The Deletion of Paul Abel

The Deletion of Paul Abel is an impressive, imaginative, linguistically inventive and entertaining novel about blind faith versus healthy scepticism, reason versus emotion, seduction versus persuasion, and about a public dream-language and the false notion of the self, not to mention sundry thought-provoking philosophical reflections – in all respects, a fascinating novel.

Bjørn Vatne has written a disturbing story that connects two of our times’ greatest threats to humanity: pollution and surveillance...As a vision of the future, the book is a gripping literary contribution towards bringing these dangers into the light of day – before it’s too late.

Bjørn Vatne’s second novel is entertaining, smart and full of irresistible ideas. One does not have to read far in Vatne’s novel before one senses the excitement of having stumbled upon something really good.  A clever plot, the strength of the wording and the power of his imagination make The Deletion of Paul Abel a real page-turner, a page-turner with substance at its core.

Well written and terrifying.

The Deletion of Paul Abel is that rare thing: a page-turner of intellectual challenges, with huge imagination in its language – and in its plot too, for that matter, in spite of the limited action. The character portrayals gradually grow out of their comical templates and draw generously from an understanding of human nature. It all flows out so energetically and freely that there is little to indicate that this has been a difficult second book, but that’s actually what it is.

Vatne has a linguistic energy and an outstanding sense for realism, faithful character depictions and good dialogue that make the novel function not only as an experiment in ideas, but also in literature.