How much are you willing to give up for fame? – review of the book “Fugue. polyphonic novel”

Man, as a complex being, has many emotions, often contradictory, which theoretically should be mutually exclusive. They overpower some people and make them stagnant, in others they give an energy kick and motivate them to act. It’s up to us which way we choose to direct them. The constantly changing reality causes us to adapt to the current conditions, but the feelings are still the same. Is giving in to them a good solution?

 

Emotions that can destroy

First there is anger, which is overwhelming and often takes away the ability to think logically. When we begin to realize that reality is not beautiful, and falsehood and hypocrisy lurk at every step, then emotions subside, cynicism appears, but the main character of the Fugue has not yet reached this point Finian Mikcerion is tired of his current life, often frustrated, which makes him furious. He hates that everyone lives in a virtual world that takes away their ability to think rationally. To get away from it all, he wants to make money. He decides to take part in unusual competitions. He will stand against a corporation that deceives people’s minds and several participants, each of whom is different, but similar to him in their own way.

When I saw the announcement of Fuga , I had mixed feelings, because the description is very intriguing, but the unknown author cooled my enthusiasm a bit. But I’m glad I took the risk and trusted her. Fugue tells about a reality that is shown as a distant future, but in fact it may appear in our country quite soon. Social media is increasingly dominating our everyday life, and the book shows how the line between fiction and real life can quickly blur.

Something old, something new

The fugue is based on familiar mechanisms previously used in literature, but they are combined in a clever way. The author’s writing style is also very good, which makes it very easy to read. There is no room for unnecessary embellishments or lengthy descriptions. The plot focuses on the future, when people inhabit a new planet. Unfortunately, it is not explained how it happened, but all novelties and technological aspects, space travel and how it affected everyday life are described in detail. Most focused on presenting human behavior and how society copes in a reality ruled by the most influential people, where there are no clearly defined rules.

What’s inside?

The story is told from the perspective of five narrators and tells the story of unusual participants who, mainly for money, but also for fame, take part in the Games. They sign all the forms they are given, not really knowing what they will face. Their struggle is a kind of reality show where users, thanks to the application, can watch everything as a spectator, gladiator or even a beast. Many think that he has an influence on what is happening in the arena, but really only the rich have it, and they are motivated only by money. If something is hot and selling, they will keep it alive, if not, I don’t think I need to write how this chapter ends.

Or is it not fiction?

The scariest thing, and perhaps more thought-provoking, about our reality is that being online comes with a complete lack of privacy. Not only for the daredevils participating in the event, but also for all the viewers. The author in a rather brutal way makes the reader aware of how much we are willing to sacrifice just to get rich and become recognizable. Her vision is not that far from our social media, where many people give everything they have and completely expose themselves.

Many votes

The fugue is called a polyphonic novel for a reason. Multiple narrators allow you to look at one aspect from different perspectives. What appears black on one side is white again on the other. The antagonist can turn into the protagonist in a moment. Finian is shown as an antihero who knows what he wants and will stop at nothing to get it. However, a change of point of view reveals its layers, and the puzzle waiting to be solved influences its behavior. He is a complex, interesting character and not as schematic as it might seem. It is no different with the rest of the women’s and men’s team. While reading, they surprise me many times, which I really appreciate. Thanks to such a procedure, the plot is not long-winded and monotonous, but more fast-paced. The reader does not know what will happen next.

No time for tripe with oil

The fugue contains many threads on its pages that smoothly intertwine and complement each other. This affects the dynamics. It reads quickly because the desire to know the continuation is so strong that you don’t want to go to sleep. This is a plus and minus, because the adventure ends quickly, and despite the interesting story, you still feel unsatisfied. The title is complex, which forces you to think about your own behavior. Are we rushing forward without looking at anything? How much are we willing to sacrifice just to get to the trough of power and fame? Are we easily fooled and social media is part of our everyday life?

Of course, we realize that the Internet is not just a friendly place, and everything we do is closely watched. But on a daily basis, it doesn’t hit us the way it does when reading about other people’s struggles. We take it more for granted, which is not so dangerous, even though the reality has become different. In our world, many people warn against this, but they are often dismissed, and their scientific theses are overlooked, because they go into grandiose tones. That’s why I’m glad that Fuga was created , because it can reach a wider audience, especially teenagers and young adults who are already influencing the future.

I highly recommend Fuga and hope that the author will create even more items of this kind, because the light and funny language tells an interesting story, full of twists and turns, and the dynamics are a lot of fun. The title also forces you to think, which is very important in a reality where many want to fool us and throw accepted patterns into themselves.