Interview Preview: Author Will Self Discusses His Obsession with Mobile Technology
English author Will Self, renowned for his innovative and thought-provoking works, has made a significant impact on the literary world. With 11 novels and five short story collections to his name, Self has established himself as a prominent figure in contemporary literature.
Self views his novels as a means to explore the world and the art form he has educated himself in. His most recent major project, a stream-of-consciousness trilogy of novels about psychiatrist Zack Busner, culminates with the publication of Phone in 2017. The novel's protagonist, a septuagenarian ex-psychiatrist suffering from dementia, takes the reader on a harrowing journey into the crumbling mind of Busner, disowned by his family and wandering aimlessly while an insistent phone keeps ringing.
In Phone, Self employs an unconventional narrative style, telling the story entirely without paragraph breaks. This approach immerses the reader in the chaotic thoughts of the protagonist, creating a sense of disorientation that mirrors the character's mental state.
Self's works often grapple with the tension between language and the meanings of what he writes. However, he asserts that the meanings of his writings are very precise. This precision is evident in The Quantity Theory of Insanity, his first collection of short stories, as well as in his later novels such as Great Apes and How the Dead Live.
Self is also a regular contributor to several prestigious publications, including The Guardian, Observer, and New Statesman. His essays often tackle topics such as technology, urban life, and the human condition, demonstrating his wide-ranging interests and intellectual curiosity.
Berlin, a city rich in history and symbolism, has played a significant role in Self's work. He finds Berlin to be the city most obviously encrypted with its own history out of all the great Western cities. The city's transformation over the last decade, with Unter den Linden being filled in, the remains of the East Side Gallery being compartmentalized, and equalization of property values between East and West, have provided ample material for his exploration of the city's past and present.
Self is not just a keen observer of the world around him, but also a critic of contemporary society. He finds the necessary commodification of sexual lives on apps like Tinder or Grindr disturbing, and wonders if he could have written about dementia, a topic he has not personally witnessed, due to its frightening nature.
Self's literary influences are diverse, ranging from the works of James Joyce to Patricia Highsmith's Edith's Diary, which he considers a masterpiece. He also mentions Rebecca Solnit as a great thinker and writer, and has given a course on female authors that highlights her work.
Richard Alpert's exploration of drug cultures, particularly his conclusion that LSD does not reveal anything about the structure of the human mind or our personality, has also influenced Self's perspective on the role of drugs in society. While he acknowledges the dangers of drugs like cocaine, which fuels criminality throughout the Americas and criminal enterprises that supply Europe with heroin, he does not condone the casual use of drugs like marijuana, a substance that societies have learned to live with for generations.
In a world increasingly dominated by technology and social media, Self encourages readers to turn off their devices and immerse themselves in literature. He believes that readers should approach texts like Ulysses with an open mind, allowing the text to contain them as they wrestle their own way through its jungle.
Despite his busy schedule, Self remains addicted to his phone, although he does not use social media sites. This paradox reflects the complex relationship many people have with technology in the modern world.
As of now, there is no information about an event by Will Self on September 6 at the International Literature Festival Berlin in the search results. The festival takes place between September 11 and 20, 2025, with no mention of a Will Self event on September 6.
In conclusion, Will Self's literary works offer a unique perspective on the world, the human mind, and contemporary society. His innovative style, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to exploring complex themes make him a significant figure in the literary world.
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