In his debut novel, “Spaceman of Bohemia,” Jaroslav Kalfař writes “…if existence could be so simply played out by language, why would we spend our lives trying to justify our right to breathe?” This concept — how language constitutes so much of our lives even though it fails us sometimes — looms large over the book. Language often struggles to capture the full weight of history on one’s life, the importance of love, and the desire to leave a mark on the world. Mr. Kalfař deftly balances these concerns while leaping from childhood to adulthood, from Earth to Venus, and from reality to fantasy to create a deeply introspective novel that explores philosophical concerns with humor, tenderness, and a preternatural understanding of the desires that can lie within the human heart.

In the indeterminate future, Jakub Procházka is not only the first astronaut from the Czech Republic, but also the first to explore Chopra — a new cloud of intergalactic dust that has formed between Earth and Venus. For Jakub, his journey represents a pinnacle of Czech — and human — achievement, but also the culmination of a life spent trying to escape the sins of his father, who collaborated with the oppressive Communist regime that controlled what was Czechoslovakia until 1989.

When the communist government falls, those who collaborated with the government are met with open hostility from the citizens who had been repressed, arrested, or worse by the Communist Party. After the death of Jakub’s parents, he and his grandparents are met with increasing anger from their neighbors as retribution for his father’s actions.

The desired retribution is brought to life by the “Shoe Man,” who was tortured by Jakub’s father; he ultimately forces Jakub and his family to leave their small village for the relative anonymity of Prague. Once they arrive in Prague, Jakub becomes an ambitious scientist specializing in cosmic dust, and it is this ambition, combined with the redemptive nature of overcoming his father’s failures, that leads to Jakub being chosen as the all-important pioneering astronaut to examine Chopra.

Once Jakub is in space, however, things begin to go wrong. His beloved wife, Lenka, decides she is no longer able to continue their marriage. This desertion intensifies the powerful sense of isolation Jakub is already experiencing, relieved only by the arrival of a giant alien spider — who may or may not be a hallucination. The interaction between Jakub and the alien is funny, poignant, and philosophical, as the alien’s desire to learn about humanity turns Jakub’s focus inward to what it means to be human, for better or worse.

When Jakub and his alien friend finally reach Chopra, it sets off a chain of surprising events that require Jakub to find peace and strength within himself; these “adventures” will form his identity for the rest of his life, whether he wants them to or not.

“Spaceman of Bohemia” is an intensely satisfying debut from an author who shows a profound understanding of the uncertainties of life and how difficult it can be to voice them. Mr. Kalfař’s use of the political history of the Czech Republic (a little familiarity with the background of the country will help readers follow the plot) gives an added dimension to his protagonist that informs his reactions to the world; Jakub is brought to life so thoroughly that the full-circle nature of his narrative feels both surprising, yet inevitable to readers paying attention. This novel—a thoughtful blend of Philip K. Dick, the book/​movie “The Martian,” and Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” — is a gratifying introduction to an author who, one can hope, is just beginning.

Wendy Wright is a freelance writer and editor living in Pittsburgh.

First Published: April 2, 2017, 4:00 a.m.