"South" by Babak Lakghomi is a haunting and thought-provoking novel that delves deep into themes of displacement, identity, and the relentless pursuit of meaning in an unforgiving world. The story centers around an unnamed narrator who navigates a bleak, dystopian landscape, constantly in search of a place he can call home. Lakghomi’s writing is sparse yet evocative, drawing readers into a world that feels both familiar and foreign, where every detail is meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of unease and introspection.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I found this book to be very intriguing and not my usual type of book but I am glad I gave it a chance. The quality of the writing was excellent and the imagery was superb. The story came across to me as though it was a product of a fever dream, very haunting and creative. If you are looking for something a little different then I would recommend giving this book a try. 4 stars.

South is a hallucinatory reimagination of life in a world under totalitarianism, and an individual’s quest for truth, agency, and understanding.

So much weird fiction these days is too lovecraftian, or in trying to be lovecraftian it becomes a copy of everything that came before. This, however, is on point with Victor LaValle or Matt Ruff in terms of originality, prose, and story. I will be thinking about and rereading this for a long time

a very fun little book for fans of dystopian worlds and climate fiction from a new voice. really enjoyed the surrealism in this work as well as the setting and character arcs. striking cover as well that seems to sell well!

The plot isn't much a plot but B's experiences in this rig - his view of this place starts with his bunk mate and slowly spores from there. The rig is claustrophobic, and without a direct way to communicate with the outside world, the walls of the rooms seem closer and the smell, stronger. While reporting this report, he is also going through a private meltdown involving his marriage, the book he wrote trying to find his father and his insecurities flaring up as a writer.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc! I appreciate the privilege of reading it and experiencing the world the author has created!

Babak Lakghomi's novel 'South' is a penetrating examination of the human condition under the yoke of totalitarianism, disguised as a haunting journey through a barren and desolate landscape. Through his protagonist B, Lakghomi draws readers into a world where the forces of oppression are ever-present and where every shadow is pregnant with meaning.

What is remarkable about Lakghomi's narrative is the way he creates a seamless interplay between reality and imagination. His prose is tight yet evocative, bringing to life a world where superstition and surveillance coexist in an uneasy equilibrium. The structure of the novel, which resembles a puzzle, adds another layer of complexity to the narrative, mirroring the labyrinthine nature of the world B is navigating.

One of the standout features of 'South' is its ability to weave complex themes of personal guilt, totalitarianism, and surveillance into a narrative that is as personal as it is political. B's relationships with his wife, father, and an enigmatic woman he meets on his journey add an emotional depth and complexity to the story, which elevates the novel beyond a simple political commentary.

Ultimately, what makes 'South' memorable is its unique ability to stay with the reader long after the final page has been turned. Through his masterful storytelling, Lakghomi creates a world that is both alien and intimately familiar, a world that enthralls and unnerves in equal measure. For anyone looking for a thought-provoking, deeply affecting meditation on the human condition, 'South' is a must-read.

Thank you to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This had me, then lost me, then had me, then lost me.. I suspect that was the plan. If it had ended sooner, I would have been more pleased. I am not here to say that what Mr. Lakaghomi did was wrong. This is his art, and he captures madness very well. I just needed something a bit different at the end for me.

South was a rather odd book. Dystopian and mysterious, it read a lot to me like 1984. If you're looking for a short read that will leave you thinking after you're done, South might just be the book for you!

In a dessert without a name, readers will find situations all to similar to ones we hear about on the news lately. This work of fiction will leave readers entranced in their own thoughts as they reflect on the writings of Lakghomi and their connections to the real world.

"South" by Babak Lakghomi, a dystopian tale, immediately thrusts readers into a bleak world of environmental devastation and political turmoil. The protagonist, B, a journalist on a mission in a dystopic South, faces challenges as he navigates a landscape marked by poverty and superstition. The story unfolds with a tight, almost skeletal narrative style, revealing B's haunting past and his unsettling present on an oil rig and later a cargo ship. The spare prose, focusing on settings and sensations, creates a chilling atmosphere, emphasizing the uncertainty of relationships. The novel provokes discomfort, skillfully addressing the blurred lines between reality and dystopia.

