As the lone mortician of Corona, New Mexico, Don Dupree has seen it all when it comes to funerals.
At least that was the case… until John White’s body arrives with no record of birth or death certificates. Strangest of all is the disoriented next of kin Yuxi, who Don suspects has never even heard of a funeral. After the worst embalming of his career, Don discovers John White is something beyond human, and he is about to host a funeral of intergalactic proportions.
WINNER
2025 Blacklist Unpublished Novel Award
Sci-fi/Fantasy
Reviews
“With Gates to Nowhere, Simon Nagel uses his evocative prose style to transport readers to a morgue in the desolate New Mexican desert where an astonishing arrival alters the life of staid mortician Don Dupree and begins a story that feels both refreshingly quirky and deeply human. Blending literary realism, inventive science fiction, and a beautifully rendered character study, Gates to Nowhere is as much a page-turning mystery as a profound meditation on solitude, grief, and resilience.”
“A highly engaging spin on the “aliens in New Mexico” trope that feels fresh and unique. A fun and incredibly well-crafted read!”
“Cormac McCarthy on acid.”
“The prose is beautiful and creates an incredible sense of ambiance. Throughout the text, Don sees the world through the eyes of a mortician — and the specificity of this narrative voice immerses readers completely in Don’s desert life.”
“An entertaining, sardonic writing style... thought-provoking and meaningful with a lot of depth.”