The Fixer: A Story from Sarajevo is a nonfiction graphic novel on the Bosnian War, written and drawn by Joe Sacco. It tells the story of a Sarajevan man who, having lost everything else in the war, sells his services — and stories — to Western journalists. The Fixer was published in 2003.
| Author | Joe Sacco |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Joe Sacco |
| Cover artist | Joe Sacco |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Bosnian War |
| Genre | New Journalism |
| Publisher | Drawn & Quarterly |
Publication date | 2003 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print, hardcover, paperback |
| Pages | 105 |
| ISBN | 978-1896597607 |
| OCLC | 53945568 |
| Preceded by | Safe Area Goražde |
Overview
editUnlike Sacco's previous books, The Fixer focuses on a single character rather than a range of sources.[1]
The book starts in a hotel lobby in 1995, near the end of the Siege of Sarajevo. Neven,[2] the Fixer, "who operates as a kind of translator and guide for journalists,"[3] has both Muslim and Serbian roots, embodying the erstwhile cosmopolitan essence of Sarjevo, the once culturally diverse city. Through Neven's personal narrative, the book delves into the insider perspective of resisting the Serbian forces during the siege. This task fell to loosely affiliated, quasi-legal factions led by charismatic warlords. Neven, trained as a sniper in the Yugoslav army, joins one such paramilitary unit under the command of Ismet Bajramović, also known as Celo, a former convict with a commanding presence.
Sacco provides insight into the complex moral landscape inhabited by these warlords, whom he characterizes as "military pop idols." While ostensibly defending the city, they engage in confiscations, forced evictions, conscription at gunpoint, and are implicated in massacres and ethnic cleansing. Neven contributes his own anecdotes, such as a dramatic recounting of shooting an enemy through his gun holster while falling backward, adding layers of ambiguity to the narrative.
As Sacco probes deeper into Neven's stories and the warlords' atrocities, doubts about their authenticity emerge. Ultimately, The Fixer evolves into a reflection on the nebulous nature of truth and its significance in the context of the Sarajevo siege.
Reception
editIn a review, The Guardian called the book "grueling but brilliant."[4] Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas E. Ricks called The Fixer, "one of the best books I have read about the Bosnian war, and also about war journalism these days."[5] The progressive newspaper The Indypendent wrote of the book that it "...presents a malleable world of gray where everyone’s goal is survival at any cost. With The Fixer, Joe Sacco reinforces his place as a comics master and journalist, and his work merits examination and celebration."[6]
Awards
edit- 2004 Ignatz Awards[7]
- (nomination) Outstanding Graphic Novel or Collection
- (nomination) Outstanding Artist
- 2004 (nomination) Eagle Award for Favourite Graphic Novel[8]
See also
edit- Safe Area Goražde, an earlier book by Sacco about the Bosnian War
- Fax from Sarajevo, a nonfiction graphic novel by Joe Kubert
- Sarajevo Tango, a crime story graphic novel by Hermann that takes place in Sarajevo during the Siege of Sarajevo
References
edit- ^ Farah, Christopher (December 5, 2003). "Safe area America: Graphic novelist Joe Sacco goes back to Sarajevo with his powerful new book 'The Fixer' -- and talks about why the entire U.S. population should be tried for war crimes". Salon.
- ^ Arnold, Andrew (Oct 31, 2003). "Looks Like a Job for 'The Fixer': Joe Sacco's latest work of comix-journalism". Time.com. Archived from the original on Aug 11, 2010.
- ^ "The thin black line: Cartoonist Joe Sacco, who illustrated the Sarajevo war zone in 'The Fixer,' will be in town to discuss his craft". The Oregonian. Nov 14, 2003. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2004.
- ^ Faber, Michel (6 Aug 2004). "Review: An anti-hero of our time". The Guardian.
- ^ Ricks, Thomas E. (Dec 10, 2014). "'The Fixer: A Story From Sarajevo': A fine book about war and journalism these days". BEST DEFENSE. Foreign Policy.
- ^ TAVERAS, HUESO (Feb 2, 2007). "Bosnian War Drawn Out: A Review of "The Fixer: A Story from Sarajevo"". Reviews. The Indypendent.
- ^ "SPX 2004 Bonanza of Comics!". The Copacetic Comics Company. 26 October 2004.
- ^ Patty, Shawn (November 11, 2004). "2004 Eagle Awards Winners". Comics Bulletin. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011.
Further reading
edit- Orbán, Katalin (2015). "Mediating Distant Violence: Reports on Non-photographic Reporting in The Fixer and The Photographer". Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics. 6 (2): 122–137. doi:10.1080/21504857.2015.1027943. hdl:10831/62076.