The Employees by Olga Ravn

Blurb:

n the Six-Thousand Ship, things have started to feel changed. Since bringing aboard a number of strange objects from a newly discovered planet, the crew – both human and humanoid – have begun to feel a yearning. They want to be near the objects, to feel them pressed against their skin, but they also all now feel a curious new hunger for home: Earth, that place many cannot even remember.

The Board of Directors are eager to understand more, and so instruct a commission to interview each of the employees. Those who are born dream of soil, the smell of warm asphalt, the sound of animals and birds. Those who are made know only what is programmed, and yet feel it deeply, truly. As their testimonies accumulate, a tapestry of longing and quiet rebellion emerges, blurring the lines between work and life, between human and machine.

The Employees was the breakout novel from one of the most celebrated authors in world literature, and is now seen as a masterpiece of twenty-first century literary science fiction. In stark, pristine prose, Olga Ravn forms a timeless meditation on productivity, pleasure and what the far-flung future might miss.

Review:

I discovered this book in a list of ‘weird’ reads. Of every other title on that list, The Employees by Olga Ravn stood out the most to me. Told as a series of non-linear ‘employee statements’, this one promised to be a puzzlingly reflective read. And it was. 

SPOILERS AHEAD!

What I liked:

I’m going to start off by saying: what an absolutely moving, rich, and beautiful story! This is undoubtedly one of the best reads of the year, and it is going to stay with me for a very long time.

The Employees—as expected—is a very strange read. The characters remain unnamed, the plot is pretty simple, but shrouded by the emotional rants, complaints, reminiscing, and other statements that these employees give. The statements are sometimes nonlinear, and the overall book demands a more active reading for you to truly appreciate every detail. In fact, I’d even say that reading this one multiple times might prove progressively more rewarding. 

An incident has occurred on board this spaceship. The company has sent two agents to investigate, who interview the employees on board. These employees include both humans as well as humanoids. There are also strange alien objects that were retrieved from the nearby planet, which seem to have some kind of sentience, evoking strong emotional reactions. However, none of what I told you gets revealed in any more detail. The incident largely remains unknown. You may be able to differentiate between human statements and humanoid statements as you keep reading, but the author makes no direct effort to do so. Unless you can locate all of the evidence she has discreetly planted within the statements themselves. 

Reading this book made me think of my own time working in office environments. From the way certain conflicts arise, to the manner in which employees deal with those conflicts, to the overall reserved statements made with regard to their employers, this book is as real as it is absurd. From recurring motifs of eggs, smells, and memories, to depicting relevant themes of office conflicts, workplace ethics, parenting, humanity, and much more, The Employees is a profoundly complex read. At its surface, it is a simple investigation of a workplace incident which forces the company to decide its next step. However, peel away layers of its writing, and you’ll find a goldmine of reflective themes and philosophies that will compel you to sit down with your thoughts and reflect upon them. 

The Employees is not for everyone. But for readers who admire a puzzling narrative with a unique narrative, presentation, and a rich writing style, you’re in for a treat!

What I didn’t like:

Nothing. I loved everything about this book. However, I can imagine some aspects not working for everyone, so I’d like to point them out here.

The book’s plot is simple and straightforward, but presented in a manner that can be confusing. ‘The Employees’ demands active engagement to piece the puzzle together. That particular feat becomes all the more difficult given that the statements are non-linear, and that the employees (humans as well as humanoids) remain unnamed. The second half particularly does reveal the plot. However, it still demands that you connect the dots to really understand the story here. If that kind of read is not up your alley, I’d stay clear of The Employees. However, if you like that kind of read, then go right ahead.

That being said, I had an amazing time reading, and I must reiterate that this is by far one of the best reads of the year for me. Even if I end up reading better books, I know this one is going to make it into my top reads of the year list.

Conclusion:

A complex and profound puzzle unfolding through employee statements that divulge a dark problem that offers no clear meaning yet warrants deep reflection.

TL;DR:

WHAT I LIKED: The complexity of the book’s themes, presentation, narrative, ambiguity

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Nothing