AustLit

'At perihelion, a planetary body is at the position in its orbit at which it is closest to its sun.

'There are those who like to think themselves too great for the void of empty space—believing that darkness will never eclipse their pristine lives. They are the kind of people who walk in the light year-round as if it is a privilege granted at birth. But where there is light there must be shadow. At times, the weight of the world or rather, its heavens, seemed all too much for him to bear. Thus he sought to share the load, and in doing so he had fashioned himself the mask of Atlas—outwardly like god, inwardly something bitter and diseased—a creature that enjoyed watching the weight collapse upon the shoulders of those fooled into wearing it.' (Introduction)