Djuna’s Counterweight, translated into Turkish by Derya Çelik, immerses readers in a speculative narrative where corporate ambition, technological innovation, and personal reflection intersect. Known for their philosophical science fiction works, Djuna uses the futuristic setting of Patusan, an island transformed by a space elevator project, to explore identity, memory, and ethical dilemmas by asking whether humanity can retain compassion in a world increasingly driven by technological progress.

      The novel opens with a child who receives her mother’s ashes but rejects them, saying, “That’s not my mom. It’s just ashes.” The ashes later become part of a firework display, accompanying a digital simulation of the mother created through augmented reality. The story also combines existential and technological themes, exploring what it means to be human in a world where reality and simulation blur: What happens to memory and identity in a digitized world? Can technology bridge emotional gaps or does it only accentuate the isolation inherent in human relationships? 

      The first-person story is driven by the narrator’s relationship with Choi Gangwu, a seemingly ordinary technician who serves as the central character. Initially suspected of supporting the Patusan Liberation Front due to his love of butterflies, Gangwu complicates expectations by showing how bureaucracies whittle people down to mere numbers. Djuna’s signature thoughtful pacing fosters reflection on these tensions, inviting readers to slow down and engage deeply with the characters’ choices.

      The construction of the space elevator on Patusan displaces locals, rendering them as a marginalized minority within the new system. Djuna cleverly turns the space elevator into a metaphor, representing both the promise and burden of progress. The protagonist’s interactions with Gangwu reflect this tension, as the latter oscillates between his beloved butterflies and his navigation of corporate hierarchies. The fragmented monologues provide insight into the private lives of central characters, allowing the exploration of their regrets, decisions, and epiphanies. Gangwu, for example, contemplates his dual identity as both a rebel and a corporate employee, embodying the tension between individual freedom and institutional constraints. The butterflies symbolize a yearning for simplicity in a world overtaken by corporate agendas.

      The novel’s translation by Derya Çelik preserves Djuna’s poetic prose, balancing philosophical inquiry with narrative tension. Çelik’s skillful rendering captures the subtle nuances of Djuna’s world-building, making the story accessible to Turkish readers without compromising its depth. Through detailed descriptions of both physical and emotional landscapes, Çelik brings out the tension between the vastness of Patusan and the characters’ internal struggles. Djuna challenges readers to engage with the text on multiple levels—emotional, philosophical, and intellectual.

      The novel also challenges the established social order. Gangwu struggles with indecision and societal expectations despite his technical skills, while the protagonist displays resilience in navigating personal and corporate dilemmas. Djuna subtly critiques how societal structures often limit individuals, trapping them within predefined roles, much like the space elevator confines the movement of bodies and materials. Gangwu’s journey reveals that survival in a hyper-technological world demands not only technical skills but also emotional adaptability.

      The big reveal comes when Gangwu meets Neberu O’Shaughnessy, a spy disguised as an ally. O’Shaughnessy is shot and killed before he can extract Gangwu’s implanted data using a “Worm extractor.” O’Shaughnessy’s death raises questions: Was Gangwu manipulated all along, or did he unknowingly harbor critical information? The novel concludes ambiguously, implying that if there are ghosts that influence us, perhaps we, too, can learn to haunt them in return. This leaves readers a faint glint of hope amid the darkness that even in tyrannical regimes, resistance might still be possible.

      Beneath the surface focus on the space elevator and the geopolitical conflicts it creates, Djuna’s real concern is directed at the human and moral quandaries brought on by technological development. By following Gangwu’s journey, the novel stresses that even in the age of corporate capitalism and technological innovation, love, curiosity, and compassion are paramount. The story offers a glimmer of hope that humanity can build authentic bonds under the weight of so much change.

      Djuna’s Counterweight invites readers to consider the consequences of unchecked ambition while celebrating the quiet, human moments that persist in the shadows of progress. 

Sümeyra Buran 

Writer and Professor