This is a work that cleverly combines both the traditional novel and the graphic novel formats, which is reason enough to read it, as far as I’m concerned. However, playing with storytelling methods isn’t this book’s only commendable virtue. ‘Tis also an original, dark, strange and atmospheric book and I found reading it to be a very immersive experience. The world created here through paper and ink is an elegant one; the main characters are all well-off and intelligent. At the same time, there is something unusual hiding at the edges of their comfortable lives, something inexplicable.
The titular Horace Dorlan is a science professor, about to deliver a lecture in Pisa. After being injured in an accident, changes come over him. He feverishly begins drawing a succession of pictures while recovering in the hospital, which serve to baffle his friends. Much to the bemusement of his colleagues, he also decides to turn his lecture into a sort of art piece, incoprorating music and performance into his speech. Has he gone mad? And not only this, but odd, darkly dreamlike events begin to occur. What I really like is that nothing is ever fully explained, so that the story flows, but only in a disconnected, dreamlike way. According to the blurb, this is because of a shifting of consciousness and reality, and the book certainly does a good job of putting that across. It is full of surreal, noirish imagery, sort of like a neutral nightmare. This is the author’s first book to use text; he’s also done two original graphic novels and an adaptation of The Master and Margerita. In my opinion, this work is a success and I fully intent to read his other stuff someday.
I think the above video fits the book’s mood perfectly.
sounds brilliant! another one for the list!
Groovy! 🙂