Orbo and the Godhead

by Luke Delin

Orbo and the Godhead is a short novel by Luke Delin. A sci fi bent literary tale, Luke takes us through the badlands of a psych ward where patients are known as Flowers, a spa resort run by a tai chi maniac, and the strange Tory world of the Dept. of Perambulation. What to do with a fairy in the dome? Inspired by spending too much time on his phone, Orbo and the Godhead shines a near future light on what the world could be. Do we want it, though?

158 pages, Paperback

First published June 9, 2021

About the author

Luke Delin is a writer from England. A brief stay in a mental facility in 2014 and a desire to talk more openly about psychosis were the catalysts for his first novel The Asphodel. Other books of his include the sci fi tale of Orbo and the Godhead; the absurdist Mneme's Stoned; his most recent novel Idylle Night's Detachable Doom, and the long short story Man Hero Oak Machine.

Reviews

[L.S. Popovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and powerful book by an as-yet largely unread author. One of Mr. Delin's many talents is striking word choice. Several times per page, I believe most readers will quirk a smile, or at least appreciate a clever turn of phrase. The book is highly clever, in myriad ways.

Many humorous and disturbing moments combine in an unconventional way to form a webwork of strange characters whose bizarre behavior coalesces in a pseudo conspiracy involving a spa, mind-augmentation, "constitutionally loco" glue, and several other eyebrow-raising phenomena. The writing is reminiscent of early Pynchon, littered with Britishisms, but dryly hilarious and innovative on every level.

Entertaining to the max, but possessing an aimless quality in the first half, before literary neurons connect to the reader's greater awareness. Mildly mind-altering, this novel will easily impress any fan of sleek soft-dystopian social commentary.

It is a shame that the world average books read a year is 12 (decreasing) and number of books published per year is 2.2 million (increasing). Thus the chances that this superbly talented writer will be recognized or well-paid anytime soon are slim. I would entreat you to give this book a read. It's relatable jokes and powerful satire constitute a unique and beautiful literary accomplishment.

[Rick Harsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

When corona\samizdat published Ameria and the Cult of the Cactus Boots: a Diagnostic, we knew we had a unique masterpiece on our hands, a book like Infinite Jest that comes along no more than once a decade, if that, one that touches people, even changes them, that becomes one of the unforgettable reading experiences of their lives. And so it has been. If I had to guess at the formula for such a book I would say it is several parts Amazonian wisdom, calculable amounts of succulence amid famine, odd strains of blood drained from select brains and, finally the encouragement of intellect in literary language such that the book refuses to turn from the burning future yet honestly offers surcease of craven pecuniary nonsense along with the fresh aires of creativity.
Not much of that formula is necessary to write an excellent novel, but few take into the intestinals the means to manage it. Luke Delin, in Orbo and the Godhead does so, and he is a deft writer besides. Interestingly, his novel continues the line continued by Phillip Freedenberg in Cactus Boots, a very natural line, informed by the very real horror of a nightmare future that involves one form or another of mind control. Like, for instance, noir, the literature of near future mind death has become a literary genre.
That's one thing.
Another is a separate subject, for the most part. Talented writers are brutalized from the moment they aspire to publication. Just take a look at the two reviews of this book above this one, one by Zach Tanner, an open jolly non-competitive artminded fellow. Now read the next one. We could all live much better without the Salis condescension. But, bitter biting world, we must chew through shit to rediscover fresh air. I had read less than a full page of Orbo when I decided corona\samizdat press would offer to publish Orbo, which I was certain Luke Delin had published on his own and so would likely be pleased at the offer. He was, and now that I have read that second review I am very happy for many good reasons and one I wish I could ignore.
Well, Delin's writing will be its own palliative--as will the infinite words of the many writers we discover once we've disarmed ourselves.
I expect Orbo and the Godhead will be published sometime in February or so in 2022.

