"A Town of Sewn Eyes" Offers a Collection of Three Interconnected Short Stories

Courtesy of Jaeum & Moeum Publishing

Author Cho Ye-eun, renowned for her distinctive blend of creepiness and imagination, delves into the genre of dystopian fiction with her newest work, "A Town of Sewn Eyes."

Published by Jaeum & Moeum Publishing, the novel comprises three interconnected short stories that paint a fantastical picture of a world grappling with an apocalypse. 

▲ Courtesy of Jaeum & Moeum PublishingSet in the year 2066, the narrative unfolds in a world where 80 percent of the polar ice has melted, causing a surge in sea levels that inundates cities and wipes nations off the map. Amid countless deaths and a refugee exodus, a "curse plague" emerges, resulting in individuals developing third arms, second heads, or fifth eyes.

In response to the chaos, survivors build a refuge known as the "Town," a bunker designed to withstand the devastating effects of the curse plague. However, even within the seemingly impregnable Town, the plague inevitably takes hold.

The first story follows protagonist Lee Gyo, navigating life after the loss of his friend Ram, who was banished from the Town for developing a second mouth on the back of his neck. Lee Gyo harbors a secret—a third eye on his back, strategically small enough to evade exile.

The second narrative centers around Lee's uncle, Baek Woo, who serves as the gatekeeper responsible for expelling "the cursed" from the Town. This story unfolds before Ram's banishment.

The final story ventures outside the Town, focusing on the exiled character Ram.

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Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com