Dystopia is a difficult art. To succeed in this genre, the author of this particular part of fiction must be careful to avoid three pitfalls: the temptation of exhaustion (he wants to condemn all the errors of his time in an apparent catch), the sacrifice of style (prioritizing substance over form), the risk of technical excess (babble about exo-techno-propulso-dynamo-chrono-spacesuits up to the limit of expectations). If the first is close to a pamphlet, the second to an essay, the third to science fiction, each of these pitfalls is common in dystopian novels.
Fortunately, Olivier Sebban avoids these three dangers Now in winter : describes a totalitarian society in its smallest corners, believably, with a chiseled font.
Imagine France caught in an endless winter. In order to survive, the survivors of the Great Epidemic have given politicians the right to interfere in every aspect of their daily lives, even though the proposed solution consists of banning heat engines, requiring exceptions to wear a leather coat, and banning meat. A credible dystopia requires, add black bloc and Islamist protests, migration movements close to human trafficking, and many small details that make it clear that these are indeed the excesses of our time, which are pushed much further here. And above this lost, exuberant and reckless society, because man does not change and humanity renews itself, there is, always will be, a search for spirituality. She is played by Thomas, a former motorcycle repairman who wants to ride his Triumph Bonneville, who has fallen in love with the daughter of a violently reformist MP. So we will have to try to live, despite the trade, and rise, despite the love doomed to tragedy.
A stylistic utopia
The style, dexterous and graceful, invites: dystopias are generally the subject of more or less mysterious, more or less heavy-handed political demonstrations, and stylistic research is too often dramatically lacking. Here, Olivier Sebban demonstrates his subtle and even rarer poetic mastery in the genre. However, this pen is put to the service of intelligent testimony, the reflection of an individual who faces the abuse of men, convinced of the justice of his quest.
In addition to the exciting story, the author manages to make us dream
So Thomas finds himself meditating on the last pages: “The bird stopped singing and found himself alone, under the cold stars, among the trees.” He gave thanks for all that had been discovered, never seen that day, and prayed that the dead would leave him alone, but in that loud prayer nothing came, and when the birdsong ceased, all was over. ยป
In addition to the suspenseful story, the author manages to give us a desire for daydreams, sweet wanderings that appropriately accelerate the violence of this universe without interrupting the reader’s reflection: thought precedes action. It is balanced, felt, beautifully written; It’s clever and brilliant.
Now in winterOlivier Sebban, Rivages, 270 pages, 21 euros.