[Zachary Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lightly speculative novella-length tale set four years after an unnamed pandemic covering Illumine Spa’s two-month conspiracy to put the whole world inside its Resort, barring exit to all except those who can afford to choose otherwise. This is achieved by the use of a master code written into MP (Mindphone, like an iPhone hooked to the mind’s eye that even the blind can see) tech by the original unattributed genius who designed the nanoneural technology eventually exploited by a Steve Jobs type, whose uniform capitalist success is in turn exploited by bigger money to “Preambulate” the world. Said unattributed genius’s Incandenza-like nuclear family populate the novel, and it is quite consciously transparent in its at-least-Baccalaureate handling of the Global Bipartisan Dilemma by science fictionalizing contemporary social progressivist issues in an entertaining way. The brief interlude with the nb who frees all the animals from the zoo is worth the entire book alone. A deep, yet imprecise debut novel featuring characters who are self-proclaimed experts in “18th, 19th, and 20th c experimental prose,” yet who huff hyperglue and spare heady literary allusions for Nintendo ones. A book that seems to be written by and for the sort brooding druggy (myself when I was an adolescent) who likes to drink cough syrup and watch Enter the Void, Donnie Darko, or Trainspotting, but also a novel that often spirals into Saganesque cosmological musings in authorial asides that constitute this reader’s favorite sections of the book, and make me eager to read what the author has referred to me in correspondence as the ‘WIP.’

[Tom Ghostly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke Delin's "Orbo & the Godhead" is a pretty slim novel that, regardless, has a lot to tell us. I'm not usually a big fan of shorter novels, but Luke Delin's achievement is unique and impressed me heavily. Of course, there is some overlap of themes with Wallace's "Infinite Jest," as one of the core themes of the novel is, well, addiction, addiction in whatever form. As in "Infinite Jest," drug and also screen addiction comes into play, with the difference that here the screen in the form of a "Mindphone" is seamlessly integrated into the mind via neurotechnology.

There is something deeply touching and human about the story of "Mindphone" inventor Elbert Mann, who loses his eyesight and therefore invents the "Mindphone" prototype to gift himself a second visual re-imagining of the world, but who soon goes insane from the images in his head, which simply aren't „the real deal“ and not to be compared with experiencing the real world for yourself. As a result, he ultimately ends up in an asylum. There's just something about this story that deeply resonated with me, something that I could by no means forget and ignore by closing the book.

Most of the chapters are just brief silhouettes of a variety of characters, primarily the Moon family, but also the characters surrounding a spa resort that seeks to create a multi-orgasmic sense of well-being in its guests, something of absolutely addictive potential, and thus belatedly but cleverly builds a connection to the core themes surrounding the other characters.
“Orbo & The Godhead” is an exceedingly intelligently constructed novel, albeit a short one at around 200 pages, a composition that manages to say more about us and our society than some novels manage in 500 pages. Luke Delin is one of the most promising young authors to me, which is why I can't wait to read more of his work. Well played, Luke!

This review reflects my honest opinion. „Orbo & The Godhead“ by Luke Delin is available at http://coronasamizdat.com.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

“War is ugly. Especially with yourself.”

Boxing Day for me is staying in my pajamas, and reading all day. This year’s choice book was from the wonderfully talented, Luke Delin.
Orbo and the Godhead is a far too realistic story of how quickly things can spiral when powerful technology falls into the wrong hands. Rich with humor and symbolism, this dystopian tale is quirky, dangerous, and timely. Luke does a great job of creating parallels between those that voluntarily want to escape reality - social media/technology, drug use - and those that have no choice but to live in an alternate reality because of their mental illness. This theme is common throughout the novel, and shapes the readers perspective, emphasizing how toxic to our minds technology can be, and how easy it is to lose ourselves. This novel gave me Infinite Jest meets Snow Crash, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey!

[draxtor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, heartfelt, quirky and British and mind you this is a HUGE compliment coming from a German lad who bears a surname known on the island (although I am a bit irked that in this FINE novel the character Hilton Dax has a missing "r" in his name, ah well ... next time Luke? PLEASE?)

Wonderful characters, the writing exuding empathy as well very well placed anger at a system that is designed to dehumanize/numb.

I have found a new writer who I will have to absorb everything he has written!

I am going to put a A4 sheet of paper on my office door now, labeled "HEAVEN ALSO".

Thank you!

[Theodora]

DNF. Unpopular opinion: I didn’t get hooked. Lengthy sentences, confusing. I just couldn’t get it.