Counterweight (Korean: 평형추) is a 2021 science fiction novel by South Korean pseudonymous writer Djuna.[1][2][3][4] It is Djuna's first novel to be translated and published in English.[1] It was translated by Anton Hur and published by Pantheon in 2023.[1][4]
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| Author | Djuna |
|---|---|
| Translator | Anton Hur |
| Language | English |
| Genres | science fiction |
| Published | 2023 |
| Publisher | Pantheon |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 176 |
| ISBN | 9780593317211 |
The author
editDjuna has been described as "a literary giant in Korea",[2] and since the 1990s one of the most prolific and important writers in the South Korean science fiction field.[5][6] It is Djuna's first novel to be translated and published in English.[1]
Development
editThe initial concept for the book was developed from a draft movie script that Djuna wrote about ten years before it was finally published as a book.[2] Djuna's motivation behind the novel was rooted in the exploration of Korea's relationship with other neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia, particularly as the country's growth has led to the surfacing of historic prejudices against it.[2] The author aimed for the novel to explore how this situation might manifest and evolve in the future.[2] Whilst Djuna wanted to move away from the influence of western authors such as George Orwell or Joseph Conrad, the book remains a "pastiche" of their works.[2]
Plot
editSet in Patusan, an imaginary tropical country, the narrative unfolds around the Earth's inaugural space elevator, a creation of the Korean megacorporation (chaebol) LK. The megacorporation's involvement, likened to the island's colonization by Korea, is opposed by a rebel force called the Patusan Liberation Front. The tale is told through the eyes of Mac, a disenchanted security executive at the company, who delves into the odd conduct of a subordinate and its connection to the recent demise of the firm's chief executive.[2][4]
Reviews
editHari Kunzru reviewed the book for The New York Times. He described it as "an efficient, fast-paced cyberpunk story" and noted that the discussion of artificial intelligence in the book is a timely topic.[1]
Andrea M. Pawley reviewed the book for Washington Independent Review of Books. She wrote that the book "packs more corporate intrigue into its 176 pages than most stories manage in three times the space" and concluded that "fast-paced and exhilarating, Counterweight is worth the ride".[3]
Charlie Jane Anders reviewed the book for the Washington Post. She called the book a "dizzyingly subversive cyberpunk thriller", concluding that "In true Philip K. Dick style, Djuna serves up enough paranoia and clever ideas to keep you guessing.".[7]
Kate Knibbs reviewed the book for Wired, describing it as "a jaunty cyberpunk thriller about memory implantation, space colonization, and identity".[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Kunzru, Hari (9 July 2023). "In Djuna's Space-Elevator Sci-Fi, Corporate Conspiracies Abound". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Knibbs, Kate (11 July 2023). "Djuna, South Korea's Enigmatic Sci-Fi Legend, Opens Up About Their New Book". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ a b Pawley, Andrea M. (19 July 2023). "Counterweight: A Novel | Washington Independent Review of Books". Washington Independent Review of Books. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Kim, E. Tammy (30 October 2023). "The Enigmatic Science Fiction of Djuna". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ "[커버스토리]21세기 상징 대중문화분야 SF소설가 듀나" [Cover Story | Djuna, a science fiction novelist in the field of popular culture, a symbol of the 21st century]. Weekly Kyunghyang (in Korean). 23 September 2008. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ "듀나 | 문학과지성사" [Djuna | Literature and Intelligence Temple]. moonji.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ Anders, Charlie Jane (19 July 2023). "Review | These stories will help you deal with cults and fanatics". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 5 December 2023.