Numb

Numb, a man who feels no pain and has no memory of how he came to be this way, travels to New York City after a short stint in the circus to search for the answers to his past. But when word of his condition spreads -- sparked by the attention he attracts from letting people nail his hands to bars for money -- he quickly finds himself hounded on all sides by those who would use his unique ability in their own pursuits of fame and fortune. There's the best friend who doesn't quite know how to handle Numb's newfound celebrity, the savvy talent agent who may or may not have Numb's best interests in mind, the sadistic supermodel whose idea of a good time involves lion claws and can openers, and the blind girlfriend who might actually see something in Numb others don't. As Numb navigates this strange world, and as he continues to search for clues from his past, he is forced to confront one of life's toughest questions: Who am I?

NUMB is a highly imaginative, wildly entertaining story with an intriguing premise -- a character who feels no pain -- but it rises to another level as a thoughtful examination of identity, friendship, pain, the cult of celebrity, and the nature of the media. Sean Ferrell is a fresh new voice in fiction, and he has created a fascinating character in Numb, whose struggle with his self-image will endear him to readers and whose somewhat bizarre story provides keen, honest insight into pop culture and the entertainment industry.