Bright Objects: A Novel Inspired by Cults and Celestial Events

Bright Objects

By Ruby Todd

HBO’s Covid hit series “The Vow” has sparked a widespread fascination with cult documentaries, showcasing the allure of extreme beliefs and behaviors. Ruby Todd’s debut novel, “Bright Objects,” draws inspiration from the Heaven’s Gate cult, known for their belief in hitching a ride on the Hale-Bopp comet in 1997 using phenobarbital. Unlike the sensationalism found in recent cult documentaries like “Love Has Won” and “Escaping Twin Flames,” Todd takes a more introspective approach to exploring the depths of devotion.

Set in 1997 in the quaint Australian town of Jericho, the story revolves around the imminent arrival of a newly discovered comet, St. John. The comet’s approach triggers fervent reactions among the townspeople, each seeking profound significance in the celestial event. Sylvia Knight, grappling with the unresolved hit-and-run death of her husband Christopher, decides to end her life on the comet’s arrival date.

Before carrying out her plan, Sylvia becomes entangled in a complex web of relationships, torn between two intriguing figures. Theo St. John, the astronomer who discovered the comet, offers her unexpected companionship, while Joseph Evans, a local mystic with apocalyptic beliefs about the comet, introduces her to fatalistic ideologies.

Sylvia reveals that she has experienced death twice within two years — first in the car crash that claimed her husband’s life and then in circumstances akin to the tragic fate of Heaven’s Gate followers under Joseph’s influence.