Book “Between Heaven and Salt” presents a future full of social conflicts

Using the future to debate the present is the sincere invitation of the book “Entre o Céu o Sal”. A fiction novel, written by Everton Behenck and published by Editora Nacional, it is the first book in Brazil with a cover made by artificial intelligence (Midjourney).

Set in the south zone of Rio de Janeiro, completely flooded by sea water, the work talks about the elite who expelled residents from the hills to make way for new neighborhoods. The poor were left with the alternative of breaking into buildings taken over by water and making their home there.

Zias, the protagonist, is raised in exile in Portugal after his father’s murder and lives on the streets of Lisbon amid crime, drugs and digital addiction. Everything changes when he receives the news that his father is still alive and only he can save him. So, he leaves for Rio and discovers that he is “the chosen one” to take over the revolutionary evangelical church led by his father. Zias finds a city overrun by water, legally organized by militia, where a new drug is ravaging churches and app workers will do anything for a few bucks.

By mixing real and imaginary elements, also bringing a portrait of Brazil’s political past, “Entre o Céu o Sal” provokes the reader to reflect on the distance that separates the past, the present and this future, in addition to exposing the great tensions of our time: the growth of neo-Pentecostal religions advancing over politics; the climate crisis; digital addictions; the lack of employment; the increasing power of ‘officialized’ militias; and the old problem of drug trafficking being updated in communities.

“This is a book that looks at the future from a peripheral point of view. And what we saw on the outskirts of Brazil this year was a dangerous mix of politics and religion. Everyone has a grandmother in church, that aunt we love, their faith needs to be respected. Churches are sometimes the only institutions that are on the outskirts fighting for the addict, the drug dealer, the ex-convict, but it is impossible to admit, for example, that Pai de Santo is expelled from the community and discrimination against those of African descent. This conservatism of some neo-Pentecostal aspects brings a warning: just stop and think for a minute and we are faced with this erasure and this curse of black culture. Another step we take to face prejudice against LGBTQIA+. One more step brings us face to face with the ban on the debate on drug control, which is the only way for Brazil to stop killing and imprisoning poor and black people. If these pastors from some churches take over politics (they already have 20% of the chamber), where will they take Brazil? Combine this with fascist politics and a fake news machine that radicalizes and fanaticizes people… We are taking great strides towards a future very similar to the one in the book”, comments Behenck.

Poet, writer, musician and father, Everton Behenck has already released two books of poetry, “Os Dentes da Delicadeza” and “Nada Mais Maldito que um Amor Bonito”. It was in advertising that his work became known throughout the country, writing the scripts for Banco Itaú’s classic end-of-year campaigns.

Born in the outskirts of the city and raised in Candomblé temples, he saw first-hand the social and religious changes of the last few decades and felt drawn into this dizzying journey through the complex issues that are defining the present and future of Brazil and the world.

By Ezatamentchy