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Immobilité
Before the Kollaps, Detective Josef Horkai was the one they called in whenever an investigation hit a wall, the guy who barreled his way into a room full of hostages and barreled back out with nobody dead but the man holding the gun. He’s still pretty certain that he’s the best, even if now there are very few other people still alive to compete with, even if the rules of the game have completely changed.
Only problem is he’s been exposed to something that’s slowly killing him. His hair has fallen out, his teeth are all but gone, his legs are already all but useless, and he can feel the feeling slowly seeping out of his fingers. Which is why they’ve kept him frozen, held in suspended animation until they figure out what’s wrong with him. Only as it turns out it’s not all the way suspended. He can feel time oozing slowly past, has a vague sense of the world going on without him. How many years have gone by? How many decades?
And then suddenly someone claiming to be a friend thaws him out, tells him he’s needed. Something crucial has been stolen—though with the pain in his head its hard for him to keep straight what and why. He’s got to get it back or something bad—what was it again?—is going to happen. And he’s got to get it back so they can freeze him again before his own time runs out.
Is he dreaming? Or is he really awake, paralyzed from the waist down, being carried around on the back of an “assistant” who he never remembers meeting before? Why do the injections mean to help him seem to be making things worse? And why does he increasingly feel like he’s being asked not to solve a crime but to commit one?
Only problem is he’s been exposed to something that’s slowly killing him. His hair has fallen out, his teeth are all but gone, his legs are already all but useless, and he can feel the feeling slowly seeping out of his fingers. Which is why they’ve kept him frozen, held in suspended animation until they figure out what’s wrong with him. Only as it turns out it’s not all the way suspended. He can feel time oozing slowly past, has a vague sense of the world going on without him. How many years have gone by? How many decades?
And then suddenly someone claiming to be a friend thaws him out, tells him he’s needed. Something crucial has been stolen—though with the pain in his head its hard for him to keep straight what and why. He’s got to get it back or something bad—what was it again?—is going to happen. And he’s got to get it back so they can freeze him again before his own time runs out.
Is he dreaming? Or is he really awake, paralyzed from the waist down, being carried around on the back of an “assistant” who he never remembers meeting before? Why do the injections mean to help him seem to be making things worse? And why does he increasingly feel like he’s being asked not to solve a crime but to commit one?
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2012
53 people are currently reading
3815 people want to read
About the author
Brian Evenson
265 books1,508 followersBrian Evenson is an American academic and writer of both literary fiction and popular fiction, some of the latter being published under B. K. Evenson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
August 7, 2019
wow.
that should be my whole review. untainted by pictures and whatever nonsense i usually spew. this book is clean and taut and deserves a review untouched by nonsense and gimmickry.
and i will try to give this book what it deserves.
wow.
this is my second book by evenson, and the second to take place in a ruined, barren wasteland. his spare prose lends itself so well to this landscape. but "spare" doesn't mean there isn't anything going on here.
how can a book this short, with its ripped-from-the-twilight-zone ending be so full of tension and heartbreak and hope and philosophy and devastation? this thing showed me fear in a handful of dust, i tell ya.
it is more than the sum of its parts. it is more, for example, than a story of the failure of humanity.
it is more than a story of uncomplaining self-sacrifice to one's perceived role in this world.
it is way more than a detective story starring an amnesiac paralyzed from the waist down on a baffling mission to retrieve a metal cylinder from a compound located across a ruined city, carried by two inscrutable men. or are they men? the old definitions of things do not apply here.
there are some very clearly biblical themes here regarding knowledge and duty and obedience and towards the end, a character will more directly invoke the flood to great effect. evenson's dark mormonism is unleashed in its full spectrum here. not that he is still a mormon, but there is just something delicious about that phrase, to me, and i'm not gonna change it.
i'm going to say it here: qanik and qatik are my two newest favorite characters ever. an even deeper-through-the-cracked-looking-glass version of tweedledum and tweedledee, but their "comic relief" is the nervous-laughter variety:
"What happened to his head?" Horkai finally asked. Beside him, Qatik patted one of his backpacks. "never know when you'll need a good head," he claimed.
they killed me.
this is one of those books that can only be discussed in hushed tones among people who have actually read it. no spoilers here, not from me. i am zipping my damn lips right now, and imploring you to give it a go. it is shudderlicious.
come to my blog!
that should be my whole review. untainted by pictures and whatever nonsense i usually spew. this book is clean and taut and deserves a review untouched by nonsense and gimmickry.
and i will try to give this book what it deserves.
wow.
this is my second book by evenson, and the second to take place in a ruined, barren wasteland. his spare prose lends itself so well to this landscape. but "spare" doesn't mean there isn't anything going on here.
how can a book this short, with its ripped-from-the-twilight-zone ending be so full of tension and heartbreak and hope and philosophy and devastation? this thing showed me fear in a handful of dust, i tell ya.
it is more than the sum of its parts. it is more, for example, than a story of the failure of humanity.
it is more than a story of uncomplaining self-sacrifice to one's perceived role in this world.
it is way more than a detective story starring an amnesiac paralyzed from the waist down on a baffling mission to retrieve a metal cylinder from a compound located across a ruined city, carried by two inscrutable men. or are they men? the old definitions of things do not apply here.
there are some very clearly biblical themes here regarding knowledge and duty and obedience and towards the end, a character will more directly invoke the flood to great effect. evenson's dark mormonism is unleashed in its full spectrum here. not that he is still a mormon, but there is just something delicious about that phrase, to me, and i'm not gonna change it.
i'm going to say it here: qanik and qatik are my two newest favorite characters ever. an even deeper-through-the-cracked-looking-glass version of tweedledum and tweedledee, but their "comic relief" is the nervous-laughter variety:
"What happened to his head?" Horkai finally asked. Beside him, Qatik patted one of his backpacks. "never know when you'll need a good head," he claimed.
they killed me.
this is one of those books that can only be discussed in hushed tones among people who have actually read it. no spoilers here, not from me. i am zipping my damn lips right now, and imploring you to give it a go. it is shudderlicious.
come to my blog!
July 13, 2017
I spotted this book via goodreads. I really like the recommendations they do here on the basis of what you're reading. I think I was reading 'Sleepless', when this book was recommended. A book which will probably never be in the bookstores in Europe, so got it online, being curious by the story outline I got here. A weird apocalyptic story, cool out-of-the-box story too. How can a writer make something like this up...you wonder It's different from a lot of other books in the same genre, of course the desolation of the world and the landscape is there. Josef Horkai wakes up in a place, amidst a group of people, keeping themselves surviving 'under the ground' because the outside world can not be survived when going outside, after the world has gone down. They call it a 'hive' and their leader is Rasmus. Josef's legs don't work... they say they kept him in 'storage' for years (deepfreeze apparently) and now woke him up because they need his help for an assignment. In itself that is weird for someone who can't walk... Carried by two sort of 'twin' mules, two weird guys called Quatik and Quanik, wearing protective suits, he goes outside on a mission, while Josef Horkai is unaffected, he seems 'unhuman' in a way. His wounds heal and while the mules, despite their protective suits, get worse and worse and expect not to survive the assignment, Josef survives in the outside world without any protective clothing. Out on the assignment to get something 'that was stolen' from the hive, the story spirals to situations where you are wondering whether it is reality or a dream he is having.... to a weird end. Can not say more, would be spoiling. Great read. Pretty weird, but great.
January 31, 2025
Damn.
Depressing, weird, and sometimes violent- this was a bleak, apocalyptic journey. A man wakes up in a strange facility, unsure of who or where he is. He is paralyzed from the waist down, and he is tasked to traverse the barren landscape to retrieve something that has been taken from the community. They won’t tell him what it is, or why they need it, won’t answer many questions about the world and what’s wrong with his body.
This might be my favorite from Evenson. I always loved the way he portrays apocalypses in his short story, and was sooooo happy with how this world was written. It’s got the same kinda dark comedy present in all his books, and asks lots of philosophical questions. I loved it, and it will be one that I recommend often!!!
Depressing, weird, and sometimes violent- this was a bleak, apocalyptic journey. A man wakes up in a strange facility, unsure of who or where he is. He is paralyzed from the waist down, and he is tasked to traverse the barren landscape to retrieve something that has been taken from the community. They won’t tell him what it is, or why they need it, won’t answer many questions about the world and what’s wrong with his body.
This might be my favorite from Evenson. I always loved the way he portrays apocalypses in his short story, and was sooooo happy with how this world was written. It’s got the same kinda dark comedy present in all his books, and asks lots of philosophical questions. I loved it, and it will be one that I recommend often!!!
April 10, 2013
Last year I read Brian Evenson's Last Days, which was one of the best novels I read that year and earned its place on my favorites shelf. That weird story of Kline, a private investigator who gets involved with a peculiar religious cult and steps through the looking glass impressed me greatly, and made me want to read everything that he has written.
The origin of this book is particularly interesting. Back in 2010 a website called The Hypothetical Library, which created covers and blurbs for books which do not actually exist, asked Evenson to provide a summary of a book he would be interested in writing but wouldn't actually write. Evenson obviously liked the idea behind the blog, and the for the 5th of April described a bleak work of dystopian speculative fiction, titled Immobility. An editor at Tor Books saw it encouraged Evenson to write an actual book, and with the idea still resonating in his head Evenson needed little other incentive. Thus, even though it was not supposed to exist, Immobility came into being.
I'm happy to report that it's a good one. Immobility opens with Josef Horkai, the main protagonist, woken up after being stored in cryogenic sleep for decades. The earth has been destroyed by an event known only as the Kollaps, implied to be a nuclear holocaust which rendered the planet infertile and uninhabitable, forcing the few survivors to live underground because of prevalent radiation.
Horkai doesn't remember being stored or his life preceeding the Kollaps; awake, he discovers that he is paralyzed from the waist down. Soon he is introduced to Rasmus, the leader of a small community called The Hive, living in the ruins of what once was an university. Two of Rasmus's cronies, Olag and Olaf, give Horkai a forced injection - which Rasmus explains is for his own good, as it will slow down the paralysis which is shutting down his body bit by bit - the result of exposure to the nuclear blast, which did not kill him but would eventually leave him locked in in a completely immobile body, were he not stored.
Rasmus tells Horkai that he was awakened because the Hive needs his help in retrieving an object which can save the community - a stolen cylinder containing precious seed, currently held in a remote fortress. Paradoxically, he is the only man who can fulfill the task and survive the journey - exposure to the nuclear blast made him able to stand prolonged exposure to radiation. Rasmus explains that because he cannot walk he will be carried by two "mules", Quatik and Quanik, whose sole purpose is to carry him so that he may retrieve the cylinder. After bringing it back, he will be stored again until the time a cure for his paralysis has been developed. Having really no better options, Horkai agrees and sets off on the journey.
Evenson's work can be classified as a post-apocalyptic fable, employing the classic hero's quest common to many fairy-tales: a long and dangerous journey where the hero aims to acquire a magical item which then he will use to save his beloved/family/the whole kingdom from an imminent danger. Horkai's immobility extends past his physical body: having virtually no memories, he experiences the world he inhabits literally for the first time, just like the reader. Horkai is not certain of anything - he is not even sure if he's fully human - and is haunted with moral, ethical and existential questions. Horkai is a very unreliable protagonist, but his unreliability results because he has no way to knowing who he is - much less if he can know and trust others. He can't even trust his body, with its constant pains and uselessness, forcing him to depend on others for transport. Even though he is completely aware of how little he knows and tries to understand and learn, he has no basis on which he could judge how credible and true is the information that he receives. Religious metaphors are unavoidable - Evenson is an ex-Mormon, having left from Brigham Young University in Utah after growing tensions with the university officials considering the violent nature of his fiction. He was subsequently excommunicated by the church, a decision which he did not challenge. Immobility is set his novel in a post-apocalyptic Salt Lake City where BYU is clearly recognizable.
Evenson's writing is clear and taut, with his distinctly ironic voice clearly recognizable; it's unpretentious but intelligent, brilliantly using the language to describe the bareness and desolation of the destroyed environment and the struggle to find truth in the darkness. Although I admit to preferring Last Days, Immobility is a novel which packs a surprisingly strong punch which it aims right at the gut and leaves its readers almost breathless as it ends. It's a bleak and dark book which packs quite a lot of impact in its short length and certainly confirmed my desire to read everything than Brian Evenson has written.
The origin of this book is particularly interesting. Back in 2010 a website called The Hypothetical Library, which created covers and blurbs for books which do not actually exist, asked Evenson to provide a summary of a book he would be interested in writing but wouldn't actually write. Evenson obviously liked the idea behind the blog, and the for the 5th of April described a bleak work of dystopian speculative fiction, titled Immobility. An editor at Tor Books saw it encouraged Evenson to write an actual book, and with the idea still resonating in his head Evenson needed little other incentive. Thus, even though it was not supposed to exist, Immobility came into being.
I'm happy to report that it's a good one. Immobility opens with Josef Horkai, the main protagonist, woken up after being stored in cryogenic sleep for decades. The earth has been destroyed by an event known only as the Kollaps, implied to be a nuclear holocaust which rendered the planet infertile and uninhabitable, forcing the few survivors to live underground because of prevalent radiation.
Horkai doesn't remember being stored or his life preceeding the Kollaps; awake, he discovers that he is paralyzed from the waist down. Soon he is introduced to Rasmus, the leader of a small community called The Hive, living in the ruins of what once was an university. Two of Rasmus's cronies, Olag and Olaf, give Horkai a forced injection - which Rasmus explains is for his own good, as it will slow down the paralysis which is shutting down his body bit by bit - the result of exposure to the nuclear blast, which did not kill him but would eventually leave him locked in in a completely immobile body, were he not stored.
Rasmus tells Horkai that he was awakened because the Hive needs his help in retrieving an object which can save the community - a stolen cylinder containing precious seed, currently held in a remote fortress. Paradoxically, he is the only man who can fulfill the task and survive the journey - exposure to the nuclear blast made him able to stand prolonged exposure to radiation. Rasmus explains that because he cannot walk he will be carried by two "mules", Quatik and Quanik, whose sole purpose is to carry him so that he may retrieve the cylinder. After bringing it back, he will be stored again until the time a cure for his paralysis has been developed. Having really no better options, Horkai agrees and sets off on the journey.
Evenson's work can be classified as a post-apocalyptic fable, employing the classic hero's quest common to many fairy-tales: a long and dangerous journey where the hero aims to acquire a magical item which then he will use to save his beloved/family/the whole kingdom from an imminent danger. Horkai's immobility extends past his physical body: having virtually no memories, he experiences the world he inhabits literally for the first time, just like the reader. Horkai is not certain of anything - he is not even sure if he's fully human - and is haunted with moral, ethical and existential questions. Horkai is a very unreliable protagonist, but his unreliability results because he has no way to knowing who he is - much less if he can know and trust others. He can't even trust his body, with its constant pains and uselessness, forcing him to depend on others for transport. Even though he is completely aware of how little he knows and tries to understand and learn, he has no basis on which he could judge how credible and true is the information that he receives. Religious metaphors are unavoidable - Evenson is an ex-Mormon, having left from Brigham Young University in Utah after growing tensions with the university officials considering the violent nature of his fiction. He was subsequently excommunicated by the church, a decision which he did not challenge. Immobility is set his novel in a post-apocalyptic Salt Lake City where BYU is clearly recognizable.
Evenson's writing is clear and taut, with his distinctly ironic voice clearly recognizable; it's unpretentious but intelligent, brilliantly using the language to describe the bareness and desolation of the destroyed environment and the struggle to find truth in the darkness. Although I admit to preferring Last Days, Immobility is a novel which packs a surprisingly strong punch which it aims right at the gut and leaves its readers almost breathless as it ends. It's a bleak and dark book which packs quite a lot of impact in its short length and certainly confirmed my desire to read everything than Brian Evenson has written.
November 29, 2021
IMMOBILITY was one heck of a trippy story.
A man wakes up after being frozen for 30 years and discovers that while he slept the world as he knew it, ended.
I don't know what to make of this, but I loved the narrator and I enjoyed the story very much. It was dark and original.
I need to read more of Brian Evenson.
A man wakes up after being frozen for 30 years and discovers that while he slept the world as he knew it, ended.
I don't know what to make of this, but I loved the narrator and I enjoyed the story very much. It was dark and original.
I need to read more of Brian Evenson.
June 30, 2020
"A sensation of coming back to life, only not quite that: half life maybe."
- Brian Evenson, Immobility
My first exposure to Brian Evenson was a stack of his short stories (Altmann's Tongue: Stories and a Novella) at the BYU bookstore my sophomore year that was there and then, just as suddenly, wasn't there. I had recently returned from my mission and Evenson was a professor at BYU who that year got into trouble because his stories were too violent, weird, funky for the placid BYU English department [some of my best and worst memories were related to the BYU English department].
My second exposure to Brian Evenson was discovering a good friend of mine was also good friends with Brian's dad Bill. My third memory of Brian Evenson was discovering another friend (a professor of English now at William & Mary) is a friend of Brian's. So, I've been collecting Evenson's books, and surfing two degrees away from Brian Evenson since college. But those books of his. Somehow, they would get boxed, lost, rediscovered, reburied, hidden, moved, etc.. But recently, I felt pushed to find, unbox, and read one. I was expecting it was going to be a hybrid of early Orson Scott Card and later Dan Simmons. But after finishing Immobility, I felt more like I walked into a strange amalgam of Samuel Beckett, Walter M. Miller Jr., and Cormac McCarthy.
Anyway, I loved Immobility. It was stark, moody, and always plagued with the shadows of both the similar and the sinister. One benefit of living in Orem and going to BYU is I could have easily drawn a map of the story's main journey from the BYU Library to the Granite Mountain Records Vault and back (complete with roads traveled). That said, this isn't Mormon fiction. It is post-apocalyptic fiction built on the ruins of Utah. It is as Mormon as Post Malone.
- Brian Evenson, Immobility
My first exposure to Brian Evenson was a stack of his short stories (Altmann's Tongue: Stories and a Novella) at the BYU bookstore my sophomore year that was there and then, just as suddenly, wasn't there. I had recently returned from my mission and Evenson was a professor at BYU who that year got into trouble because his stories were too violent, weird, funky for the placid BYU English department [some of my best and worst memories were related to the BYU English department].
My second exposure to Brian Evenson was discovering a good friend of mine was also good friends with Brian's dad Bill. My third memory of Brian Evenson was discovering another friend (a professor of English now at William & Mary) is a friend of Brian's. So, I've been collecting Evenson's books, and surfing two degrees away from Brian Evenson since college. But those books of his. Somehow, they would get boxed, lost, rediscovered, reburied, hidden, moved, etc.. But recently, I felt pushed to find, unbox, and read one. I was expecting it was going to be a hybrid of early Orson Scott Card and later Dan Simmons. But after finishing Immobility, I felt more like I walked into a strange amalgam of Samuel Beckett, Walter M. Miller Jr., and Cormac McCarthy.
Anyway, I loved Immobility. It was stark, moody, and always plagued with the shadows of both the similar and the sinister. One benefit of living in Orem and going to BYU is I could have easily drawn a map of the story's main journey from the BYU Library to the Granite Mountain Records Vault and back (complete with roads traveled). That said, this isn't Mormon fiction. It is post-apocalyptic fiction built on the ruins of Utah. It is as Mormon as Post Malone.
January 29, 2015
What happens when the world ends in a bang not a whimper and the addled remnant arrive on the scene with their prison features and force a protagonist into a role he's not even sure isn't a dream he's inhabiting? Evenson happens, baby. Evenson.
May 13, 2016
Ο Έβενσον είναι ένας συγγραφέας που κατάφερε να με κερδίσει ολοκληρωτικά με τα Last Days και Open Curtain. Όχι τόσο για την αναγνωστική τέρψη που μο�� προσέφεραν, όσο για την απόλαυση να διαβάζω έναν συγγραφέα που δυνητικά θα μπορούσε να γράψει βιβλία που θα ικανοποιήσουν πάμπολλες προσδοκίες μου: έχει χαρακτήρα, έχει όραμα, η θεματολογία του συμπίπτει με τις αγαπημένες θεματικές που ψάχνω, η γραφή του δεν απευθύνεται σε ανόητους δίχως από την άλλη να πέφτει σε κομπασμούς και επιδειξιομανία.
Όταν λέω εμμονές του Έμερσον (τις οποίες γενικά σε εναν συγγραφέα θεωρώ προσόν συγγραφικής διάνοιας ή βλακείας) συνοψίζω από τα βιβλία που έχω διαβάσει: Ντετέκτιβ, άνθρωποι που εξαναγκάζονται να αναλάβουν μια αναζήτηση δίχως να γνωρίζουν σε τι μπλέκονται, κοινότητες με απροσδιόριστές επιδιώξεις. Σέχτες που η αινιγματικές διαθέσεις τους τις κάνουν τρομακτικές. Η τελευταία αυτή εμμονή μάλλον έχει να κάνει με το παρελθόν Μορμόνου του ίδιου του Έβενσον, πάνω στο οποίο άλλωστε στηρίχτηκε το The Open Curtain.
Τι έχουμε ακριβώς εδώ; Κάποιο γεγονός που φέρει το περιεκτικό όνομα ‘Κατάρρευση’ διέλυσε την ζωή πάνω στον πλανήτη. Η χλωρίδα και η πανίδα εξαλείφθηκαν. Ελάχιστοι άνθρωποι έμειναν που μένουν κρυμμένοι από ό,τι είναι αυτό που τους καταβάλει και τους σκοτώνει στην ατμόσφαιρα. Υπάρχουν και μερικοί, όπως ο πρωταγωνιστής, που μεταλλάχθηκαν, έγιναν πιο ανθεκτικοί και σχεδόν αδύνατο να σκοτωθούν. Ο πρωταγωνιστής, δίχως αναμνήσεις, ξυπνάει από κρυογενετικό ύπνο και του ανατίθεται μια αποστολή από την κοινότητα που τον είχε στην φύλαξή της.
Το βιβλίο είναι μετα-αποκαλυπτικό, αν θέλει κάποιος ορισμούς. Μάλλον άστοχο γιατί ο Έβενσον δεν εντάσσεται σε καλούπια και αν προσεγγίζει συγκεκριμένα είδη αυτό γίνεται επειδή μάλλον έχει καλό γούστο και δεν γράφει ανοησίες. Ίσως να είναι και το κατάλληλο όχημα αυτός ο κόσμος για να διηγηθεί ένα σκοτεινό δράμα μυστηρίου, αναδεικνύοντας όπως συνηθίζει, τις νοσηρές πτυχές της ανθρωπότητας. Ο πρωταγωνιστής θα σωθεί από έναν ασκητή, ο οποίος αδυνατώντας να καταλήξει αν πρέπει η ανθρωπότητα να σωθεί ή να εξαλειφθεί για πάντα, έχει παροπλίσει τις μεταλλαγμένες δυνατότητές του εμμένοντας στην δική του ξεκάθαρα επιβίωση.
Τα βιβλία του Έβενσον έχουν έναν ζόφο. Αφήνουν κάτι βαρύθυμο που πολλοί αναγνώστες άλλων αναγνωσμάτων αμέσως εντοπίζουν και θεωρούν την λογοτεχνία του αν και καλή, σίγουρα ενοχλητική. Αυτά τα λένε άλλοι. Εμένα ουδέποτε με ενοχλούσε το πένθιμο αναγνωστικό μετείκασμα και ουδέποτε ξεχωρίζω αυτά που μου αρέσουν σε ‘σκοτεινά’ και ‘φωτεινά’. Ωστόσο επειδή μάλλον μειοψηφώ δραματικά, προειδοποιώ τον αναγνώστη: μπορεί ο Έβενσον να σου φανεί ψυχοπλακωτικός. Το νου σου.
Όταν λέω εμμονές του Έμερσον (τις οποίες γενικά σε εναν συγγραφέα θεωρώ προσόν συγγραφικής διάνοιας ή βλακείας) συνοψίζω από τα βιβλία που έχω διαβάσει: Ντετέκτιβ, άνθρωποι που εξαναγκάζονται να αναλάβουν μια αναζήτηση δίχως να γνωρίζουν σε τι μπλέκονται, κοινότητες με απροσδιόριστές επιδιώξεις. Σέχτες που η αινιγματικές διαθέσεις τους τις κάνουν τρομακτικές. Η τελευταία αυτή εμμονή μάλλον έχει να κάνει με το παρελθόν Μορμόνου του ίδιου του Έβενσον, πάνω στο οποίο άλλωστε στηρίχτηκε το The Open Curtain.
Τι έχουμε ακριβώς εδώ; Κάποιο γεγονός που φέρει το περιεκτικό όνομα ‘Κατάρρευση’ διέλυσε την ζωή πάνω στον πλανήτη. Η χλωρίδα και η πανίδα εξαλείφθηκαν. Ελάχιστοι άνθρωποι έμειναν που μένουν κρυμμένοι από ό,τι είναι αυτό που τους καταβάλει και τους σκοτώνει στην ατμόσφαιρα. Υπάρχουν και μερικοί, όπως ο πρωταγωνιστής, που μεταλλάχθηκαν, έγιναν πιο ανθεκτικοί και σχεδόν αδύνατο να σκοτωθούν. Ο πρωταγωνιστής, δίχως αναμνήσεις, ξυπνάει από κρυογενετικό ύπνο και του ανατίθεται μια αποστολή από την κοινότητα που τον είχε στην φύλαξή της.
Το βιβλίο είναι μετα-αποκαλυπτικό, αν θέλει κάποιος ορισμούς. Μάλλον άστοχο γιατί ο Έβενσον δεν εντάσσεται σε καλούπια και αν προσεγγίζει συγκεκριμένα είδη αυτό γίνεται επειδή μάλλον έχει καλό γούστο και δεν γράφει ανοησίες. Ίσως να είναι και το κατάλληλο όχημα αυτός ο κόσμος για να διηγηθεί ένα σκοτεινό δράμα μυστηρίου, αναδεικνύοντας όπως συνηθίζει, τις νοσηρές πτυχές της ανθρωπότητας. Ο πρωταγωνιστής θα σωθεί από έναν ασκητή, ο οποίος αδυνατώντας να καταλήξει αν πρέπει η ανθρωπότητα να σωθεί ή να εξαλειφθεί για πάντα, έχει παροπλίσει τις μεταλλαγμένες δυνατότητές του εμμένοντας στην δική του ξεκάθαρα επιβίωση.
Τα βιβλία του Έβενσον έχουν έναν ζόφο. Αφήνουν κάτι βαρύθυμο που πολλοί αναγνώστες άλλων αναγνωσμάτων αμέσως εντοπίζουν και θεωρούν την λογοτεχνία του αν και καλή, σίγουρα ενοχλητική. Αυτά τα λένε άλλοι. Εμένα ουδέποτε με ενοχλούσε το πένθιμο αναγνωστικό μετείκασμα και ουδέποτε ξεχωρίζω αυτά που μου αρέσουν σε ‘σκοτεινά’ και ‘φωτεινά’. Ωστόσο επειδή μάλλον μειοψηφώ δραματικά, προειδοποιώ τον αναγνώστη: μπορεί ο Έβενσον να σου φανεί ψυχοπλακωτικός. Το νου σου.
September 30, 2024
A man is woken, brought out of storage after many years, perhaps decades, and tries to remember who he is. He cannot use his legs and cannot remember anything. It's the future, there has been a terrible nuclear war, and there are very few survivors. He is told that his name is Josef Horkai and they (the community) have woken him for an important mission. Two men (Qanik and Qatik) must carry him outside into the radioactive wasteland to a place many miles away where he must find a cylinder and bring it back. Qanik and Qatik will surely die after such prolonged exposure but Horkai is special and will survive and that is why he was awoken from storage for this mission.
So this book was mostly fun to read. Evenson does a good job describing the barren post-apocalyptic landscape and creates a curious mystery which keeps you guessing to the end (or close to the end). The characters are very perfunctory and straight-forward. The setting is the real selling point. I enjoyed the first half with Qanik and Qatik taking turns carrying him through the wasteland, chatting about their experiences, answering and asking questions along the way. Their protective suits and masks reiterate that this is a nightmare world for them, where very little can survive, where death is guaranteed. But not for Horkai, he does not need a protective suit and can heal at an astonishing rate (this being the real mystery of the book).
The writing is fairly basic, nothing too creative, but it sufficiently pushes the story along. This is another example of the genre being the thing that will keep your interest. Either you like post-apocalyptic stories or you don't. I would say this had an original concept but it slightly lost its way towards the end and signposted what was happening. But I was already invested by that point. And I enjoyed visiting this world for a while and especially the early parts where Horkai is carried by his two hulking (albeit innocent) companions.
A fun but bleak story of the nuclear hellscape.
So this book was mostly fun to read. Evenson does a good job describing the barren post-apocalyptic landscape and creates a curious mystery which keeps you guessing to the end (or close to the end). The characters are very perfunctory and straight-forward. The setting is the real selling point. I enjoyed the first half with Qanik and Qatik taking turns carrying him through the wasteland, chatting about their experiences, answering and asking questions along the way. Their protective suits and masks reiterate that this is a nightmare world for them, where very little can survive, where death is guaranteed. But not for Horkai, he does not need a protective suit and can heal at an astonishing rate (this being the real mystery of the book).
The writing is fairly basic, nothing too creative, but it sufficiently pushes the story along. This is another example of the genre being the thing that will keep your interest. Either you like post-apocalyptic stories or you don't. I would say this had an original concept but it slightly lost its way towards the end and signposted what was happening. But I was already invested by that point. And I enjoyed visiting this world for a while and especially the early parts where Horkai is carried by his two hulking (albeit innocent) companions.
A fun but bleak story of the nuclear hellscape.
July 19, 2013
Every once in a while you stumble across a book which surpasses all your expectations. 'Immobility' is one such book.
I mean, here you have, the much used trope of a post-apocalyptic scenario (although, I must admit that PA is one of my favorite sub-genres and I would read even a mediocre book if it's classified as PA fiction) with your usual wastelands, radiation and the always present hunger for food and all other things which are common in a book of such type.
But the “commonness” ends there. What we have here is an amnesiac lead character, Josef Horkai, who is woken from his cryogenic sleep after 30 years to perform a vital task for a surviving community under whose care he was stored. He cannot walk as he is paralyzed from waist down, so he is to be carried by two “mules”, Qatik and Qanik (who are human, maybe)to the place where he is to accomplish his mission of retrieving a canister whose contents are vital for the survival of the community.
In spite of the desolate surroundings, the book is filled with excellent dark humor, in fact one of the best kinds I have come across in quite a while. And the “mules”, despite being interchangeable right until very later in the novel, come across as very resolute of characters, and also one of the many characters you’ll really care about as the book progresses.
The book defies the major trope of post-apocalyptic fiction that is selfishness, and the characters portray an unflinching quality of selflessness (especially the “mules”), and of course to an extent Horkai himself, despite his own reservations, tries to remain obedient to the cause.
By the end I asked myself, what would I do in such circumstances? And I found myself agreeing with all of the characters, good or bad, because when I mulled over the story in my head, I concluded that each character did his best under such trying circumstances and I would have done exactly the same, more or less.
You can’t say that about many books, can you?
I mean, here you have, the much used trope of a post-apocalyptic scenario (although, I must admit that PA is one of my favorite sub-genres and I would read even a mediocre book if it's classified as PA fiction) with your usual wastelands, radiation and the always present hunger for food and all other things which are common in a book of such type.
But the “commonness” ends there. What we have here is an amnesiac lead character, Josef Horkai, who is woken from his cryogenic sleep after 30 years to perform a vital task for a surviving community under whose care he was stored. He cannot walk as he is paralyzed from waist down, so he is to be carried by two “mules”, Qatik and Qanik (who are human, maybe)to the place where he is to accomplish his mission of retrieving a canister whose contents are vital for the survival of the community.
In spite of the desolate surroundings, the book is filled with excellent dark humor, in fact one of the best kinds I have come across in quite a while. And the “mules”, despite being interchangeable right until very later in the novel, come across as very resolute of characters, and also one of the many characters you’ll really care about as the book progresses.
The book defies the major trope of post-apocalyptic fiction that is selfishness, and the characters portray an unflinching quality of selflessness (especially the “mules”), and of course to an extent Horkai himself, despite his own reservations, tries to remain obedient to the cause.
By the end I asked myself, what would I do in such circumstances? And I found myself agreeing with all of the characters, good or bad, because when I mulled over the story in my head, I concluded that each character did his best under such trying circumstances and I would have done exactly the same, more or less.
You can’t say that about many books, can you?
August 17, 2013
4.5 Stars
Immobility by Brian Evenson is a fantastic piece of post apocalyptic fiction. This is my second read of an Evenson novel so I already considered myself a fan. After finishing this book, I am going to quickly grab up more of his works.
I have to say that as I started reading this book I was blown away with how much I felt that this would be a perfect story in Hugh Howey's Wool series, a post apocalyptic series that should not be missed. Immobility would fit perfectly into that world and take place a bit farther into the future. I seriously thought that I was going to read a passage about a field of silos.
Evenson's writing style and craft is what sets this book apart from the crowd. He has an incredibly stylistic way that he writes out his characters and his world. As this is a novella I was left wanting to know more. I wanted more backstory and more world building. I wanted more time with Horaki, and the Q's. And, I simply wanted more story.
This novella throws you right in with little time spent catching you up to speed. Top this off that Evenson quickly spins this tale into deep philosophical and spiritual territories and you will find that you cannot put it down. I was amazed at the level and depth and the way that Evenson made you feel on this journey.
The world and the plot around our main protagonist in a quote...
"“You’re certain I don’t need a suit?” asked Horkai. “You’re certain I’ll be all right?”
Qanik nodded. “You always have been,” he said. “If not, we’d already know.”
“How?”
“Skin rash at first, mild in the beginning but getting worse and worse. Then you would start to vomit blood. Around here, it wouldn’t take long for your skin to break into sores and ulcerate. If we were exposed to as much as you’ve been exposed to today, our circulation would be damaged and our hearts would fail.”
“Why hasn’t that happened to me?”
Qanik shrugged. “You are okay,” he said. “You always have been. You are not in any trouble.”
“We are the ones that are in trouble,” said Qatik.
“That’s why you’re wearing the suits,” said Horkai.
“They are not enough,” said Qatik.
“Not enough?”"
I am a huge Brian Evenson fan and give him my highest recommendations. Immobility is the perfect read for post apocalyptic fans that want something more than zombies and contain no teen love or angst!
Immobility by Brian Evenson is a fantastic piece of post apocalyptic fiction. This is my second read of an Evenson novel so I already considered myself a fan. After finishing this book, I am going to quickly grab up more of his works.
I have to say that as I started reading this book I was blown away with how much I felt that this would be a perfect story in Hugh Howey's Wool series, a post apocalyptic series that should not be missed. Immobility would fit perfectly into that world and take place a bit farther into the future. I seriously thought that I was going to read a passage about a field of silos.
Evenson's writing style and craft is what sets this book apart from the crowd. He has an incredibly stylistic way that he writes out his characters and his world. As this is a novella I was left wanting to know more. I wanted more backstory and more world building. I wanted more time with Horaki, and the Q's. And, I simply wanted more story.
This novella throws you right in with little time spent catching you up to speed. Top this off that Evenson quickly spins this tale into deep philosophical and spiritual territories and you will find that you cannot put it down. I was amazed at the level and depth and the way that Evenson made you feel on this journey.
The world and the plot around our main protagonist in a quote...
"“You’re certain I don’t need a suit?” asked Horkai. “You’re certain I’ll be all right?”
Qanik nodded. “You always have been,” he said. “If not, we’d already know.”
“How?”
“Skin rash at first, mild in the beginning but getting worse and worse. Then you would start to vomit blood. Around here, it wouldn’t take long for your skin to break into sores and ulcerate. If we were exposed to as much as you’ve been exposed to today, our circulation would be damaged and our hearts would fail.”
“Why hasn’t that happened to me?”
Qanik shrugged. “You are okay,” he said. “You always have been. You are not in any trouble.”
“We are the ones that are in trouble,” said Qatik.
“That’s why you’re wearing the suits,” said Horkai.
“They are not enough,” said Qatik.
“Not enough?”"
I am a huge Brian Evenson fan and give him my highest recommendations. Immobility is the perfect read for post apocalyptic fans that want something more than zombies and contain no teen love or angst!
December 13, 2016
Where were you all my life, Brian Evenson?
It's going to seem to you guys like I don't read critically whatsoever, but I swear I'm just going through a patch of really great books. IMMOBILITY is a post-apocalyptic messianic allegory. It's brilliant because it doesn't attract attention to itself since the protagonist is the messiah in question. It's emotionally and intellectually brutal and manages to distance himself from the torrents of post-apocalyptic fiction out there by making the ragtag bunch of survivors that must learn to live together the BAD guys.
I loved this book. Almost as much as I loved LAST DAYS. Almost, but not quite. It's still better than the majority of what I've read in 2016.
It's going to seem to you guys like I don't read critically whatsoever, but I swear I'm just going through a patch of really great books. IMMOBILITY is a post-apocalyptic messianic allegory. It's brilliant because it doesn't attract attention to itself since the protagonist is the messiah in question. It's emotionally and intellectually brutal and manages to distance himself from the torrents of post-apocalyptic fiction out there by making the ragtag bunch of survivors that must learn to live together the BAD guys.
I loved this book. Almost as much as I loved LAST DAYS. Almost, but not quite. It's still better than the majority of what I've read in 2016.
June 23, 2015
(4.5)
"We're a curse, a blight," said Rykte. First we gave everything names and then we invented hatred. And then we made the mistake of domesticating animals -- almost as big a mistake as that of discovering fire. It's only one step from there to slavery, and once you think of humans as animals, we become a disposable commodity, war a commonplace. Add in a dominant religion that preaches end of the world and holy books that have been used to justify atrocity after atrocity, and you're only a step away from annihilation. It's better not to let society develop at all, to leave each person on their own, alone, shivering, and afraid in the dark.
Horkai looked at him a long time. "You really think humanity should die out?"
"Objectively, yes," said Rykte."
I'm not generally a sci-fi fan, but when I come across one that seems to have a message, a philosophical way about it, I tend to jump in optimistically and hang on for the ride.
At the heart of Evenson's work is what purpose do we have in this world? Is it absurd or meaningless what we do or exist for? Is there a puppet master brandishing its tightened strings upon your harness and moving your hands for you? Restricting you to only move when he/she moves? Or do you have the ability to decide for yourself without outside influence? Do we ruin each other in the same way we ruin ourselves?
Immobility is a fast read, but also an intelligent, enjoyable one.
P.S. Thanks to Brian Dice for posting about Evenson, otherwise I most likely wouldn't have known about him.
"We're a curse, a blight," said Rykte. First we gave everything names and then we invented hatred. And then we made the mistake of domesticating animals -- almost as big a mistake as that of discovering fire. It's only one step from there to slavery, and once you think of humans as animals, we become a disposable commodity, war a commonplace. Add in a dominant religion that preaches end of the world and holy books that have been used to justify atrocity after atrocity, and you're only a step away from annihilation. It's better not to let society develop at all, to leave each person on their own, alone, shivering, and afraid in the dark.
Horkai looked at him a long time. "You really think humanity should die out?"
"Objectively, yes," said Rykte."
I'm not generally a sci-fi fan, but when I come across one that seems to have a message, a philosophical way about it, I tend to jump in optimistically and hang on for the ride.
At the heart of Evenson's work is what purpose do we have in this world? Is it absurd or meaningless what we do or exist for? Is there a puppet master brandishing its tightened strings upon your harness and moving your hands for you? Restricting you to only move when he/she moves? Or do you have the ability to decide for yourself without outside influence? Do we ruin each other in the same way we ruin ourselves?
Immobility is a fast read, but also an intelligent, enjoyable one.
P.S. Thanks to Brian Dice for posting about Evenson, otherwise I most likely wouldn't have known about him.
July 11, 2012
Noir character edge, apocalyptic tone, Marx Brothers meets Beckett (if they are at all different) dialogue, comic but sinister duos, stark prose, identity and reality in doubt, and probing moral questions are all present and mark Immobility as both a representative and a thoroughly accomplished example of what one our best writers, Brian Evenson, does. This is his take on the post-apocalyptic genre and it is lighter in language and tone then his previous venture (the beautiful and singular Dark Property: An Affliction being a prime example) into the territory. As a literary example of the genre, comparisons to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road are inevitable, but the characters in this book are the ones the son and father in that book cower in woods and attics to avoid. Evocative of absurdist drama, seventies science fiction, lean, experimental tinged writing, and nasty noir, this book is recommended for any fan of such styles and of course fans of Evenson’s particular brilliance.
August 16, 2012
I did a big, fat review of this book at the Los Angeles Review of Books. Go check it out:
"IN 2010 A CLEVER BLOG titled the Imaginary Library posted covers, jacket copy, and blurbs for books that did not actually exist. The April 5, 2010 entry was for a bleak, post-apocalyptic detective novel, Immobility by Brian Evenson. In an odd case of art imitating art then becoming art, the description of the fake book caught the eye of an editor at Tor books, who then encouraged Evenson to write the real book. Got all that? Given its grim, all-too-plausible, post-nuclear disaster setting, let’s hope for no further iteration, no life imitating art."
read the rest at LARB
http://lareviewofbooks.org/article.ph...
"IN 2010 A CLEVER BLOG titled the Imaginary Library posted covers, jacket copy, and blurbs for books that did not actually exist. The April 5, 2010 entry was for a bleak, post-apocalyptic detective novel, Immobility by Brian Evenson. In an odd case of art imitating art then becoming art, the description of the fake book caught the eye of an editor at Tor books, who then encouraged Evenson to write the real book. Got all that? Given its grim, all-too-plausible, post-nuclear disaster setting, let’s hope for no further iteration, no life imitating art."
read the rest at LARB
http://lareviewofbooks.org/article.ph...
June 3, 2014
Listened 5/29/14 - 6/2/14
5 Stars - Highly Recommended / The Next Best (Audio)Book - A kickass audiobook if ever there was one / Get yer Post Apoc fix on now, Biatches.
6 1/2 hours audio download
Publisher: AudioGo
Released: 2012
Audiobooks are strange animals. The story could be well written, the plot could be interesting, the characters engaging, but if the voice of the narrator grates on me; if their pacing is off; if they overly, painfully enunciate, the darn thing won't stand a chance.
For me, everything hinges on the narrator.
And in the case of Immobility, Brian Evenson's storytelling and Mauro Hantman's narration were a perfect match.
(Beware: The jacket copy for the book is a bit misleading. Written in second person, you might - not surprisingly - assume the book is also written that way. But fear not, "you" non-fans, you'll find the third person narration comforting.)
The story is set in a post apocalyptic world - brought about by what we are led to believe was a nuclear war, but is simply referred to as the Kollaps - and revolves around Josef Horkai, who has just been pulled out of a 30 year cryogenic sleep. As he begins to wake up, he realizes that he is paralyzed from the waist down, something that he seems to have no memory of. Heck, he seems to have no memory at all of being stored, of why he was stored, of where he is, who he is or what he was prior to the Kollaps.
All of these questions are answered by Rasmus, the leader of a group of people who have made their home in an old ruined university, and his two lackeys Olag and Olaf. Rasmus explains to Horkai that he is not like them, he can regenerate and survive outside in the brutal and inhospitable environment, but he is also infected with a debilitating disease that has left him crippled and will continue to cripple him over time, which is why he has been stored - to stop the disease from spreading while they work on a cure. The Community, as Rasmus refers to his group, needs Horkai's help to retrieve something that has been stolen from them, something very valuable, something very important, something... that their very survival hinges on. And they will provide Horkai with two Mules - identical human-like men named Qatik and Qanik - whose sole purpose is to carry Horkai on their backs, like a burden, while traveling to the mountain where Rasmus believes the stolen capsule is hidden. Though Horkai can travel outside with no ill side effects, his Mules cannot. And though they are fitted with hazard suits, the clothing will only slow the effects of the radiation on them. Rasmus urges Horkai to make the trip there and back as quickly as possible - the longer the Mules are exposed, the quicker they will die.
All of this makes little sense to Horkai but with nothing else to go on, he agrees to do as Rasmus asks.
Brian Evenson allows us to see the world as Horkai sees it, with new and disbelieving eyes. We ponder the same things he ponders - Who is he? What's happened to the world? Where are all of the other people? What is the Community? How did he end up in storage with them? Who are these strange and obedient men he travels with? Why are they so willing to follow their purpose without questioning? How can they be so willing to die for him? What happens when he gets where they're going?
As Horkai pokes and prods at what little knowledge Qatik and Qanik have, and tries to reason out the situation he has found himself in, he begins to question his place in the mission and allows himself to doubt the sources of his information. Nothing makes sense. The pieces don't seem to fit. The Community, the Mules, Rasmus, even Olag and Olaf... something is going on and Horkai won't be at ease until he uncovers what that is.
This book reeks of cultish and organized religious behavior (and not in a bad way). The blind, adoring faith of the religious compares greatly to that of the members of the Community. The unquestioning obedience and willingness of the Mules to perform their purpose feels very much like the drink-the-koolaid mindset of cult members. The re-appearance of religious or cult-like tendencies, even when the religion we had is dead. And then there's Horkai, much like myself, who questions everything he hears and sees, not content to take what he is told at face value, unafraid to push for answers even when he knows those answers will remain to be vague and clouded. Immobility challenges the reader to look at humanity from a different angle. Not one of imminent survival-at-all-costs. But one of whether or not it should be allowed to survive at all. In Evenson's world, we have managed to kill most of our species (and all other species) off. Should we be given the opportunity to do it again? If we did manage to survive this, we will learn from our mistakes or continue to make more? Do we deserve a second chance?
I listened to this book every chance I could get - on my commute to and from work, driving out to run errands, sitting and waiting at my son's baseball game - I devoured it, because I was dying to learn what Horkai was learning. I needed to know what the endgame was. I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew how it was going to end and I needed to see if I was right.
I enjoyed putting the pieces of this novel together. As Horkai comes into contact with more people - like Mahonri for example, a "brother" who looks exactly like him, who calls himself a Keeper, and Rykte, the recluse who is content to remain un-influential in the trials and tribulations of humanity - as he began collecting more pieces of the puzzle, as realization begins to dawn on Horkai that he's a part of something much bigger and much more awful than he initially anticipated, I began to unravel the knotted road Horkai would end up travelling. And even though I had the ending pretty well pegged, I wasn't disappointed when Evenson delivered it.
5 Stars - Highly Recommended / The Next Best (Audio)Book - A kickass audiobook if ever there was one / Get yer Post Apoc fix on now, Biatches.
6 1/2 hours audio download
Publisher: AudioGo
Released: 2012
Audiobooks are strange animals. The story could be well written, the plot could be interesting, the characters engaging, but if the voice of the narrator grates on me; if their pacing is off; if they overly, painfully enunciate, the darn thing won't stand a chance.
For me, everything hinges on the narrator.
And in the case of Immobility, Brian Evenson's storytelling and Mauro Hantman's narration were a perfect match.
(Beware: The jacket copy for the book is a bit misleading. Written in second person, you might - not surprisingly - assume the book is also written that way. But fear not, "you" non-fans, you'll find the third person narration comforting.)
The story is set in a post apocalyptic world - brought about by what we are led to believe was a nuclear war, but is simply referred to as the Kollaps - and revolves around Josef Horkai, who has just been pulled out of a 30 year cryogenic sleep. As he begins to wake up, he realizes that he is paralyzed from the waist down, something that he seems to have no memory of. Heck, he seems to have no memory at all of being stored, of why he was stored, of where he is, who he is or what he was prior to the Kollaps.
All of these questions are answered by Rasmus, the leader of a group of people who have made their home in an old ruined university, and his two lackeys Olag and Olaf. Rasmus explains to Horkai that he is not like them, he can regenerate and survive outside in the brutal and inhospitable environment, but he is also infected with a debilitating disease that has left him crippled and will continue to cripple him over time, which is why he has been stored - to stop the disease from spreading while they work on a cure. The Community, as Rasmus refers to his group, needs Horkai's help to retrieve something that has been stolen from them, something very valuable, something very important, something... that their very survival hinges on. And they will provide Horkai with two Mules - identical human-like men named Qatik and Qanik - whose sole purpose is to carry Horkai on their backs, like a burden, while traveling to the mountain where Rasmus believes the stolen capsule is hidden. Though Horkai can travel outside with no ill side effects, his Mules cannot. And though they are fitted with hazard suits, the clothing will only slow the effects of the radiation on them. Rasmus urges Horkai to make the trip there and back as quickly as possible - the longer the Mules are exposed, the quicker they will die.
All of this makes little sense to Horkai but with nothing else to go on, he agrees to do as Rasmus asks.
Brian Evenson allows us to see the world as Horkai sees it, with new and disbelieving eyes. We ponder the same things he ponders - Who is he? What's happened to the world? Where are all of the other people? What is the Community? How did he end up in storage with them? Who are these strange and obedient men he travels with? Why are they so willing to follow their purpose without questioning? How can they be so willing to die for him? What happens when he gets where they're going?
As Horkai pokes and prods at what little knowledge Qatik and Qanik have, and tries to reason out the situation he has found himself in, he begins to question his place in the mission and allows himself to doubt the sources of his information. Nothing makes sense. The pieces don't seem to fit. The Community, the Mules, Rasmus, even Olag and Olaf... something is going on and Horkai won't be at ease until he uncovers what that is.
This book reeks of cultish and organized religious behavior (and not in a bad way). The blind, adoring faith of the religious compares greatly to that of the members of the Community. The unquestioning obedience and willingness of the Mules to perform their purpose feels very much like the drink-the-koolaid mindset of cult members. The re-appearance of religious or cult-like tendencies, even when the religion we had is dead. And then there's Horkai, much like myself, who questions everything he hears and sees, not content to take what he is told at face value, unafraid to push for answers even when he knows those answers will remain to be vague and clouded. Immobility challenges the reader to look at humanity from a different angle. Not one of imminent survival-at-all-costs. But one of whether or not it should be allowed to survive at all. In Evenson's world, we have managed to kill most of our species (and all other species) off. Should we be given the opportunity to do it again? If we did manage to survive this, we will learn from our mistakes or continue to make more? Do we deserve a second chance?
I listened to this book every chance I could get - on my commute to and from work, driving out to run errands, sitting and waiting at my son's baseball game - I devoured it, because I was dying to learn what Horkai was learning. I needed to know what the endgame was. I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew how it was going to end and I needed to see if I was right.
I enjoyed putting the pieces of this novel together. As Horkai comes into contact with more people - like Mahonri for example, a "brother" who looks exactly like him, who calls himself a Keeper, and Rykte, the recluse who is content to remain un-influential in the trials and tribulations of humanity - as he began collecting more pieces of the puzzle, as realization begins to dawn on Horkai that he's a part of something much bigger and much more awful than he initially anticipated, I began to unravel the knotted road Horkai would end up travelling. And even though I had the ending pretty well pegged, I wasn't disappointed when Evenson delivered it.
August 14, 2020
"Immobility" is a profound metaphysical parable thinly disguised in a Tarkovksi's "Stalker"-like setting. One would be tempted to call it post-Apocalyptic. although the Apocalypse, in its true sense of "revelation" hasn't occurred yet. Through the main character Horkai, a mutant used by a human religious community for their own purpose, Evenson leads us on a quest for God, meaning and truth. Like a futuristic Candide, Horkai travels and encounters strange characters that only seem to confirm the impression that humanity is definitely evil, especially under the disguise of religion. The only relatively positive character could be deemed as a radical Daoist of the "here and now" and "let the others fend for themselves." The story, however, is, a parable and reminds me very much of Per Lagerkvist's novels, "The Pilgrim On The Sea", "The Holy Land"and even more of "Barrabas", in which the main character is the rebel who is freed by Pilatius while Christ is condemned to death. In my eyes, "Immobility" reaches the same conclusion, which is close to what is called "negative theology" and which implies that God is only revealed by the evil that inhabits the world. The question of "election" is central too, to which Horkai has no answer, except by choosing to sacrifice himself, either as a Christian or purely Existentialist figure as in Camus' "Stranger". Finally, it is a novel that would take a whole essay to comment, as each sentence - each word, even - has been carefully put down with the clear intention of maintaining a constant level of ambiguity. Stating the obvious, I would deem it a "modern classic", if modern classics were of the most subversive and provocative kind.
September 11, 2021
I don’t write reviews.
I found this gem by accident and didn’t jump on it initially because I was nervous that it’d be a post-modern crapfest (that was Blindness, but I digress). Luckily I was wrong. Immobility is an interesting post-apocalypse sci-fi dystopia, that manages to steer clear of the usual tropes and doesn’t resort to pastiche. I’m SO tired of reboots, remakes and writers leeching off others’ successes of the past. Evenson clearly has his inspiration, though he doesn’t lose his original voice at any point. As I read, I was reminded of The Bridge (Ian Banks) and A Boy and His Dog (Harlan Ellison).
Evenson crafted a main character who was sympathetic and truly likable. That’s saying a lot. In these one-man-versus-the-world stories I find myself reading for the plot, but disliking the characters. Actually, all of the characters in this story were well-written.
Worth noting is the forced medical interventions pushed on the main character. Does he need them? Why is he paralyzed? I feel for him. Lately, far too many know-nothing television junkies are pushing “medicine” on my friends, my family, my students and me. I can speak up, like the main character tries to do throughout this story. Will I end up like him?
I found this gem by accident and didn’t jump on it initially because I was nervous that it’d be a post-modern crapfest (that was Blindness, but I digress). Luckily I was wrong. Immobility is an interesting post-apocalypse sci-fi dystopia, that manages to steer clear of the usual tropes and doesn’t resort to pastiche. I’m SO tired of reboots, remakes and writers leeching off others’ successes of the past. Evenson clearly has his inspiration, though he doesn’t lose his original voice at any point. As I read, I was reminded of The Bridge (Ian Banks) and A Boy and His Dog (Harlan Ellison).
Evenson crafted a main character who was sympathetic and truly likable. That’s saying a lot. In these one-man-versus-the-world stories I find myself reading for the plot, but disliking the characters. Actually, all of the characters in this story were well-written.
Worth noting is the forced medical interventions pushed on the main character. Does he need them? Why is he paralyzed? I feel for him. Lately, far too many know-nothing television junkies are pushing “medicine” on my friends, my family, my students and me. I can speak up, like the main character tries to do throughout this story. Will I end up like him?
April 27, 2019
These things happen, and then we say we didn't mean it, that it was an accident, that it will never happen again. Never again we say: God will not allow it. We say no to torture, and then we find a reason to torture in the name of democracy. We say no to sixty-six thousand dead in a single bomb blast over a defenseless foreign city, and then we do it again, a hundred thousand this time. We say no to eight million dead in camps, and then we do it again, twelve million dead in gulags. Humans are poison. Perhaps it would be better if they did not exist at all.
October 24, 2023
Really unique post-apocalyptic fiction dealing with a seemingly immortal paraplegic woken up after a great collapse and taken on a quest across a poisonous landscape by two men in hazmat suits. A bit Harlan Ellison, a bit Samuel Beckett, a bit Cormac McCarthy. And like Evenson's great collection Windeye, what the author leaves out of the story is as important as what he puts in. Interesting! 8/10
February 12, 2025
I love Brian Evenson
September 28, 2019
Why isn’t this book more popular? Why?! At the time of writing this review there are 210 community reviews and 1,020 ratings (3.71 average rating). Whuuuuuut?! That’s IT?!
Immobility was a fantastic dystopian book, with a hugely original premise. Crazy! This is conversational fodder for days!
I found the entire store very intriguing and hard to put down but I also found it on the depressing side - not that this took away from the book. And the ending is going to say with me awhile.
I’d absolutely recommend this to my fellow dystopian lovers.
Immobility was a fantastic dystopian book, with a hugely original premise. Crazy! This is conversational fodder for days!
I found the entire store very intriguing and hard to put down but I also found it on the depressing side - not that this took away from the book. And the ending is going to say with me awhile.
I’d absolutely recommend this to my fellow dystopian lovers.
February 25, 2016
this is 'good horror' to me.. futureistic... dystopia'ish...
just absolutely utterly mindfuckingly numbishly wow..
I have a confession my Goodreads.com friends...
This is actually the second book I have read by Evenson. For whatever reason/major oversight. I have never reviewed/rated Last Days
I will review it tommorow.. and I give you fair warning. It will absolutely fanboyish, but omg for all the right reasons... so fair warning....
PS READ THIS BOOK BRAD
just absolutely utterly mindfuckingly numbishly wow..
I have a confession my Goodreads.com friends...
This is actually the second book I have read by Evenson. For whatever reason/major oversight. I have never reviewed/rated Last Days
I will review it tommorow.. and I give you fair warning. It will absolutely fanboyish, but omg for all the right reasons... so fair warning....
PS READ THIS BOOK BRAD
May 28, 2020
A few years back I went a reading at Powell's in Portland, one of the authors who read was Brian Evenson promoting his bizarro horror crime noir hybrid The Last Days. The reading won me over and I bought the book. I loved that short and gritty novel. I considered it one of the best reads I had in 2009. Evenson has done it again because Immobility is without a doubt of one my favorite reads of 2013.
Evenson is an author who writes mostly horror but has mostly escaped the genre ghetto in fact he is shelved in the lit fiction section at Powell's. He is a heck of a writer, so I understand why he would be considered a higher class of genre fiction. This novel is both Speculative fiction and horror but more than anything it is a post-apocalyptic story.
The story of Josef Horki wakes up disorientated in a world he doesn’t recognize. His memory is shot, but in better shape than his legs which are basically dead. He is told that in his former life that he was a fixer, and after 30 years in a deep sleep storage the survivors of the collapse have a mission for him. Travel across the wasteland and get a frozen vial of seeds. His Transportation are mules – that is what the twin humans engineered to be beasts of burden will carry him on the mission.
This is a strange and unsettling novel, that is so powerfully written it has a spooky feeling throughout. It is all done with a subtle tone, and no wasted words. Evenson is not so in love with his words and never overwrites, he writes with a tight control rarely since in genre work that is also considered “high lit.” It doesn’t remind me of any other book immediately but if pressed to make a comparison I would have to say a cross between Cormac McCarthy’s The Road with a little bit of a THX 1138.
More than just a story about the travels across the wasteland Evenson explores what it means to be human, and what effect humanity has had on the world. On personal note ¾ of the way through the book, Evenson tips his hand a bit with a great exchange that of course I personally loved. A character talks about the possible death of humanity “We're a curse, a blight. First, we gave everything a names and then invented hatred. And then we made the mistake of domesticating animals- almost as bit of a mistake as discovering fire.” Is this misanthropic point the bottom line of the novel. It is hard to argue after the powerful and disturbing ending that is anything else, but that could also just be this reader reacting to it.
Immobility is a powerful and thoughtful, highly recommended.
Evenson is an author who writes mostly horror but has mostly escaped the genre ghetto in fact he is shelved in the lit fiction section at Powell's. He is a heck of a writer, so I understand why he would be considered a higher class of genre fiction. This novel is both Speculative fiction and horror but more than anything it is a post-apocalyptic story.
The story of Josef Horki wakes up disorientated in a world he doesn’t recognize. His memory is shot, but in better shape than his legs which are basically dead. He is told that in his former life that he was a fixer, and after 30 years in a deep sleep storage the survivors of the collapse have a mission for him. Travel across the wasteland and get a frozen vial of seeds. His Transportation are mules – that is what the twin humans engineered to be beasts of burden will carry him on the mission.
This is a strange and unsettling novel, that is so powerfully written it has a spooky feeling throughout. It is all done with a subtle tone, and no wasted words. Evenson is not so in love with his words and never overwrites, he writes with a tight control rarely since in genre work that is also considered “high lit.” It doesn’t remind me of any other book immediately but if pressed to make a comparison I would have to say a cross between Cormac McCarthy’s The Road with a little bit of a THX 1138.
More than just a story about the travels across the wasteland Evenson explores what it means to be human, and what effect humanity has had on the world. On personal note ¾ of the way through the book, Evenson tips his hand a bit with a great exchange that of course I personally loved. A character talks about the possible death of humanity “We're a curse, a blight. First, we gave everything a names and then invented hatred. And then we made the mistake of domesticating animals- almost as bit of a mistake as discovering fire.” Is this misanthropic point the bottom line of the novel. It is hard to argue after the powerful and disturbing ending that is anything else, but that could also just be this reader reacting to it.
Immobility is a powerful and thoughtful, highly recommended.
May 2, 2013
The only reason I didn't put this book down after the prologue, which only had about two complete sentences in it, was because the plot itself kept me asking more questions. I wanted to know more. I wanted to know what was going on, what had already happened, and what was going to happen.
Unfortunately, the story never really delivered. Finally, at the end, the reader starts to get some answers, starts to get an inkling of what's going on. But there was too much left unexplained. I don't mind filling in the gaps in a story, but in this case, most of the story was undeveloped, and I felt cheated. Though perhaps if the story was stretched to a longer novel, answers could be flushed out.
But as the answers started to emerge, it was too late for me anyway. The fragments in the prologue soured me. Then the annoying dialogue crippled my desire to stay with the story. Here's an example of the aggravating repeat-purposely-ambiguous-statement style of the dialogue (paraphrased, not actual text):
"We're going."
"You're going? Going where?"
"We're going out."
"Out? Out where? Why?"
"Because we have a Purpose."
"A Purpose? What purpose?"
ANNOYING!
This book gets two stars because it did manage to keep me interested and I did make it through to the end.
Unfortunately, the story never really delivered. Finally, at the end, the reader starts to get some answers, starts to get an inkling of what's going on. But there was too much left unexplained. I don't mind filling in the gaps in a story, but in this case, most of the story was undeveloped, and I felt cheated. Though perhaps if the story was stretched to a longer novel, answers could be flushed out.
But as the answers started to emerge, it was too late for me anyway. The fragments in the prologue soured me. Then the annoying dialogue crippled my desire to stay with the story. Here's an example of the aggravating repeat-purposely-ambiguous-statement style of the dialogue (paraphrased, not actual text):
"We're going."
"You're going? Going where?"
"We're going out."
"Out? Out where? Why?"
"Because we have a Purpose."
"A Purpose? What purpose?"
ANNOYING!
This book gets two stars because it did manage to keep me interested and I did make it through to the end.
February 16, 2012
“What’s in these?” asked Horkai, more as a way to slow Mahonri down than out of any real curiosity.
“Records,” said Mahonri. He stopped, turned around. “What we have here is the history of the human race, a record of births and deaths for hundreds and hundreds of years.”
“Why?” asked Horkai.
“What do you mean, why?” Mahonri responded. “Humanity is important. All these things must be preserved so that, when the time comes, humanity shall know what it has been, is, and will be.”
“When the time comes for what?”
“When the time comes for humanity to return.”
***
Josef Horkai isn’t having all that much fun. Brought out from a thirty-year cryogenic slumber and paralyzed from the waist down due to a mysterious illness in his spinal cord, an illness that will kill him unless regularly (and painfully) treated, he emerges into a sparsely populated world with nothing but a mission, a pair of mules, and the constant threat of death looming overhead. Maybe not his death—maybe humanity’s, or maybe his two stalwart and intellectually truncated companions—but death nonetheless.
Horkai is tasked by Rasmus, the enigmatic leader of this last-of-humanity shelter called a “hive”, to go forth into the wasteland carried on the backs of two mules—test-tube human simulacrums named Qatik and Qanik—and retrieve a mysterious canister of seed, which, according to Rasmus, is essential to their survival. The journey will take Horkai and his mules through the toxic remains of the world, and past what little of society still exists in the wake of “the Kollaps”. Despite his paralysis, only Horkai is genetically equipped to withstand the brutal wasteland environment. His two mules are sacrifices so that this paraplegic anti-hero can accomplish his mysterious mission.
What the Kollaps was, what sparked it, and the direct fallout from the event, are not Evenson’s primary focus. Instead he uses the aftermath of this seemingly global catastrophe (likely nuclear, though details remain uncertain through to the very end) to tell a tale of a violent man’s limited purpose in a world where the only necessity is to find a way to kickstart humanity all over again. Horkai’s past is alluded to in snippets of exchanges between him, Rasmus, and the unlucky few he comes into contact with along his journey on the backs of his two sacrifices, but even then, details are never concrete, never entirely trustworthy.
Immobility is a test of brevity. With effective and conventional writing, Evenson offers up an are-they-or-aren’t-they zombie/vampire/Mad Max-style narrative. Immobility doesn’t bring an exceptional use of tone or language to the folds of the post-apocalyptic story. Minimalism is more the game on display. Evenson uses the setting to great effect to show both the essential quality of a blunt instrument in a world gone to shit, and to show that same character’s uselessness in the possible future that might grow from his actions—and to illustrate, as we’ve come to expect, that in such a setting, knowledge will always hold the wild card over brute strength.
Through the objective certainty of his mules and their acceptance of the roles they must play in Horkai’s journey, the predictably opposing sects of science and faith, and a lone wasteland holdout with no name, Evenson offers some quiet philosophizing that is not often seen in this genre—at least, not with any degree of subtlety. Immobility never goes too far astray in this manner, nor does its narrative ever become obstructed by the rather large red herring at the core of the tale—the how and the why of Horkai’s ability to survive without protection in the wasteland’s toxic air.
From beginning to end, Evenson shows impressive restraint, never giving more than we need, never leaving the reader pissed off at what we aren’t told. It stumbles a bit from time to time—specifically with its all-too-revealing-yet-not-at-all dream sequences—but they do not negatively impact the story’s rhythm. In the end, however, that’s a minor quibble—an overused crutch in a lot of science fiction. Regardless, Immobility is a solid, fun, post-apocalyptic tale.
“Records,” said Mahonri. He stopped, turned around. “What we have here is the history of the human race, a record of births and deaths for hundreds and hundreds of years.”
“Why?” asked Horkai.
“What do you mean, why?” Mahonri responded. “Humanity is important. All these things must be preserved so that, when the time comes, humanity shall know what it has been, is, and will be.”
“When the time comes for what?”
“When the time comes for humanity to return.”
***
Josef Horkai isn’t having all that much fun. Brought out from a thirty-year cryogenic slumber and paralyzed from the waist down due to a mysterious illness in his spinal cord, an illness that will kill him unless regularly (and painfully) treated, he emerges into a sparsely populated world with nothing but a mission, a pair of mules, and the constant threat of death looming overhead. Maybe not his death—maybe humanity’s, or maybe his two stalwart and intellectually truncated companions—but death nonetheless.
Horkai is tasked by Rasmus, the enigmatic leader of this last-of-humanity shelter called a “hive”, to go forth into the wasteland carried on the backs of two mules—test-tube human simulacrums named Qatik and Qanik—and retrieve a mysterious canister of seed, which, according to Rasmus, is essential to their survival. The journey will take Horkai and his mules through the toxic remains of the world, and past what little of society still exists in the wake of “the Kollaps”. Despite his paralysis, only Horkai is genetically equipped to withstand the brutal wasteland environment. His two mules are sacrifices so that this paraplegic anti-hero can accomplish his mysterious mission.
What the Kollaps was, what sparked it, and the direct fallout from the event, are not Evenson’s primary focus. Instead he uses the aftermath of this seemingly global catastrophe (likely nuclear, though details remain uncertain through to the very end) to tell a tale of a violent man’s limited purpose in a world where the only necessity is to find a way to kickstart humanity all over again. Horkai’s past is alluded to in snippets of exchanges between him, Rasmus, and the unlucky few he comes into contact with along his journey on the backs of his two sacrifices, but even then, details are never concrete, never entirely trustworthy.
Immobility is a test of brevity. With effective and conventional writing, Evenson offers up an are-they-or-aren’t-they zombie/vampire/Mad Max-style narrative. Immobility doesn’t bring an exceptional use of tone or language to the folds of the post-apocalyptic story. Minimalism is more the game on display. Evenson uses the setting to great effect to show both the essential quality of a blunt instrument in a world gone to shit, and to show that same character’s uselessness in the possible future that might grow from his actions—and to illustrate, as we’ve come to expect, that in such a setting, knowledge will always hold the wild card over brute strength.
Through the objective certainty of his mules and their acceptance of the roles they must play in Horkai’s journey, the predictably opposing sects of science and faith, and a lone wasteland holdout with no name, Evenson offers some quiet philosophizing that is not often seen in this genre—at least, not with any degree of subtlety. Immobility never goes too far astray in this manner, nor does its narrative ever become obstructed by the rather large red herring at the core of the tale—the how and the why of Horkai’s ability to survive without protection in the wasteland’s toxic air.
From beginning to end, Evenson shows impressive restraint, never giving more than we need, never leaving the reader pissed off at what we aren’t told. It stumbles a bit from time to time—specifically with its all-too-revealing-yet-not-at-all dream sequences—but they do not negatively impact the story’s rhythm. In the end, however, that’s a minor quibble—an overused crutch in a lot of science fiction. Regardless, Immobility is a solid, fun, post-apocalyptic tale.
August 10, 2017
Another amazing read from the pen of Brian Evenson, who is proving to be a favorite writer of mine. Reading Immobility, I was constantly haunted by its similarities with his recent novella, the Warren. Again, in an utterly bleak post-apocalyptic setting, Evenson's protagonist pursues self-identity and what it means to be human. Josef Horkai struggles to make sense of his memories, and vies to make the correct choice as to which remaining, tattered faction of humankind (or semi-humankind) he should align himself with.
And here's a very perceptive review of Immobility by Paul Tremblay (written in 2012) that I highly recommend. https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/b...
And here's a very perceptive review of Immobility by Paul Tremblay (written in 2012) that I highly recommend. https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/b...
March 8, 2016
This book snuck up on me. It wasn't until the 2nd complete reading that I really fell in love with the story. Initially, I felt it was one of Evenson's more mundane books. But after it sunk in, this is a really well done book that extends well beyond the borders of its pages. The world set up here is so hauntingly believable that I wouldn't half be surprised to wake up thawed out in this dystopia and sent on a quest without the use of my legs. There's really a lot of heart in it AND it's a total mind-screw that fans of Evenson will enjoy. Recommended esp. as an entry point for fans of sci-fi looking to get into Evenson's work.
December 31, 2020
If Cormac McCarthy wrote a quasi-religious "Demolition Man"?
It is unfair to reduce this book to such comparisons but I did it anyway.
There are some pretty obvious story points, but the writing is excellent.
I continue to love Brian Evenson.
It is unfair to reduce this book to such comparisons but I did it anyway.
There are some pretty obvious story points, but the writing is excellent.
I continue to love Brian Evenson.
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