There are books you read for entertainment, and then there are books that quietly pull you into a deeper state of reflection—stories that linger long after the final page. PonWerDas – Pulsations, the second instalment in Sabastian Gall’s ambitious PonWerDas series, firmly belongs to the latter category. As a lifelong bookworm with a particular love for thought-provoking fiction, I approached this pre-release with high expectations. What I found was not just a sequel, but an expansion into something far more daring, unsettling, and intellectually gripping.
Gall does not simply continue a story here. He fractures it, stretches it across realities, and asks the reader to piece together meaning from a narrative that resists simplicity. This is a novel about perception, identity, and the fragile boundaries that define existence itself.
A Quiet Town, A Violent Disturbance
The novel opens in the small Uruguayan town of Treinta y Tres, a setting that feels grounded, almost comfortingly ordinary. That sense of calm is shattered in an instant.
Strange pulsations ripple through the night.
These are not mere tremors or unexplained noises. They carry a presence—something intangible yet deeply unsettling. The entire town feels it, but no one understands it. From this moment forward, reality itself begins to shift.
Gall excels at creating atmosphere. The pulsations are not over-explained; instead, they are felt. As a reader, you sense their weight long before you understand their significance. This is one of the book’s greatest strengths—its ability to evoke unease without relying on overt exposition.
The Peralta Sisters: A Story of Loss and Distortion
At the emotional core of Pulsations are the Peralta sisters—Dolores, Eva, and Zara. Their relationship grounds the story, even as everything around them becomes unstable.
When Zara disappears without a trace shortly after the pulsations, the narrative takes on an immediate sense of urgency. But Gall does not approach this as a typical missing person storyline.
Instead, he introduces something far more disturbing.
Eva begins to change.
Her behaviour shifts subtly at first, then more dramatically. She forgets Zara entirely, as though her sister never existed. Even more unsettling are the small inconsistencies—details of their home that she remembers differently. The colour of the stairs. The layout of rooms. Everyday elements that should be fixed suddenly become fluid.
As a reader, this is where the story begins to truly grip you.
Is Eva losing her mind? Or is something far more complex unfolding?
Psychological Tension Meets Science Fiction
What makes Pulsations particularly compelling is how it blends psychological tension with speculative science.
Eva’s deterioration leads to forced psychiatric treatment, isolating Dolores at a time when she desperately needs clarity. This decision introduces a layer of realism that contrasts sharply with the increasingly surreal events.
Dolores becomes the anchor of the narrative.
Through her perspective, we experience confusion, fear, and determination. She is not a passive character. She questions everything, even when the answers threaten to destabilise her understanding of reality.
Gall uses this tension effectively. The story never rushes to explain itself. Instead, it allows uncertainty to build, creating a sense of unease that mirrors Dolores’s own experience.
Parallel Realities: A Narrative That Expands
Just as the reader begins to settle into one storyline, Pulsations introduces a second reality.
In this world, Dolores has always been an only child.
This shift is handled with remarkable precision. There is no dramatic announcement—just a quiet transition that forces the reader to recalibrate their understanding of the story.
Then comes the intrusion.
A mysterious woman appears in Dolores’s home, claiming to be her sister.
The confrontation that follows is tense, unpredictable, and ultimately tragic. In a moment of panic, Dolores shoots the woman, who falls into a coma. What initially appears to be a case of self-defence quickly becomes something far stranger.
The woman does not exist.
There is no record of her identity. No documentation. No trace in the DNA database—a system that, in this world, tracks every citizen from birth.
This is where Gall’s storytelling becomes truly fascinating.
He takes a familiar concept—the idea of parallel universes—and grounds it in a mystery that feels both personal and scientific. The question is no longer just “what happened?” but “how can this be possible at all?”
The CERN Connection: Science Enters the Narrative
As the mystery deepens, the story expands beyond the personal and into the global.
The case reaches the attention of a scientist at CERN.
This is a pivotal moment in the novel. It signals a shift from isolated incidents to something far more significant. The pulsations, the disappearance, the untraceable woman—these are no longer separate events.
