Pythia in the Basement

Pythia in the Basement by Alejandro Marron can be rightly described as the story of society — its insanity, the absurdity that punctuates contemporary life. It is a tale of ''failure, love, sex, and betrayal,'' a story that follows an unusually ordinary protagonist as he struggles to come to grips with society, pondering why it is easier to feed on half-truths and avoid confronting reality than it is to face the inevitable. Roger is a polymath and a poet, and his analytical skills push him to question the system that silently oppresses him. In his morbid existence, can he find meaning both at work and in his personal life?

The opening instantly arrests the interest of readers. “The stoics believed it was healthy to think about death daily; then why am I so unwell? It was my first day of work. I was laid off a couple of months ago. I received a handsome severance package and took time off. Time off? From what? From living, I suppose.” The opening sentences are not only intriguing but they are a promise of what readers should expect: a work that forces them to think about existence and the way we look at things like life, death, and other realities that are intimately linked to life. The author creates a character in Roger that will challenge readers to think about the answers they have been provided about life and death and to start questioning everything.

Pythia in the Basement is a compelling satire of contemporary society, a philosophical novel that is as delectable to read as it is thought-provoking. The humor fills every page and it fills the dialogues, giving them life and depth. For instance, there is an observed conversation between an old man and his friend when the former asks: ''What happens when you die?'' and the other answers: ''Fuck if I know... I think the lights go off.'' The first-person narrative voice is compelling and irresistible. The characters are elaborately written and memorable, especially Roger and Colin. This is a work of rare and unique literary beauty. The timely paragraph breaks, the streams of consciousness, and the short chapters add a deeper level of appreciation for Alejandro Marron’s work.