindered by Lem, a robot from the future whose good intentions leave Skid on the run from a shadowy state security agency.

A surreal, beautiful, and powerful literary mash-up, Basilières’ long-awaited sophomore effort is inventive and darkly funny.

Michel Basilieres' profile page

• Short-listed, ReLit Award

Michel Basilières was born and raised in Montreal’s Milton Park neighbourhood and now lives with his son in Toronto. He is the author of Black Bird, a magic realist novel set during the October Crisis.

“A Free Man is a singular experience, ultimately inexplicable and ineffable, with the quality of a waking dream.” — Quill & Quire

"A great deal of fun." — Publishers Weekly

"A Free Man is formally refreshing and certainly a welcome contribution to the body of Canadian science fiction." — National Post

"If you’ve ever wondered what the embittered literary love child of Philip Roth and Kurt Vonnegut might look like, then search no further than Michel Basilières." — Toronto Star