S. (Dorst novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Doug Dorst, J. J. Abrams |
| Products | Novel titled "S." |
S. is a 2013 novel created by Doug Dorst in collaboration with J. J. Abrams, who originated the concept. The book employs an innovative narrative structure: a layered story combining the fictional 1949 novel Ship of Theseus, attributed to the enigmatic author V. M. Straka, with handwritten marginalia exchanged between two college students investigating Straka’s true identity, supplemented by various inserted documents scattered throughout.
Description
The presentation of S. mimics a 1949 edition of Ship of Theseus, purportedly penned by the fictional writer V. M. Straka. Aside from the black slipcase labeled S., there are no explicit mentions of Dorst or Abrams; instead, publishing information is discreetly printed beneath a fabricated high school library checkout record spanning from 1957 to 2000 on the book’s inside back cover.
Crafted to appear as a long-overdue library book from Laguna Verde High School, S. features aged, yellowed pages, library stamps, smudges, and a spine label bearing a Dewey Decimal number, enhancing its authenticity as a circulated volume.
The core novel narrates the tale of an amnesiac protagonist embarking on a quest for identity and self-understanding. This work represents Straka’s nineteenth and final novel before his mysterious demise. Straka himself remains an elusive figure shrouded in literary mystery and conspiracy theories involving espionage and assassination. The book includes a foreword and extensive footnotes authored by F. X. Caldeira, Straka’s designated translator who never encountered the author in person.
A parallel storyline emerges through handwritten annotations in the margins, exchanged between Eric—a disgraced graduate student specializing in Straka’s oeuvre—and Jen, an undergraduate planning her future. Their communication unfolds via notes, arrows, and symbols as they pass the book back and forth, racing to uncover Straka’s true identity before Eric’s former professor publishes rival research. Different ink colors and handwriting styles mark their evolving dialogue across multiple readings.
A third, more subtle narrative thread is revealed through interactions between Straka and Caldeira, shedding light on Straka’s disappearance and providing background on their relationship and the world they inhabit.
Adding further depth are physical inserts such as postcards, letters, maps, and photocopied documents placed between pages. These items function as clues and evidence exchanged by Jen and Eric during their investigation.
Development
S. represents a joint effort between film producer J. J. Abrams, who conceived the project’s initial idea, and author Doug Dorst. Abrams’ inspiration came from discovering a book bearing an inscription encouraging readers to pass it along. Dorst incorporated elements from literary mysteries such as the Shakespeare authorship question and the secretive identity of B. Traven into the story’s foundation. Initially, Dorst wrote Ship of Theseus as an independent novel; the marginal notes and inserted ephemera were integrated subsequently.
The creators emphasized the book as a tangible object designed to engage readers physically. Abrams remarked that “holding it in your hands is essentially part of the experience.” One critique highlighted S. as a compelling argument for investing in physical books due to its unique qualities not replicable in digital formats.
In August 2013, Abrams’ production company Bad Robot released an enigmatic trailer titled "Stranger" on YouTube, which fueled speculation about a forthcoming film or television project possibly connected to Lost. This was later disclosed as promotional material for S., with an official book trailer debuting in September.
Reception
The Guardian characterized the book as "an impressive publishing achievement, though not entirely a seamless reinvention of the novel form." While The Independent expressed doubts about its structural clarity, it still endorsed the work as valuable. The Toronto Star offered criticism regarding the embedded narrative but acknowledged the high standards of its production and visual presentation. Meanwhile, Chicago Tribune emphasized the distinctive appeal of interacting with a tangible book as opposed to a digital version.
See also
- Ship of Theseus
- Pale Fire – Vladimir Nabokov’s 1962 novel featuring a comparable structure
- House of Leaves