When the Sky is Ready The Stars Shall Appear book by E.C Osondu

The yearnings of a young and restless orphan are ignited when an enigmatic drifter named Bros returns to Gulu Station from Rome, laden with gifts and the allure of other places. The orphan longs for escape too, for life to have meaning and so the whole village can look up to him.

When soldiers from the Seven Men Army descend on Gulu Station scouting for recruits, the young men of the village must face conscription or flee. Armed with little more than stories told to him by Bros, the narrator takes his first step towards realising his dreams. But how prepared is he for the perils of the desert and the sea that lie between him and Rome? When the Sky is Ready The Stars Shall Appear is a compelling tale of a young man’s journey towards Rome in search of a better life.

E.C Osondu has won numerous prizes including the Caine Prize and the Pushcart Prize. He is the author of Voice of America, a collection of short stories; and a novel, This House Is Not For Sale. Osondu’s work has been translated into Japanese, Icelandic, Belarusian, German and Italian.

He is a Professor of English at Providence College, Rhode Island, USA.