Open Sea is an intense and captivating story of a remarkable feat of strength.

It was a death sentence. Most likely they were all thinking the same, as apart from the whine of the wind and the mutter of the waves, there was silence in the darkness on the wet, slippery keel of the boat.

When a fishing boat capsizes out on the open sea late one dark winter evening off the south coast of Iceland, there’s little hope for the men on board – there’s no lifeboat, no radio, no flares, nothing at all. Of the five fishermen, three make it to the keel and the others disappear into the depths. When the boat slips below the waves, their only option is to swim and hope, even though it’s a long way to shore and home in the Westman Islands. Before long there’s only one left. Completely alone.

One man faces the overwhelming elements, one man swimming in the open sea in bitter cold and black night, with no hope of rescue. One by one, each spark of hope is extinguished as the others vanish into the darkness, nobody on board a passing boat notices the man in the
water, and he swims on, swims, swims in desperation…

Einar Karason recounts in striking style a tale of deadly danger and the will to survive. Open Sea is a novel based on true events, as were his previous novels Storm Birds and Dark Skies. Both were well received, with a respected award in Sweden for Storm Birds, which was also selected by the Sunday Times as the best translated novel of 2020.

“When discussing the works of Einar Karason, it’s instinctive to draw parallels with classic Icelandic literature, including the renowned sagas. Karason’s writing encapsulates elements of brevity, fatality, and life-altering narratives. While these comparisons are fitting, Karason’s unique style sets him apart. Indeed, he can be seen as a rightful heir to the legacy of Nobel laureate Halldór Laxness.”
JONAS THENTE, DAGENS NYHETER, SWEDEN

“A gorgeous modern Icelandic saga. The main character is a hero because he respects himself and those close to him, and he is exceptionally fit physically.”
KRISTJAN J. JONSSON, FRETTABLADID DAILY

FOUR STARS OF FIVE POSSIBLE
“… a well-written account about a terrible accident where four men, aged twenty to thirty, perished, while one survived by a miraculous deed. It is about hope and expectations, love, life after death and several other subjects that man will ever think of when times are harsh. This novel is respectful and gentle for those countless fishermen who have perished in the act of feeding Icelandic macro-economy.”
PALL WINKEL, MORGUNBLADID DAILY