I've seen it compared to prose poetry, which it seems a little more fictional than situational, but perhaps if you have read Ponge or Reverdy, or Anne Carson or Russel Edson (you should REALLY read Russell Edson) or James Tate you might see some similarities/connections.
I haven’t read this but it sounds like it could be one of those books where it’s more than the sum of its parts (if it works). I think it was you who recommended “Man in the Anthropocene” to me, right? I would describe that the same way. I really, really liked it, but there are no specific events that stand out. It’s just the accumulation of detail and repetition that eventually becomes overwhelming and creates meaning. I should organize my thoughts on it but if you remember a lot of the novel is reproductions of cut outs from the encyclopedia that the main character sticks to his wall (sounds like something similar happens in Orbital.) The encyclopedia sections are often about dinosaurs, and the feeling you get while reading is of the complete insignificance of humanity. It was equally terrifying and liberating. Is Orbital is trying to do something similar?
Yes, I recommended "Man in the Holocene" (Max Frisch) right after reading your excellent post on Handke's "The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick." It gave me the idea to do a comparison of those two works, highlighting the similarities between them. I may still do that, if it doesn't take too much time!
"Orbital" is different from "Holocene" in a couple of ways. Mainly, it's not a character study, which "Holocene" is - the feeling of dread in the latter book is because of the main character's slow descent into insanity. There are barely any characters in "Orbital." If there's a main character, it's the Earth as viewed from space, which is why I thought the book was the literary equivalent of an IMAX movie.
I started out liking "Orbital" because of the vivid prose, but then I gradually lost interest, because there was really no development. Whereas with "Holocene" my interest increased as the book went on, because I was drawn into the character's situation.
BTW, the "found" material (illustrations etc.) in "Holocene" seems to prefigure WG Sebald, who famously inserted photographs in his novels. I don't know if Frisch was the first to do this, but he was definitely doing it before Sebald.
I thought immediately that Orbital would make a great little movie, maybe Japanese, like the recent Previously Saved Version, which has many of the visual elements of Orbital, if I recall.
I always liked Frisch’s I’m Not Stiller and wondered just now if anyone had ever adapted it to film, since it should make a great 50s period piece. I looked it up and see that one is in production. Maybe Frisch will have a comeback?
Last winter somewhere here on Substack the author asked about German-language literature in translation and I recommended Frisch’s Stiller, Sebald’s The Emigrants, Joseph Roth’s The Radetzky March, Handke’s A Sorrow Beyond Dreams, Grass’s Local Anaesthetic, and Christa Wolf’s Cassandra. A newsletter read mostly, I think, by young women, so maybe not attuned to this literature of the past. But you never know.
Oh, yeah it's "Holocene"--my bad. Interesting note about Sebald, I've been meaning to read him but haven't got around to it yet. I'll probably pass on Orbital. And if you write something on Handke and Frisch, I would be very interested!
Thanks, Scott. I often try to read the Booker winner and/or some of the short-listed finalists. I've read a few reviews now of Orbital, and every one of them, your included, confirms my sense that I don't need to read this one. (And strengthens my suspicion that there must have been a worthier candidate for the prize.)
Helpful review. I had been wondering if I should read it since it’s a spacey book and I dig space. This confirms there’s no need to rush. I’ll read it in 5 years when I find it for a buck at my local library sale, and no sooner.
Basically, my conclusion is "if this is the sort of thing you like, then you'll probably like it." I got mine from the library; glad I didn't pay for it.
I've seen it compared to prose poetry, which it seems a little more fictional than situational, but perhaps if you have read Ponge or Reverdy, or Anne Carson or Russel Edson (you should REALLY read Russell Edson) or James Tate you might see some similarities/connections.
I haven’t read this but it sounds like it could be one of those books where it’s more than the sum of its parts (if it works). I think it was you who recommended “Man in the Anthropocene” to me, right? I would describe that the same way. I really, really liked it, but there are no specific events that stand out. It’s just the accumulation of detail and repetition that eventually becomes overwhelming and creates meaning. I should organize my thoughts on it but if you remember a lot of the novel is reproductions of cut outs from the encyclopedia that the main character sticks to his wall (sounds like something similar happens in Orbital.) The encyclopedia sections are often about dinosaurs, and the feeling you get while reading is of the complete insignificance of humanity. It was equally terrifying and liberating. Is Orbital is trying to do something similar?
Yes, I recommended "Man in the Holocene" (Max Frisch) right after reading your excellent post on Handke's "The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick." It gave me the idea to do a comparison of those two works, highlighting the similarities between them. I may still do that, if it doesn't take too much time!
"Orbital" is different from "Holocene" in a couple of ways. Mainly, it's not a character study, which "Holocene" is - the feeling of dread in the latter book is because of the main character's slow descent into insanity. There are barely any characters in "Orbital." If there's a main character, it's the Earth as viewed from space, which is why I thought the book was the literary equivalent of an IMAX movie.
I started out liking "Orbital" because of the vivid prose, but then I gradually lost interest, because there was really no development. Whereas with "Holocene" my interest increased as the book went on, because I was drawn into the character's situation.
BTW, the "found" material (illustrations etc.) in "Holocene" seems to prefigure WG Sebald, who famously inserted photographs in his novels. I don't know if Frisch was the first to do this, but he was definitely doing it before Sebald.
I thought immediately that Orbital would make a great little movie, maybe Japanese, like the recent Previously Saved Version, which has many of the visual elements of Orbital, if I recall.
I always liked Frisch’s I’m Not Stiller and wondered just now if anyone had ever adapted it to film, since it should make a great 50s period piece. I looked it up and see that one is in production. Maybe Frisch will have a comeback?
Last winter somewhere here on Substack the author asked about German-language literature in translation and I recommended Frisch’s Stiller, Sebald’s The Emigrants, Joseph Roth’s The Radetzky March, Handke’s A Sorrow Beyond Dreams, Grass’s Local Anaesthetic, and Christa Wolf’s Cassandra. A newsletter read mostly, I think, by young women, so maybe not attuned to this literature of the past. But you never know.
Oh, yeah it's "Holocene"--my bad. Interesting note about Sebald, I've been meaning to read him but haven't got around to it yet. I'll probably pass on Orbital. And if you write something on Handke and Frisch, I would be very interested!
It's a short read, but I couldn't complete. I was bored very quickly.
A valuable review.
Thanks, Scott. I often try to read the Booker winner and/or some of the short-listed finalists. I've read a few reviews now of Orbital, and every one of them, your included, confirms my sense that I don't need to read this one. (And strengthens my suspicion that there must have been a worthier candidate for the prize.)
Helpful review. I had been wondering if I should read it since it’s a spacey book and I dig space. This confirms there’s no need to rush. I’ll read it in 5 years when I find it for a buck at my local library sale, and no sooner.
Basically, my conclusion is "if this is the sort of thing you like, then you'll probably like it." I got mine from the library; glad I didn't pay for it.