orientation

by Daniel Orozco

A new employee’s first-day office tour includes descriptions of other workers’ most private thoughts and actions.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, School

Unknown Binding

About the author

Daniel Orozco's stories have appeared in Best American Short Stories, Best American Mystery Stories, Best American Essays, and the Pushcart Prize Anthology, as well as in publications such as Harpers Magazine, Zoetrope: All-Story, McSweeneys, Ecotone, and Story Quarterly. He was awarded a 2006 NEA fellowship in fiction, and was a finalist for a 2006 National Magazine Award in fiction. A former Stegner Fellow and Jones Lecturer at Stanford, he teaches creative writing at the University of Idaho.

Reviews

[annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed Daniel Orozco’s “Orientation,” which surprised me because I’m a notoriously picky reader. The writing style reminded me of Fight Club, one of my all time favorite books, and I think pairing that with the impersonal tone perfectly encapsulated the disturbing atmosphere. There were many elements I loved—the narrative voice, the repetition, the short and choppy sentences—but my favorite was the way in which it slowly devolved into madness without ever losing its detached tone. The story starts off innocently enough, with odd details slowly cropping up, such as not being allowed to ask too many questions and always being able to count on the temps leaving. It then escalates into weirder territory, with details of Amanda Pierce’s sex life, before finally ventering the unbelievable (e.g. Anika Bloom’s bleeding palm and Kevin Howard being a serial killer). I found it intriguing that the narrator never once broke character, and reported everything in the same cold manner.

Though “Orientation” is obviously a fictional story, I think it reflects a lot of truths about our daily lives. Like the characters of the story, we often don’t care about the personal lives of the people we study or work with—so much so that even if we discover they’ve done something despicable, it usually doesn’t move us to do anything beyond a casual afternoon gossip session. The events of “Orientation” may be outrageous, but it’s thanks to its far-fetched nature that the message of the story is successfully conveyed.

[cha-mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

teka nak soaper effective ng story telling kahit aq narush don 😭

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

assigned for short story lit course || Orozco believes we are the true distilled versions of ourself at work. The descriptions start of point blank and bare only to slowly ramp up as each coworker is introduced. Until finally we get to Kevin, “[Kevin Howard] is a serial killer, the one they call the Carpet Cutter, responsible for the mutilations across town. We’re not suppose to know that, so do not let one…when Kevin Howard gets caught, act surprised.” Could you imagine it’s your first day of work and your trainer is just like “bee tee dubs our coworker is that serial killer but don’t worry he’s pretty chill just don’t talk to him.” Like!! Okay!! I enjoyed this short story it was giving a more civilized narration à la Chuck Palahniuk.

[Pug · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the colorful characters and got a kick out of virtually visiting someone's mundane workplace (this is the Mr. Coffee, here is the supply closet, etc.). Although it devolved quickly, becoming unbelievable... which I thought was trying too hard.

Then I got depressed, remembering many first days at new jobs. Which are always really tough and scary. And always so serious... far more serious than it needs to be, in my opinion.

[Isaiah MorVvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really like the concept and the silly/interesting characters, but the story was kind of long and eventually got a little boring.
sometimes this happens with longer works that are at least 200 pages but for a short story I don't really like that.
the tone fits and is humorously ironic at times.

[bay · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this a few years ago and, until now, i forgot how much of a trip it is!!

[Shayzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I have to read it again. I think I may have missed something.

[Mary Vermillion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the shifting point of view in these deliciously dark stories, and I can't wait until Orozco visits Mount Mercy Oct. 24.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this the dream? Is this what they all work for? Look on your works and despair.