Review of the book “The Absent City” by Ricardo Piglia.
The absent city is a novel by Ricardo Piglia published in 1992 that mixes the police genre, science fiction and metafiction. The plot revolves around a mysterious invention that houses the memory of a dead woman, capable of generating infinite stories. The protagonist, Junior, a journalist investigating the disappearance of a writer, becomes involved in a conspiracy that leads him to discover the secret of the narrative machine.
The novel is a reflection on the power of literature, memory and identity. Piglia explores the relationships between fiction and reality, between author and reader, between past and present. The absent city is also a tribute to Argentine culture, with references to Borges, Cortázar, Arlt, Walsh and other emblematic authors. Piglia’s style is agile and enveloping, with multiple voices and registers that create a collage effect.
The absent city is a masterpiece of Latin American literature, which challenges the limits of the genre and proposes a fascinating and provocative reading experience. It is a book that invites you to reread it and discover new meanings on each page.
“The Absent City” is a novel by acclaimed Argentine writer Ricardo Piglia, published in 1992, which combines elements of detective novels and fantasy literature in a dystopian story set in an uncertain Buenos Aires. The plot follows Junior, a journalist who investigates the mysterious “Macedonio machine”, an artifact that he began by translating stories and ended up producing an autonomous work. As Junior delves into the investigation, he comes across a secret museum, a utopian island, and a series of conspiracies and clandestine stories that intertwine in a complex web of intrigue.
The novel presents a series of memorable characters and strange situations, such as the invisible gaucho, the maps of hell, the hotel suicide and the monster girl, and the white knots and the island of language. Through these elements, Piglia offers a critical and intelligent portrait of Argentine history and addresses topics such as totalitarian power, resistance, and the relationship between literature and reality.
“The Absent City” has been praised for its distinctive style and ability to combine literary genres, as well as for its references to works by authors such as Borges, Roberto Arlt, Macedonio Fernández and James Joyce. The novel is considered a work of art in itself and a narrative achievement that admirably fuses detective fiction and fantasy literature.
In summary, “The Absent City” is a fascinating and bold novel that offers a unique vision of Argentine literature and the work of Ricardo Piglia. The intriguing plot, memorable characters, and mix of literary genres make this work essential reading for literature lovers and, in particular, for those interested in detective narratives and fantasy literature.
Source: https://algunoslibrosbuenos.com/la-ciudad-ausente
