Ascent to Omai

by Wilson Harris

Wilson Harris’s ninth novel, first published in 1970, is a work of the most revolutionary and far-reaching kind of science or speculative fiction. Victor is in search of his father, Adam, once a revolutionary worker who was sent to prison many years ago for burning down the factory he worked in. Since then Victor has lost touch with him, but suspects he is living as a pork-knocker (gold prospector) in the remote Cuyuni-Mazaruni district of Guyana. As he climbs in search of his father, Victor both revisits his past relationship with him and replays his father’s trial, which also becomes his own. Victor’s search is for spiritual grace, for the compensations of love and the glimmerings of a true understanding of the world he exists in, and the reader is invited to share in Victor’s struggling ascent to consciousness, knowing that it can never be other than provisional.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published February 23, 1970

About the author

Born in Guyana in 1921 and based in England since 1959, Wilson Harris is one of the most original novelists and critics of the twentieth century. His writings, which include poems, numerous essays and twenty-four novels, provide a passionate and unique defense of the notion of cross-culturalism as well as a visionary exploration of the interdependence between history, landscape and humanity. In 2010 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature.

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very strange, I couldn't tell you what it's about although I have a vague sense of the plot (Adam is on trial inside an aeroplane for the crime of burning down some sort of boarding house. Victor (Adam's father?) is contemplating joining a general strike). The book is weirdly self-referential as well. I give it three stars because 1) it is short enough to justifies its weirdness and 2) its very poetically written.