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A review by angethology
Pontypool Changes Everything by Tony Burgess
3.25
".. Its existence is incomprehensible because it exists contrary to the way our rational minds comprehend. And because the virus is situated, quite physically, anterior to the process of comprehension itself."
"Pontypool Changes Everything" is a strange meta, experimental novel about a viral zombie outbreak that envelops a small town, Pontypool. Following a couple of different people's perspectives until some of their demise, we get a deconstructed, non-linear narrative that include alternate events, an "autobiography," and an interview-like medium where the origin of the virus is revealed. Much like the actual structure of the novel, the virus embodies chaos, backtracking and questioning our understanding of language and concepts: *The virus bit wildly at the exterior shimmer of the paradigms, jamming selection with pointed double fangs. "
Zombies in all kinds of media are often portrayed as either cannibalistic, ravenous and senselessly violent beings or a tractable, hivemind that have no purpose besides chasing their next meal. What's different in this book is that the transformation of zombies is slow and also integral to our understanding of the virus. The process very much mirrors an alienation that humans can often relate to, especially for certain diseases (like dementia) where our communication becomes less and less reliable. All meaning is broken down into more itemized, interchangeable linguistic units that are corrupted, and before fully turning into a zombie, one almost falls into a state of depression and isolation. Once nothing makes sense anymore, that's when the zombies complete their "transformation" and start resorting to full-blown, unfettered violence. Not being able to have meaningful connections and comprehend anything pushes their systems over the edge.
The virus disseminating through language inevitably encourages humans to communicate as minimally as possible, however — and the irony is, that non infected ones too, become isolated and alienated, also resorting to violence, and perhaps also with their own comprehension being distorted. This novel, like many experimental and genre-bending books, feels surreal and confusing. The discussion about the origin of the virus is probably my favorite part, and while I can appreciate the characters' descent into madness, it becomes easy to lose track of what's happening. You could almost say it makes the experience of reading more immersive, but instead of a hypnotic alluring chaos, it sometimes made me tempted to skim certain parts. I appreciate that this is an incredibly unique and philosophical book that transcends the multiple genres it falls into, even though it almost triggers me to become a zombie myself with its language.
"Pontypool Changes Everything" is a strange meta, experimental novel about a viral zombie outbreak that envelops a small town, Pontypool. Following a couple of different people's perspectives until some of their demise, we get a deconstructed, non-linear narrative that include alternate events, an "autobiography," and an interview-like medium where the origin of the virus is revealed. Much like the actual structure of the novel, the virus embodies chaos, backtracking and questioning our understanding of language and concepts: *The virus bit wildly at the exterior shimmer of the paradigms, jamming selection with pointed double fangs. "
Zombies in all kinds of media are often portrayed as either cannibalistic, ravenous and senselessly violent beings or a tractable, hivemind that have no purpose besides chasing their next meal. What's different in this book is that the transformation of zombies is slow and also integral to our understanding of the virus. The process very much mirrors an alienation that humans can often relate to, especially for certain diseases (like dementia) where our communication becomes less and less reliable. All meaning is broken down into more itemized, interchangeable linguistic units that are corrupted, and before fully turning into a zombie, one almost falls into a state of depression and isolation. Once nothing makes sense anymore, that's when the zombies complete their "transformation" and start resorting to full-blown, unfettered violence. Not being able to have meaningful connections and comprehend anything pushes their systems over the edge.
The virus disseminating through language inevitably encourages humans to communicate as minimally as possible, however — and the irony is, that non infected ones too, become isolated and alienated, also resorting to violence, and perhaps also with their own comprehension being distorted. This novel, like many experimental and genre-bending books, feels surreal and confusing. The discussion about the origin of the virus is probably my favorite part, and while I can appreciate the characters' descent into madness, it becomes easy to lose track of what's happening. You could almost say it makes the experience of reading more immersive, but instead of a hypnotic alluring chaos, it sometimes made me tempted to skim certain parts. I appreciate that this is an incredibly unique and philosophical book that transcends the multiple genres it falls into, even though it almost triggers me to become a zombie myself with its language.