From Me Flows What You Call Time
From Me Flows What You Call Time is a 90-page novella by David Mitchell completed in 2016 and not to be published until 2114. It is part of a series by artist Katie Paterson called Future Library project calling for contributions from popular writers for novels to be published in 2114.[1][2] The title is taken from a piece of music by the Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu.[2]
As authors are revealed on a yearly basis, Mitchell was the second author whose participation in the project was made public following Margaret Atwood.
Mitchell called the project "quite liberating, because I won’t be around to take the consequences of this being good, or bad ... "[3] He completed the work at 1:00 a.m. on the day he left for Norway[4] (May 24, 2016)[3] hours before getting on a plane to go to the induction ceremony where about 100 people had gathered on Saturday, May 28th.[2][4] At the ceremony, he handed over one hard copy and one paper copy to be sealed and housed in Oslo’s new public library, which will open in 2019.[4]
Mitchell first received the proposal for the book in late 2014.[5] Commenting on the substance of the book, Mitchell has said only, “it’s somewhat more substantial a thing than I was expecting” and that the final one-third of the novel is not as "polished" as the first two-thirds.[6]
Mitchell called the process "very pure" and also added that "[b]y entering the pact of the project, you’re predicating your decision on the belief that there still will be readers, there still will be books, there still will be trees".[7] "It's a vote of confidence in the future," he called it.[8] While writing the book, Mitchell mused to himself, "imagine this gets stolen and leaked on the internet in five years' time. Would I be ashamed of people reading it now?"[2] Remarking on the process of writing the book, Mitchell said he didn't have to worry about copyright; "I can quote a Beatles song if I want to."[8]
References
- ↑ "The Future Library Project: In 100 years, this forest will be harvested to print David Mitchell's latest work". CBC/Radio-Canada. June 3, 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 Wood, Gaby (December 31, 2016). "Untold stories of a Norwegian wood; David Mitchell tells Gaby Wood why he's glad that his latest book won't be printed in his lifetime" (PDF). Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Group Ltd. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- 1 2 Alison, Flood (May 30, 2016). "David Mitchell buries latest manuscript for a hundred years". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- 1 2 3 Clarke, Patrick. "David Mitchell buries manuscript for Future Library project". The Bookseller. Bookseller Media Ltd. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ↑ Mitchell, David. "The Ayes Have It" (PDF). Future Library. Future Library. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- ↑ Schaub, Michael (May 30, 2016). "David Mitchell has a new book, but you'll have to wait 98 years to read it". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- ↑ Locke, Charley (October 31, 2016). "Margaret Atwood and David Mitchell Have Written New Fiction—If You Can Wait 98 Years to Read It". Wired. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- 1 2 Mitchell, David. "From Me Flows What You Call Time: David Mitchell contributes to Future Library". Situations. Situations. Retrieved 30 December 2017.