Book Review | THE SPIRIT OF SCIENCE FICTION by Roberto Bolaño

February 5, 2019;
Penguin Press

A tale of bohemian youth on the make in Mexico City 
from a master of contemporary fiction, 
and a sublime precursor to The Savage Detectives.

THE SPIRIT OF SCIENCE FICTION was first published in 2016, recently translated from Spanish by Natasha Wimmer for its February 2019 release. The story follows two young men in their aspirations to be writers. Jan, the reclusive one, is more content in translating poems and penning fan letters to published sci-fi writers. Remo, on the other hand, explores poetry workshops, craves for relationships, and vents on investigating the sudden burst of literary magazines around Mexico City.

On whether the two men achieved their aspirations, it was not clear. There is no straight narrative. The book is a bricolage of interviews, letters, dreams, and fragmented sci-fi plots. An initiation of sorts for the Bolaño novices. One thing is clear, though, Roberto Bolaño is one broad writer and I hope to read at least one of his more notable works soon.

Book details:
Title: The Spirit of Science Fiction
Author: Roberto Bolaño
Translator: Natasha Wimmer
Publication: February 5, 2019; Penguin Press
Genre: Fiction
Rating: ★★★


*Thank you Penguin Press and Edelweiss for the DRM, in exchange for this unbiased review.