Jakub Procházka

Jakub Procházka is the protagonist of the novel. He is the Czech Republic’s first astronaut. Jakub lived a troubled childhood. His father was a torturer for the Soviet Union, so after the Czech Republic separated from the Soviet Union during the Velvet Revolution, Jakub’s village, Středa, turned against his family. Jakub is married to Lenka, who left Jakub because of the distance between them. Jakub’s mission is to investigate a space cloud, Chopra, floating near Venus.

Throughout Jakub’s journey, he philosophizes with almost every character he meets. One of his most frequently recurring interlocutors is Hanuš, an alien who may or may not exist. Jakub talks to the alien about the origins and purpose of humanity, Jakub’s struggles with his isolation, and the nature of existence itself. By the end of Jakub’s journey, he becomes reliant on the...