Novellas, often perceived as shorter novels, can sometimes feel too brief, ending just as the reader becomes immersed. Yet, the continued creation of compelling and interestingly titled works in this format necessitates their exploration. This week features a look at two such concise books.
“Vigil” by George Saunders
The first is “Vigil,” penned by Booker Prize winner George Saunders, acclaimed for his novel “Lincoln in the Bardo.” In “Vigil,” the spirit of a woman named Jill “Doll” Blaine descends to Earth to witness the final hours of an oil magnate, K.J. Boone.
Jill’s purported role is one of solace, guiding souls toward peace with their past actions. However, Boone requires no such comfort. He appears content with his life’s choices, a life that, as an oil magnate, was inherently built on deceit and significant environmental damage.
The narrative unfolds during Boone’s last hours. Other spectral figures and family members arrive, each seeking some form of confrontation or resolution with the dying tycoon. Jill, the narrator, finds herself increasingly frustrated by Boone. She begins to drift, revisiting moments from her own life and death before ultimately returning to her vigil by his bedside.
As anticipated from a writer of Saunders’s caliber, each sentence within “Vigil” is crafted with freshness and elegance. He consistently avoids the mundane and the cliché.
Despite the stylistic brilliance, the resolution of “Vigil” left the reviewer unsatisfied. There was an expectation of deeper insight into Boone’s motivations, or perhaps, a shared sense of reckoning that permeated the story’s other characters. Furthermore, Jill emerged as the most compelling figure, and spending more time exploring her tragic past would have been welcome.
Nonetheless, Saunders’s mastery and artistic vision are undeniable, as is the pertinence of the themes he tackles in “Vigil.” It is likely a work that benefits from a second reading.
“The Rainseekers” by Matthew Kressel
Moving to “The Rainseekers” by Matthew Kressel, this work functions as a collection of interconnected short stories unified by a central narrative thread. The primary character, Sakunja Salazar, is an influencer who has transitioned into journalism. She resides on Mars during a period when the planet’s terraforming efforts are showing substantial results.
Mars now possesses open bodies of water, and at times, breathable air, though this can be interrupted by surges of low-oxygen wind. Sakunja is participating in an expedition into the Martian wilderness with a group aiming to be the first to witness rain on the planet. This concept is presented as both beautiful and poetic.
During their journey, Sakunja interviews her fellow “rainseekers,” inquiring about their lives and their individual motivations for wanting to experience Martian rain. Each of these accounts enriches the broader narrative of the group’s trek into the untamed Martian landscape.
Kressel demonstrates a considerable talent for conveying personal histories concisely and powerfully, lending the novella considerable depth. These individual narratives collectively construct a vivid portrayal of the solar system as envisioned in Kressel’s future.
The reviewer found Sakunja herself to be the least engaging aspect of the book, failing to elicit significant interest or empathy. Nevertheless, “The Rainseekers” is described as an enjoyable and deeply human companion piece to seminal terraforming narratives, such as Kim Stanley Robinson’s “Mars” trilogy.
Also Recommended: “Juice” by Tim Winton
For readers interested in the role of oil magnates and their impact on climate change, Tim Winton’s “Juice” is recommended. This novel journeys far into the future, where individuals can still be held accountable for past transgressions. It is recognized as an outstanding work and was selected as the New Scientist Book Club pick for the month.
Emily H. Wilson, the author of the “Sumerians” series, is currently developing her debut science fiction novel. Formerly an editor at New Scientist, she can be found on Instagram at @emilyhwilson1.