Heist at the Bank, Escaping into the Light
In the literary world, Russian author Victor Pelevin is known for his intricate and thought-provoking works. His latest offering, "A Sinistra," the fifth instalment of the Transhumanism Inc. series, is no exception.
This new book presents a hero unlike any we've seen before in Pelevin's previous works. Marcus, the protagonist, finds himself in a unique predicament - he is dead, controlled by a corporation's neural network, and yet, he must save Transhumanism Inc. and the world, as well as himself.
One of the most striking features of "A Sinistra" is the tank world it inhabits. This world offers Pelevin a creative liberty, allowing him to anonymise characters, use convenient anachronisms and anachronisms, and steer clear of details of the creative process. It serves as a backdrop for a vast array of settings, from Rome and Verona to a primeval forest and a Russian estate.
The tank world in "A Sinistra" is not just a setting; it's a repository of wisdom. It contains millennia of human experience, more than even the hermit from Pelevin's early stories or historical figures like Paul I and Isis.
The book is easier to read than previous parts of the series, perhaps due to the hero's cerebrocontainer, which encases his brain. Marcus, however, is not your ordinary hero. He has the ability to transform into a were-fox, a Russian classic, and a vampire.
Interestingly, Marcus's memory is wiped after each training session, making him a suitable candidate for explanation. This simplifies the narrative, allowing the book to have a clear and cohesive plot, free from self-contained descriptions of pagan mysteries and complex relationships between members of the ancient pantheon and their chosen ones.
Mikhail Prorkov, a renowned critic, expresses concern about whether Pelevin will create new bright and memorable heroes in his books, capable of standing alongside previous characters like the fox A HuLi, Count Tolstoy from "t," or Damilocarlo and Kai from "S.N.U.F.F." However, with Marcus, it seems Pelevin has delivered a character that is as intriguing as his previous creations.
In "A Sinistra," Pelevin has settled firmly in the future, providing a setting where he can calmly hone the formulations of his important ideas without fear of being caught in a loop. The book does not burden the reader with details of the creative process, offering a refreshing change from Pelevin's usual style.
It is worth noting that the role of the hero in "A Sinistra" was played by a geoanalyst named Philip, and Mikhail Propokov has volunteered to empathise with both the hero and his author.
As we delve deeper into "A Sinistra," it is suggested that in the future, one might want to have their memories wiped after understanding everything. This thought-provoking suggestion adds another layer of complexity to an already intricate narrative.
In conclusion, "A Sinistra" is a must-read for fans of Victor Pelevin and those new to his work. It offers a fresh take on the Transhumanism Inc. series, with a compelling plot, intriguing characters, and thought-provoking ideas.
