Incarcerated for his subversive connection to the old, living world, a prisoner makes the most of his isolation in this captivating allegorical tale about tyranny, conviction, and the enduring power of imagination.
Upon setting out for a morning walk with his knobby stick in hand, a young man is arrested by a robot called the Plotinus and abandoned in a cell where one beam of sunlight beckons through an air duct. Rapping his knuckles against the vent to relay his tale of woe in code, he recalls his lost love and their group's forbidden activities; his readings in philosophy and the sciences; and sweet memories of freedom's small pleasures. As the captive confronts his increasingly dire circumstances with rigorous optimism, the appearance of fantastical visitors and miraculous objects in his cell further blurs the line between hallucination and dystopian reality. Told with uncanny warmth and intellectual brio, The Plotinus is Rikki Ducornet's most unforgettable story yet.
- First title in CHP’s new NVLA series: "Experimental books about death" meets the beach read! Novellas are the perfect size to tuck in a tote bag with your towel and sunscreen, or in your carry-on for the plane ride. Expect the same unusual stories and inventively crafted language that you would from any CHP book—just in miniature!
- Beloved author with strong sales and publicity record: Review coverage for Trafik was enthusiastic and diverse, spanning literary channels like Kirkus and popular websites like Buzzfeed. Ducornet has a devoted fan base of independent booksellers and readers.
- Timely themes: Explores ideas about freedom and captivity, acts of protest, human dignity, and the importance of beauty during crises. Will resonate with readers processing experiences of isolation during the pandemic and mourning the rise of authoritarianism in the US today.
- One-of-a-kind voice: Ducornet is beloved for her vibrant, nimble style and touches of surrealism. Kirkus’s starred review of Trafik praised its "queer linguistic egalitarianism" and the "bumptious rollick" of Rikki’s language, and the same delightfully imaginative spirit is present in The Plotinus.
- For readers of Jeff VanderMeer, Yoko Tawada, Leonora Carrington, and Italo Calvino.
