Emily St John Mandel: ‘When half the electorate disagrees on basic reality, how do you come back from that?’
Her hit novel Station Eleven seemed to predict the pandemic, now the novelist is tackling the future of the US. She talks about chance, world-building and experiencing a ‘tiny bit’ of clairvoyance
TL;DR
- Emily St John Mandel's new novel 'Exit Party' features doppelgangers and explores two potential future Americas, one in civil war, the other a surveillance state.
- Mandel believes the collapse of consensual reality is a major challenge for Western democracy.
- Her career trajectory, from being homeschooled in Canada to becoming a bestselling author without a high school diploma, is seen by her as improbable.
- 'Station Eleven,' her 2014 novel about life after a pandemic, became prescient and sold 1.5 million copies.
- Mandel finds inspiration in the 'counter-life' – the life one might have lived if different decisions were made.
- She describes her writing process as 'slow development,' starting with a scene and building from there without an outline.
- Mandel is also adapting her work for television and working in writers' rooms for other projects.
- Her recent personal life includes a divorce and remarriage to photographer Laura Barisonzi.
- Mandel's work often emphasizes relishing small moments of joy, appreciating their sweetness due to their fleeting nature.