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dngoldman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
4.75
“The Employees” by Olga Ravn is a weird and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of identity, workplace dynamics, and our relationship with the unknown. This unique blend of science fiction, satire, and existential exploration. (Think unnerving workplace drama of Severance, the flat technology takes over something is up vibe of 2001, with the general weirdness of Dead Astronauts era Jeff Vandemeer.)
Set in the 22nd century, the story unfolds aboard the Six-Thousand Ship, orbiting above the distant planet New Discovery. The crew consists of both humans and humanoids, blurring the lines between organic and artificial life. The ship carries strange objects retrieved from New Discovery, and these enigmatic artifacts become central to the crew’s existence. Something happens 1/4 through the novel that sets the characters on a spiral. Is the relationship with the mysterious objects, the disappearance of codes 4, or the new program uploaded to the humanoids, the humans start becoming more depressed and the humanoids more indepen, reclusive, violent, and murderious.
Here are some key aspects of the novel:
- Corporate Language and Workplace Satire:
- Ravn masterfully satirizes corporate language and the late-capitalist workplace. The novel takes the form of statements made by the crew to a bureaucratic committee investigating the effects of the mysterious objects. These statements focus not on the objects’ nature but on their impact on performance and understanding.
- The mundane discussions about cleaning the objects contrast sharply with their cosmic significance. Lines like “I normally use a little brush” highlight the banality of the extraordinary. The technique also allows the plot to unveil slowly, adding to the suspense.
- While the mission ends in disaster, the corporates bosses are pleased as the have intellectual property for the next exploration
- Ontological Uncertainty:
- The crew grapples with questions of identity. Who is human? Who is humanoid? The novel intentionally blurs these distinctions, leaving readers to decipher which statements come from which beings.
- One humanoid asserts, “I may have been made, but now I’m making myself.” This struggle for selfhood underscores the theme of existence and agency.“ “ what would it mean for me to know that I was not living? That I, who am human, or instead a chiselled sculpted Stone like the stones in this room…. And what would it mean if one could move only between two rooms one containing the objects the other voices to pass from room to room to stream of light?…. These rooms contained every space occupied.”
- Longings and Memories:
- Amid corporate jargon, the novel is haunted by memories from a long-lost Earth. The crew yearns for warmth, intimacy, and connections to their past.
- The objects evoke nostalgia and provoke emotional responses. They become imbued with personalities as the crew assigns them names.
- Humanity and Regulation:
- The characters are pawns in a corporate mission, their purpose unclear. The company regulates their lives, spooling out nostalgia through child hologram.
- Although the novel ends in destruction, the corporation deems it a success. The question of what it means to be truly free lingers.
- Interplay of Characters:
- The humans, biological beings, humanoids, and objects interact in intricate ways. The humans form attachments to the humanoids and objects, blurring the boundaries.
- When the child puts its mouth to my breast body and an object to it. When the milk squirted, I was both the milk and not the milk. If I squeezed my breast hard, I can still produce a drop or two, but for whom into what purpose?”
- The humanoids evolve, seeking autonomy and becoming more like their human counterparts. Fear of death becomes a defining trait. “ I appreciate this feeling of sadness because it’s a sadness I can endure. It’s not hard to bear it’s more like a delicacy. You can say what you want, but I know you don’t want us to become too well what? Too human? But I like being alive. I look out at the endless deep outside the panorama windows. I see asun. …I know without doubt that I am. I may have made, but now I am making myself And the humanoids becoming more human. “it felt good to kill a human… I am a pomegranate ripe with moist seeds each seed a killing I am going to carry out at some future time. When I have no more seeds inside me, when there’s nothing left but flesh, I want to meet the man who made me. These are my conditions “
- The humans, biological beings, humanoids, and objects interact in intricate ways. The humans form attachments to the humanoids and objects, blurring the boundaries.
In summary, “The Employees” challenges us to consider our own humanity, agency, and the impact of the unknown. Ravn’s novel invites readers to explore the ordinary and the cosmic, leaving us with lingering questions about existence and purpose. I read the novel in almost one sitting. Highly recoommended.
akmres's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
anna_rubin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
toastyg's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
Not for trypophobes.
katyab's review against another edition
3.0
A strange and weirdly absorbing book of statements taken from the "employees" of the Six Thousand Ship, as they interact with mysterious objects discovered on a distant planet. The stories of those who are human, and those who are humanoid, start to become indistinguishable as they explore the depths of their humanity and how authentic their experiences are. They yearn for intimacy, explanation, the mundane and the extraordinary. Perhaps a bit too abstract for my personal liking, but it was a fascinating look into the survival of the individual, the creative and curious mind, in a culture of productivity and programmable efficiency (where any reflection or questioning seems like a deficiency).
kshap's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
bharaniprincess's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
manreetkaur's review against another edition
4.0
One of the most unique books, I have read, it left me thinking about each memo, even outside of reading the book. Highly relevant, this novella follows crew members on the Six-Thousand Ship who tell a group of panelists about certain objects, internal turmoil, and workplace drama. The memos grow more ominous, and the reader suspects a dark fate for the crew members. Also, some of these members are humanoid, which means they are as human as Dr. Lund (the only doctor on the ship), could make them. The memos reflect society's tendency to get rid of the old, the deep attachment one may feel to something out of the blue, the effects of isolation, and so much more. I think it is a worthy read. To understand it, you may have to read it once. That is why I rated it a 3.5/5. It can be hard to follow and all over the place, but I feel that is the purpose. I think I have to read it more than once too!