Ply by Hernan Diaz review
There are shades of JG Ballard in this tale of survival in a decaying metropolis, but big ideas and lengthy exposition crowd out the human drama
TL;DR
- The novel 'Ply' by Hernan Diaz is a speculative epic set in a decaying future city, reminiscent of J.G. Ballard's style.
- The story follows an unnamed narrator, a 'pincher' who steals electricity, and her involvement with a scientist, Pola, who is building a machine to alter reality.
- The plot evolves into a heist to gather power for Pola's machine, featuring a cast of characters and exploring themes of quantum mechanics and non-duality.
- The review criticizes the novel for its lengthy explanations and big ideas crowding out human drama, and for its dry narrative energy.