It's about a man who works at a bookstore and discovers a strange, coded book. This leads him on a journey into a secret society related to the book and the world of ancient knowledge and modern technology.
In 'Mr Penumbra's Science Fiction', the primary character is Clay Jannon. He is the one who gets involved in the mystery of the bookstore. Mr Penumbra, the owner of the store, is also an important figure. His bookstore holds the key to the mystery. Then there are Clay's friends and colleagues. For example, Kat, who has knowledge in technology and is able to contribute to Clay's investigation. There are also the members of the secret society that Clay discovers through his exploration of the bookstore's mystery, though they are more in the background yet crucial to the overall plot.
It's about a unique bookstore that's open 24 hours. There are all sorts of mysterious happenings in it. The protagonist discovers strange books and a rather odd clientele. It's a story that combines mystery and the love for books.
There's the protagonist who gets a job at Mr Penumbra's bookstore. He's an ordinary guy at first but becomes drawn into the strange world of the bookstore. And then there's Mr Penumbra himself, who is a bit of an enigma. He runs the bookstore and seems to know more than he lets on about the strange goings - on there.
Well, 'Mr Nobody' in science fiction can often be a symbol. Sometimes it's a character who has no identity in the traditional sense, perhaps due to some scientific experiment gone wrong. For example, he could be a test subject who lost his original identity and now roams the science - fictional world in a state of limbo, causing confusion or being a source of mystery for other characters. He might also be an alien form that is so different from what is known that it's named 'Mr Nobody' as a way to convey its unknowability.
No, it's not that common. While there are various unique and mysterious concepts in science fiction, 'Mr Nobody' isn't as widespread as some other tropes like time travel or alien invasions.
Well, without more context, it's hard to say precisely. It could be a science fiction piece that delves into themes like time travel. Maybe Mr. Forbes has crafted a world where characters journey through different eras, facing various challenges and paradoxes along the way. It could also involve the exploration of new planets and civilizations, with unique alien species and their cultures.