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The Emergent
“…unknowns can be handled in two ways. You can stay on the beach and watch, imagining what might—but probably won’t—happen. Or you can offer up your mere physical existence for the chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself.”
These are among the last words that Kat hears from her lifelong friend, Alma. The Emergent opens at the dawn of the internet era, and young Silicon Valley native Kat is alone.
Haunted by Alma and the rest of her family, Kat finds herself in New York City. She attempts to understand why she ended up across the continent. Shrouded in her family history and its ghosts, Kat tells a new companion about the shores of Oakland after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Depression-era farming communities of California’s Central Valley, and cold-war Santa Clara Valley.
But a series of mysterious gaps in consciousness and concerning injuries compel Kat to reveal more about herself. Will these revelations save Kat from her past? Or will they forever define her future?
“The Emergent is a tale of blood, loss, family, and departures that orbits a continent, its casualties and its letdowns. It is a story for those of us who will never be sure if we only imagined that hand at the shoreline reaching for us.” –Salar Abdoh, author of Out of Mesopotamia
“A woman’s bold reckoning with memory, and pursuit of all its drifting pieces. The Emergent is just that – a rising toward a grasp of self and story, and aching recognition of how family narratives persist, holding us in their loving embrace, or imprisonment.” –Marc Palmieri, author of She Danced with Lightning
These are among the last words that Kat hears from her lifelong friend, Alma. The Emergent opens at the dawn of the internet era, and young Silicon Valley native Kat is alone.
Haunted by Alma and the rest of her family, Kat finds herself in New York City. She attempts to understand why she ended up across the continent. Shrouded in her family history and its ghosts, Kat tells a new companion about the shores of Oakland after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Depression-era farming communities of California’s Central Valley, and cold-war Santa Clara Valley.
But a series of mysterious gaps in consciousness and concerning injuries compel Kat to reveal more about herself. Will these revelations save Kat from her past? Or will they forever define her future?
“The Emergent is a tale of blood, loss, family, and departures that orbits a continent, its casualties and its letdowns. It is a story for those of us who will never be sure if we only imagined that hand at the shoreline reaching for us.” –Salar Abdoh, author of Out of Mesopotamia
“A woman’s bold reckoning with memory, and pursuit of all its drifting pieces. The Emergent is just that – a rising toward a grasp of self and story, and aching recognition of how family narratives persist, holding us in their loving embrace, or imprisonment.” –Marc Palmieri, author of She Danced with Lightning
- GenresFiction
246 pages, Paperback
Published March 30, 2022
5 people are currently reading
4011 people want to read
About the author
Nick Holmberg
1 book22 followersNick Holmberg is an award-winning author who grew up in Northern California. He earned his BA in English from SJSU in 2000. While earning a Master’s in creative writing at The City College of New York, he started work on his first novel, The Emergent. Since 2004, he has lived and worked as an educator in his native California, as well as South Korea, Illinois, and Texas. Throughout all of this, he has experimented with content, form, and function on this website and in the novel.
He now resides in Des Moines, where he is currently at work on his next project, a novella and five short stories tentatively titled Anxiety and Other Comedies.
He now resides in Des Moines, where he is currently at work on his next project, a novella and five short stories tentatively titled Anxiety and Other Comedies.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 4, 2022
"The Emergent" follows Kat who must find ways to connect the stories of her family's past to her emerging identity and process past and current trauma. Beautifully written and set in the early days of the information age, this book will resonate with readers from all walks of life
August 20, 2023
I have had "The Emergent" on my TBR pile since we met Nick Holmberg and his wife at the Urbandale library earlier this year.
Nick clearly has a heart for writing stories that will make an impact. This one is not a tale for the faint of heart. Nick is a white male writing about the experiences of those that are not white male, but he has spent years of research and has produced a work that is worthy of our time.
I would recommend this book to anyone who reads to increase their awareness of the world around them. "The Emergent” is thought provoking and kept me engaged throughout the entire story.
Nick clearly has a heart for writing stories that will make an impact. This one is not a tale for the faint of heart. Nick is a white male writing about the experiences of those that are not white male, but he has spent years of research and has produced a work that is worthy of our time.
I would recommend this book to anyone who reads to increase their awareness of the world around them. "The Emergent” is thought provoking and kept me engaged throughout the entire story.
July 19, 2022
This is a story that encourages the reader to ask questions about the main character’s past, but also about their own. How do the stories we know affect the way we view our life, and how does our life affect the way we view our stories? A wonderful, thoughtful book by Nick Holmberg that is both beautiful and tragic.
May 25, 2023
This is a thought-provoking book that requires the reader to immerse themselves in the protagonist's story while simultaneously reflecting on their own observations of her experience. Holmberg's writing style is enjoyable and keeps you engaged in the story. I would recommend this read!
January 31, 2024
Nick Holmberg's first novel, "The Emergent," is a page-turner that follows the life of protagonist Kat. The book focuses on the challenges Kat faces as she tries to figure out who she is, and explores complicated topics like identity, family, and trauma. The author does an excellent job of writing about these sensitive themes from a perspective that is inclusive and respectful of all groups. What makes this book so engaging is how the author uses vivid details to bring Kat's story to life. The book is a reflection on the human experience, and with such thoughtful, authentic detail, readers can't help but to think about their own stories and how they shape who we are. "The Emergent" is a great choice.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews