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But it is also a nod to Decadent-era (pre-vaccination) views of decay and the human body. The nod to Decadent literature demonstrates, too, that Krohn’s influences are wider than English-language readers may have assumed. To some extent, the grotesque occurs in Krohn’s work because it is an important part of the world, and Krohn’s explorations in fiction tend to interrogate the world from many different angles. It also can be found in other of her fictions that deal with terrorism and with biotech. It just isn’t always on evidence in the small selection of her work published in English to date.Ī vein of the horrific occurs also in her novel Gold of Ophir, in its description of an airplane disaster and in its ruminations on the explorations of a tuatara reptile. But, in fact, this quality of the practical and specific occurs throughout Krohn’s fiction. Some readers of Krohn’s other work in English may be surprised by the tactile, visceral aspect of “Lucilia Illustris,” which could be read as a wide-angle meditation on crime scenes. The book consists of twelve prose pieces that occupy the ground between the essay and the short story, thematically linked by a discussion of the relationship between self and reality. The story reprinted here, “Lucilia Illustris,” was first published in Mathematical Creatures or Shared Dreams ( Matemaattisia olioita tai jaettuja unia), Leena Krohn’s seventh prose work for adults and the winner of the 1992 Finlandia Prize.

It also creates a puzzle aspect respectful of reader intelligence and imagination. Her adoption of this structure is wise - the rate of ideas and images conveyed in a typical chapter, even when playful, has a density that might overwhelm in longer increments, but seems layered and useful at the short length. Krohn’s usual form is a kind of “mosaic” novel, in which short chapters advance the overall story arc but also form complete tales in and of themselves. Her fictions aren’t abstractions, however, but alive with details of character and setting and situation that display a keen eye for observation of the world around her. Krohn is curious about the world, and she has the kind of philosophical mind to make that exploration fascinating to readers. The ceaseless roving, testing, and journeying that manifests in Krohn’s fiction originates from a fierce intellect. She forces you to adapt to her pace, her particular and unique ideas of urgency. Leena Krohn, one of Finland’s most decorated writers, is the kind of storyteller who rewires your brain.

Area x three book bundle annihilation authority acceptance jeff vandermeer