A VOYAGE TO ARCTURUS is set on the imaginary world of Tormance, a planet orbiting the distant star Arcturus. Much of the story involves a journey through the lands of Tormance, which represent philosophical systems or states of mind, through which the main character, Maskull, passes on his search for the meaning of life.

David Lindsay (1876-1945) was British writer best known for his philosophical science fiction novel A VOYAGE TO ARCTURUS. Born in Scotland, Lindsay lived much of his life England. After a career as a clerk at Lloyd's of London and service in World War I, Lindsay moved to Cornwall to pursue writing full-time. His first novel, ARCTURUS, was not a success, with fewer than six hundred sold. The work did influence C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien is said to have enjoyed it.