Annabel Kim, a professor of Romance Languages and Literatures, has translated Céline Minard's latest novel "Plasmas" into English, offering readers a thought-provoking exploration of climate collapse and the end of the world. Described as a "preemptive eulogy for humanity," the book's unconventional narrative structure and inventive world-building challenge readers to reconsider their place in the world and imagine the possibilities of the future, both inhabitable and uninhabitable.

A Captivating Exploration of the Climate Crisis

Reimagining the Future Through Speculative Fiction

"Plasmas," first published in France in 2021 and winner of the French Prix de l'imaginaire in 2022, is a speculative fiction novel that delves into the consequences of human actions on the environment. Told through a series of vignettes, each exploring a different world, the book invites readers to confront the unsettling realities of climate collapse and the potential demise of humanity.Kim, who translated the novel, describes the text as "really uncanny throughout," with elements that are both familiar and strange. The book's unconventional narrative structure and Minard's detailed world-building, complete with invented vocabulary and laws of nature, present a unique challenge for the translator, who must convey the intentional strangeness of the original work.

A Contemplative Approach to the Climate Crisis

Unlike many narratives that tackle the climate crisis head-on, "Plasmas" takes a more contemplative approach, leaving it up to the readers to draw their own conclusions about the future of their world. Kim appreciates this approach, as it prompts readers to imagine what the future might hold, even if it's uninhabitable."She leaves it up to the readers to be able to draw their own conclusions," Kim says. "We don't necessarily think of ourselves as individuals as having world-building power, but each of us is indeed contributing to building this world."

Exploring Legacy, Memory, and the Human Condition

Beyond the exploration of climate collapse, "Plasmas" delves into deeper questions of legacy, memory, the body, and technology. The book's vignettes offer a multifaceted examination of the human condition, challenging readers to consider their own place in the grand scheme of things.Kim describes the novel as a "cubist painting," representing reality while simultaneously shattering our perception of it. This shattering, she says, "opens up really wonderful possibilities for how we are to think about our place in this world and how we might be able to imagine the world as it will be and the world as it won't be."

Translating the Uncanny and the Intentional Strangeness

Translating a work as unconventional as "Plasmas" presents a unique challenge for Kim, who must find ways to convey the strangeness of the original text while maintaining its narrative flow and impact. The invented vocabulary and laws of nature that Minard has woven into the story require careful consideration and creative translation."The thing that is the most challenging about translating it is how to convey the strangeness of the original text, and to communicate that the strangeness is intentional," Kim explains.

Minard's Innovative Approach to Fiction

Céline Minard is a renowned figure in contemporary French literature, known for her innovative approach to fiction. Each of her books, including "Le Dernier Monde," "Bastard Battle," and "So long, Luise," explores new fictional territory, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the literary realm.Kim's fascination with Minard's writing began after translating her short story "The Formica," published in States magazine in 2023. When Minard asked Kim to translate "Plasmas," the professor was eager to take on the challenge, recognizing the novel's potential to captivate and provoke readers.