They are connected.
The suggestion that parallel universes may be interacting is not presented as a dramatic twist, but as a logical possibility. Gall treats the science with respect, allowing it to enhance the narrative rather than overshadow it.
For readers who enjoy speculative fiction grounded in real-world theory, this aspect of the book is particularly engaging.
A Third Reality: The Orange Sky and the Unknown
Just when you think the narrative has reached its conceptual peak, Pulsations introduces yet another layer.
A third reality.
Here, Elena Peralta finds herself in a forest that feels both familiar and alien. The world resembles her memories, but something is off. The house she remembers does not exist. The environment feels incomplete, as though reality itself has been altered.
Then come the orange spots.
Small, almost beautiful at first glance, they appear suspended in the air. But their presence carries a sense of danger. They are not natural. They are not harmless.
They are part of the same phenomenon.
This section of the novel is particularly atmospheric. Gall leans into sensory detail, creating a setting that feels both vivid and disorienting. As a reader, you are not just observing Elena’s experience—you are immersed in it.
Themes That Elevate the Story
At its heart, Pulsations is not just about parallel universes. It is about what those universes reveal.
Identity
Who are we if our memories can change? If our relationships can disappear? If another version of ourselves exists somewhere else?
Gall explores identity as something fluid rather than fixed.
Reality
The novel challenges the idea that reality is stable. Instead, it suggests that what we perceive may be only one version of many.
Connection
Despite the fragmentation of worlds, there is a persistent sense of connection. Events in one reality ripple into another, creating a web of cause and effect that transcends individual timelines.
Writing Style: Controlled and Immersive
Gall’s writing style is deliberate and precise.
He does not rely on overly complex language to convey complex ideas. Instead, he uses clarity to guide the reader through challenging concepts. This makes the novel accessible without diminishing its depth.
The pacing is measured. The story unfolds gradually, allowing tension to build naturally. This approach may require patience, but it rewards attentive reading.
Emotional Resonance: Subtle but Powerful
While Pulsations is intellectually driven, it does not neglect emotion.
The disappearance of Zara, the transformation of Eva, and Dolores’s search for answers all carry emotional weight. These elements ground the story, preventing it from becoming purely abstract.
The emotional impact is not immediate or overwhelming. Instead, it builds over time, creating a lasting impression.
Strengths of the Novel
- Original concept: A fresh take on parallel universes
- Layered storytelling: Multiple realities that interconnect seamlessly
- Atmospheric writing: A strong sense of place and tension
- Thought-provoking themes: Encourages reflection beyond the narrative
Potential Challenges for Readers
- The structure requires attention and patience
- The lack of clear answers may frustrate some
- The focus on ideas over action may not appeal to all readers
These are not flaws, but characteristics of the book’s style.
Who Will Enjoy This Book?
Pulsations is ideal for readers who:
- Enjoy speculative and philosophical fiction
- Appreciate complex, layered narratives
- Are open to ambiguity and interpretation
- Prefer depth over fast-paced action
Final Thoughts: A Sequel That Expands the Possibilities
As a pre-release read, PonWerDas – Pulsations left a strong impression.
It is a bold continuation of the series, one that refuses to simplify its ideas or compromise its vision. Sabastian Gall has created a story that challenges, unsettles, and engages in equal measure.
This is not a book you race through.
It is a book you sit with.
It asks questions that do not have easy answers. It invites you to reconsider what you know about reality, identity, and the nature of existence itself.
Verdict
PonWerDas – Pulsations is a compelling, thought-provoking novel that stands out in the landscape of modern speculative fiction.
For readers willing to embrace its complexity, it offers a deeply rewarding experience—one that lingers long after the final page.
Conclusion
In a world where many stories follow familiar patterns, Pulsations dares to do something different.
It breaks boundaries—both narratively and conceptually.
And in doing so, it creates a reading experience that is as challenging as it is unforgettable.
For UK readers seeking something beyond the ordinary, this pre-release is well worth the anticipation.
The real question is not just what happens in the story.
It is what happens to your perception of reality once you’ve read it.