books
David Mitchell takes reins of 100-year Future Library
British author David Mitchell is the next author set to write a story for the readers of the future. – AFP/Relaxnews pic, May 29, 2015.After Margaret Atwood handed over the inaugural manuscript for the Future Library, an artwork that will see her text published in 100 years' time, author David Mitchell has been selected to offer up the next contribution.
Scottish artist Katie Pearson is behind the Future Library, for which a thousand trees have been planted in a forest just outside Oslo that will supply the paper for an anthology to be printed in 2114. Until then, the forest must be tended, its preservation ensured, and the writings will be held in trust.
The writers' goal: to create a work that will hopefully find interested readers in 100 years.
Canadian author Margaret Atwood, who, appropriately, often writes science fiction, or “speculative fiction”, handed over her manuscript on May 26 in a ceremony at which she would only divulge the manuscript's title: “Scribbler Moon”.
A day later, the project announced its next contributor: English novelist David Mitchell, author of "Cloud Atlas" and well-known for his time-and place-hopping literature.
As the project continues, a new writer will be selected every year through 2114 to add to the growing collection, which is to be held in Bjørvika, Oslo, in a new public library set to open in 2018. The room holding the manuscripts will be lined with wood from the forest and is being designed as a space of contemplation – and contemplation only, as visitors won't be able to read the secret manuscripts.
Visitors can also visit the forest in Nordmarka, a gift from the City of Oslo.
Find out more at futurelibrary.no. – AFP/Relaxnews, May 29, 2015.
Please note that you must sign up with disqus.com before commenting. And, please refrain from comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature and note that comments can be edited, rewritten for clarity or to avoid questionable issues. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments