The Core of the Sun

In Johanna Sinisalo's gripping literary speculative fiction, The Core of the Sun, listeners are transported to an alternative present-day Finland, known as a "eusistocracy," where societal stability is prioritized at the expense of personal freedoms. The story follows Vanna, a young woman classified as part of an oppressed subspecies, as she secretly navigates her intelligence while becoming addicted to illegal chili peppers. Her quest to find her missing sister leads her into a dangerous underworld intertwined with a mysterious cult and raises questions about love, autonomy, and societal control. This compelling narrative is both an engaging adventure and a sharp social commentary on the consequences of extreme governance.