Secret Life

In the office building, there are different factions vying for dominance. The walls are infiltrated with vines, and mice learn to speak English. Something eerie happens once a month on the fifth floor. Secret Life is a mind-bending narrative that defamiliarizes the mundanity of office work and makes the arcane rituals of The Building home.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 21 September 2021
Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly

To the west, trees line the horizon, their branches reaching out to embrace the setting sun. To the east, a sprawling mall stands tall, its glass windows reflecting the bustling activity within. Northward, the aroma of fast food wafts through the air, enticing passersby with its savory scents. Southward, the darkness looms, casting a shadow over the landscape. And at the center, a towering office building known as The Building stands, its imposing presence commanding attention.

Inside this enigmatic structure, a complex web of factions vie for dominance. The walls are adorned with vines that seem to grow effortlessly, a testament to the building's age and neglect. A group of mischievous mice, once silent observers, have learned to speak English, their tiny voices echoing through the empty halls.

On the fifth floor, an eerie phenomenon occurs once a month, a secret shared only by those who dare to venture there. The air is thick with anticipation, and the walls seem to breathe with an otherworldly presence. Some say that strange lights flickering in the corners are the spirits of those who once occupied the office spaces, their memories lingering in the building.

In his novel Secret Life, Theo Ellsworth delves into the depths of Nebula Award-winning author Jeff VanderMeer's short story. Through a deep-layered style, Ellsworth weaves a mind-bending narrative that defamiliarizes the mundane nature of office work and makes the arcane rituals of The Building feel like home.

As the story unfolds, a man's obsession with his pen leads him to commit unspeakable acts, questioning the role it has played in his professional success. The despised denizens of the second floor develop their own tongue, a language that is incomprehensible to everyone else in The Building. A woman plants a seed of insurgency, a sweet, nostalgic perfume that permeates every corner of the building.

Secret Life is a masterful exploration of the sinister individualism that often permeates bureaucratic settings. It juxtaposes this with the unconcerned natural world, where trees grow and thrive despite the surrounding chaos. As the narrative progresses, the reader is invited to question the boundaries between the real and the imagined, and to consider the secrets that lie hidden within our own world.

Ellsworth's hypnotic visuals bring the world of Secret Life to life, creating a sense of unease and intrigue that lingers long after the last page is turned. The building itself becomes a character in its own right, a symbol of power, corruption, and the human condition.

In conclusion, Secret Life is a captivating novel that delves into the depths of human nature and the mysteries that lie within the everyday world. Through its deep-layered style and vivid imagery, Ellsworth invites readers to explore the sinister and the mundane, and to consider the secrets that lie hidden just beneath the surface.

Weight: 594g
Dimension: 160 x 229 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781770464032