Under the mist
As the author shared, this novel was formed when he accidentally learned about a giant sea creature from a Vietnamese travel book. After learning more, he learned that the Vietnamese call it “rit”, which is a mispronunciation of “ret” (centipede) because of its relatively similar shape. They have a long body almost like a snake, a three-pronged tail and hard armored skin. Fishermen believe that the above species is the sea dragon, the creature that gave Ha Long its name.
Author Risto Isomäki and the novel The Squeak
Kirkko ja Kaupunki - Vietnamese Women's Publishing House
In 2009, when Risto Isomäki saw stone statues of the ancient Aztec and Mayan gods Kukulkan and Quetzalcoatl in Mexico, which had giant snakes and manes on their heads, he became skeptical. Could this be evidence of the very species of hiss that once existed and were distributed all over the globe?
Based on that correlation, the novel's shell was put on, from which the author simultaneously conveyed a warning about the environment that is still painful. The work revolves around the character Martti Ritola - a marine biologist, who one day received information about the corpse of a species drifting to the shore of Ha Long Bay. The suspicious thing is that it does not resemble any known creature...
The most outstanding point of this novel is that the plot is balanced between two aspects: one side is the texts and records related to the story from ancient times to the present, from East to West and from many different cultures. On the other side is the fascinating adventure journey, fast-paced and full of fun. These two aspects help the work achieve a balanced position, from which the realism as well as the message are effectively conveyed.
Using novels to warn
Besides being a writer, Risto Isomäki is also a journalist and environmental activist with many impressive non-fiction works, so his scientific background is very rich. Richard Powers, author of extremely famous ecological novels such as Forest Canopy, Robin's Planets ..., once said that novels are the best way to awaken people's own apathy about pressing issues in an era saturated with news. Understanding that messages can be effectively conveyed through this genre, the relationships between characters are also added, so that it is not only a "spice" but the messages are also clearly conveyed.
Embarking on this journey, readers are awakened by very current issues. By building the character Martti as a natural researcher who is both free and wild, Risto, through Martti, shows us a lot of beauty in every living thing. It can be birds, seals, sea creatures... in Finland, which if people know how to hide, we can get close to them. There is also a lot of knowledge about oceanography, meteorology, archaeology, astronomy... from which we can see how small and short-sighted people are, when they only see what they want.
As for Camilla, her role as the head of large corporations also conveys the message about the responsibility of many organizations and countries. From ocean acidification, oxidized peat leading to fires and global warming... to the pollution of shallow waters due to agricultural activities, gloomy smog and the formation of more and more big storms... has been effectively conveyed, from which readers have time to question themselves and their behavior towards nature.
In closing, Risto Isomäki shows us that there is a reason for human indifference. Because we would go insane if we were forced to see with our own eyes all the terrible, naked and not carefully covered things on this planet. So we often choose the easy way, which is to ignore.
Through this novel, readers are forced to look back at what they know, thereby breaking the "ice" of prejudice and indifference to understand that all living things on this earth have an impact on Mother Nature. A small action can lead to big impacts. An attractive ecological novel, calling for more attention.
Risto Isomäki (1961) is a Finnish writer, environmental activist and journalist. To date, he has written more than 12 novels and more than 20 works of non-fiction on the environment and society. In his literary career, he has received many literary awards in his home country.
At 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 10, 2023, author Risto Isomäki will have a talk with readers at Hanoi Book Street.
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