B is just trying to catch a break. He has yet to be published, though his latest manuscript is in his editor’s hands. His marriage is rocky as he grows distant from his wife, and feels unable to provide for her. In haste, he decides to take a reporting job in the south, commenting on the lives of oil rig workers. He leaves his wife behind, only able to communicate with her through an archaic and labyrinthine email delivery system involving a flash drive, which he promptly gives up on. He grows increasingly isolated as he doesn’t really know what he’s supposed to be doing on the rig. But someone, somewhere on the rig does and they are doing everything they can to either let him know of the plan, or shutter whatever goals he might develop. It could be management, any of the workers, or even the assistant cook. B becomes paranoid and paralyzed, losing trust in everyone and everything including time itself.

South, by Babok Lakghomi, is a fever dream of a novella that follows one man’s descent into a totalitarian nightmare. I picked it up on a whim because of its gorgeous cover art, and haunting synopsis. I stayed for the alienation depicted on every page and B’s world expands and contracts with each breath, waking or sleeping.

South is written with cold detached language that can barely keep track of B’s thoughts and whereabouts. The reader’s only understanding of events is filtered through B’s increasingly paranoid and unfiltered subjectivity. Thoughts ramble on without boundaries. People pass in and out of his life without question or detail. He’s trapped within his room on the rig with nothing to do but ponder what the hell is going on, and why is he there. B seems to survive without reason.

B’s telling of his story makes no sense, even in hindsight. It captures the feeling of a dream that felt so vivid in the moment only to defy reason and analysis upon waking. Everything has a purpose as it’s occurring, only to become a single ripple from a stone thrown on the other side of the pond. There is a horror lurking on every page, an intense droning kind that never gets a chance to rear its ugly head. Everytime B seems to get a grasp on his next survival strategy, the floor shifts beneath him. Lakghomi heightens this constant dissociation by denying both the reader, and B any sense of catharsis. There is only the moment in South, and it’s filled with anxiety. Plans become meaningless as B gets lost in his own head. He is alienated by the world he sets out to observe, and instead of breaking through, he digs in and bunkers down. He can only ask questions, and even those are only half finished. How can one man stand against such an assault on his being?

Lakghomi’s choice to follow Camus’ detached narration is perfect for this kind of story. It heightens the dread, making everything mundane, and making the mundane a threat. B is paralyzed by his fear, unable to make any sorts of choices. This is not the story of a hero triumphing against a shadowy system, it’s of a bug being ground underneath a boot heel. The narration captures the fleeting emotions with ease, but not detail; making the reader feel like they are being lied to.

However, this everpresent surreality comes with a price. I often was not sure of where the novel was going, or what Lakghomi was trying to explore. I found parts of the short work a little stagnant when it felt like it lingered in one place a little too long. A quick change in B’s perspective often brought a reinvigorating jolt, which may have been the point. The exhausting tediousness of constantly feeling like you’re being watched paired with the exhausting tediousness of having nothing of import to do. Lakghomi succeeds at capturing that banality, but after a while it gets a little boring, especially when B never seems to want to act. I understood he couldn’t, but he comes off as a man destined to let the world go by, unable to even describe it as it passes in the night. Maybe if he had pushed against the boundaries a little more it would have made for a more interesting experience to me.

The story’s ending was the real decider though, as is often the case for me with surreal stories. Though I found parts of the story a drag, Lakghomi nails the ending. It’s a slow burn of a silent fire that isn’t even bright enough to be seen in the night. If that sounds perfectly depressing and surreal to you, then South should be on your list. It’s a book that overwhelms the reader with a detached and surreal paranoia, built on a foundation of half truths, and questionable lies. It can be bumpy, and your mileage may vary, but I found the time reading it far from wasted. I just wish there was a little more to chew on.

Rating: South 7.0/10
-Alex

An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts on this book are my own.

Really neat concept for book, but by the time it was over, I felt like I didn't get it and like something was missing. I don't think it's me, I think it's the book.

E-arc from NetGalley and Dundurn to voluntarily read and review.

“South” by Babak Lakghomi is a haunting and surreal exploration of a dystopian world where totalitarianism reigns, and individuals grapple with the search for truth and agency. In this enigmatic narrative, B, a journalist, embarks on a mysterious assignment to report on strikes at an offshore oil rig in an unnamed desert country. From the very beginning of his journey, B is confronted with a desolate and decaying landscape plagued by drought, superstitious beliefs, and corrupt forces that thrive on manipulation and censorship. The novel unfolds as a puzzle, delving into themes of totalitarianism, surveillance, alienation, and guilt. It challenges readers to question the unseen forces that control our lives and the consequences of our actions. Lakghomi’s storytelling is both harrowing and hallucinogenic, immersing readers in a world where reality blurs with surrealism, and the boundaries between truth and illusion are indistinct.

