Launch thrusts readers into the life of Theo Strahl, a quirky artist and inventor from Winnipeg who’s spent the past two decades happily scavenging back-lanes and transforming scrap into art. But beneath his contented exterior, Theo has always been quietly expecting the world to end within his lifetime.

On his fortieth birthday, Theo’s fears are brought to life when an otherworldly voice named Ford disrupts his celebration, commanding him to build a Noah’s Ark-esque spaceship to escape the doomed planet. As someone who’s convinced that the countdown to global collapse is ticking away, Ford’s message feels disturbingly plausible. In the weeks that follow, Theo becomes consumed by Ford’s impossible task, unraveling his once-happy life as he prepares to escape from a world he’s always feared would implode. His obsession strains his marriage and alienates his son — leaving Theo to confront his deepest fears about life, love, and the meaning of survival.

Launch explores the haunting echoes of Cold War trauma, the fragility of family bonds, and the eternal struggle between hope and despair. In a world on the brink of ruin, can Theo salvage his relationships — or will his journey to the stars tear everything apart?