Sick List

The Sick List is a novel by John Schad that explores an unnamed academic's obsession with his tutor, Gordon, and an epidemic of catatonia that breaks out in a university. It questions the relationship between literature, academia, and the mind and is inspired by the work of Thomas Bernhard.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 186 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2021
Publisher: UEA Publishing Project

The Sick List, a novel by John Schad, delves into the realm of literature, pushing the boundaries of imagination. Set in an unnamed contemporary university, the story revolves around an unnamed academic who becomes captivated by his tutor, Gordon. Intrigued by the peculiar mis-readings in Gordon's annotations found in a collection of stolen library books, the academic embarks on a quest to unravel a mystery or perhaps witness the unraveling of his own mind.

Concurrently, an epidemic of catatonia sweeps across the university, leaving academics slumped and unconscious at their desks. The question arises: is reading itself the cause of this sickness, or is the only escape to return to illiteracy? The Sick List, inspired by the works of Austrian novelist Thomas Bernhard, delves into the complex interplay between the vastness of literary culture and the confines of academic institutions.

Written in the voice of a menacing character, the novel evokes a sense of foreboding and surreal ultra-violence reminiscent of Bernhard's Gargoyles. It explores the deceptive nature of education as a supposed remedy, revealing it to be the most deceitful panacea of all. Through its witty, moving, and beautifully written narrative, The Sick List challenges readers to contemplate the darker aspects of human nature and the consequences of pursuing knowledge and understanding.

Weight: 142g
Dimension: 129 x 199 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781911343769