One of the book’s standout features is its exploration of the power of myth and superstition in a society where fear and uncertainty are prevalent. B’s encounter with a ritual in a remote village, shrouded in mysticism and performed to ward off evil winds, sets the tone for the eerie and unsettling atmosphere that permeates the narrative. The incorporation of quotes from “The Book of the Winds” and B’s own notebook adds depth and complexity to the story, reinforcing the mystery that surrounds his mission. As B delves deeper into the heart of darkness on the offshore oil rig, the reader is exposed to a world of brutality, cruelty, and deprivation. Lakghomi paints a bleak picture of a society teetering on the brink of collapse, where industrial strikes lead to violence, and dissent is met with suppression. The rig itself becomes a nightmarish labyrinth, reminiscent of Kafkaesque settings, where fear and suspicion fester, and individuals who resist face grim consequences.

B’s personal journey is intertwined with his crumbling marriage to Tara, adding a layer of emotional depth to the narrative. The novel explores themes of existential alienation, as B grapples with his own insecurities and confronts the mysteries of his past, including his father’s unexplained disappearance. Lakghomi’s sparse prose and precision of language contribute to the book’s overall impact, immersing readers in a world where every word carries weight. “South” is a thought-provoking and immersive read that resonates with contemporary themes of power, control, and the human condition. It is a gripping exploration of a world on the brink of collapse, where individuals are trapped in a web of secrecy and manipulation. Babak Lakghomi’s novel serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of totalitarianism and the enduring quest for truth and meaning in a fractured world.

2.5? 3? I tend to begin reviews with a few keywords in mind and the only one sticking out for me is UNDONE. Is something missing?

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B travels to The South as a journalist to investigate strikes on oil rigs. What follows was a haunting and hallucinogenic tale of what happens there under a totalitarian rule.
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I rushed through this short story to figure out what was real and what was happening to him. The story about his childhood and father and the current day relationship with his partner made me feel for him. It was like his life was always a rough one. With the ending I’m still unsure if he is going to be alright.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Rare Machines for a free digital copy on exchange for an honest review. This book will be published 12 SEPTEMBER 2023.

While I personally didn't enjoy this book I don't think its necessarily a bad book, I was just not the correct audience for it. I hope that someone is able to read this review and, if they don't mind or even like the things I didn't, they discover a new favorite.

This book seems to be an autobiography written by a journalist in a totalitarian universe. The "writer" our main character, not the author, expects that the reader lives in his universe thus doesn't feel the need to provide backstory or world building. That doesn't bother me at all but many people need to know what's going on. The plot singles on this one man and we get no answers to the state of the universe or, really even, this mans personal fate. Its very open ended. The writer either has the confidence of a mediocre white man, he is dumb, or both because he never seems to realize his actions are likely to get him and many other people killed. This seems obvious to the reader even though we have no context of the universe. Again, this doesn't bother me and makes for an interesting story.

I really enjoyed the writing style. It was prose that read like poetry mixed with a little bit of insanity. I think this would make a really good audiobook. Overall the book felt intelligent, literary, and eerily relevant to where our own world might be headed. A modern 1984 with global warming and unions as the star instead of big brother.

That being said you might wonder why I didn't like this. That comes down to two things that are very personal dislikes. First, I never understood why some male writers feel the need to add scenes of masturbitory emissions to literary works. Is it for shock value? Because it does nothing but make me uncomfortable. If I wanted to read about masturbation I'd read smut or romance. I don't need to read "My semen in the water like a snake" suddenly in the middle of a novel about a governments abuse of power. The other thing that I hate reading about is cheating, which is a very personal thing, but again, based on the premise, I didn't expect to be anything resembling a relationship or romance in this book.

This is not something I'd widely recommend but could be great for the correct audience.

3.5 rounded up. What did I just read? It's oddly compelling even while everything is swathed in the anonymity that comes with totalitarianism. So mamy people exist and disappear that reality is slippery and untethered.

Ultimately, I'm not sure what to do with this one. It comes full circle and just stops. Something like if Solzhenitsyn or Elie Wiesel wrote The Hike. I am less sure of what to do with this much more plausible version than the one where the protagonist spends a large amount of time as a crab...

An interesting premise that didn’t really do it for me. I loved the explorations and realities of the labour movement however the grim outcome was a bit too bleak for what I typically look for. Characters didn’t give me any reason to root for them, and ultimately I didn’t care about the world presented here.