A woman runs from a cult leader.

A man watches a crowd carry a baby into the woods.

A boy makes a childhood friend who is much older than she appears.

The forty pieces in this book unite two creative endeavours at the heart of humanity: making music and telling stories. Each writer took inspiration from one of the ten tracks on the Wayward & Upward album by Spinoza Gambit. This anthology collects one short story and three poems for each track, showcasing the variety of interpretations a single piece of music can evoke.

"Metafictional conversations and stand-alone pieces alike shine with creativity, taking thought experiments to a whole other level of engagement. One can read in the presented order or dip in at will and allow the writing to behave like music. With Wayward and Upward, one can listen with the eyes and encounter new voices showcasing the resilience and flexibility of human imagination."

- Michelle Butler Hallett, Winner of the Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize, Constant Nobody

With a FOREWORD by Jason Hayward (SPINOZA GAMBIT)