The Protagonist (Novel)
By Luke Labern
The Protagonist is the name of my first novel. It is a novel of ideas; a philosophical novel.
What exactly is that? In short, a novel which focuses on philosophical issues -- using a story and characters to explore particular those issues. Essentially, all of my short stories fit into this category: a novel allows me to explore more issue in more depth. This has always been my favourite type of novel. This includes the works of the greatest novels of all time: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens (along with a social flavour), Thomas Hardy, etc.
What this novel is not is equally as important. It is not a thriller. It is not a romance. It is not an easy read. It is not wafer-thin. It is not aimed at the charts. It is not erotic fiction. It is the book I have wanted to write for many years, but only recently had the confidence and belief to start (thanks in no small proportion to my girlfriend who supported me all the way and put up with me writing every single day and the unbelievably strong year I've had academically, emotionally, etc.).
The first draft was written in 63 straight days of me writing 2,000 words, usually at or around 6pm, in the summer of 2012. Most novels take years to write. Mine took nine weeks exactly. I'm currently revising it, and working in some new subplots and generally making it better. I want it to be a book that you not only never forget, but want to read as soon as you finish it. There is no point lying: it is a profoundly autobiographical book. Technically, it is a Roman å clef: a book based on reality but dramatised in various places to add to the sense of story. That it certainly is. Please, do not read the main character as a direct reflection of me -- but at the same time, it is obviously hard to separate the two of us. It could equally be classified as a Kunstlerroman, a "novel about the artist". It is about me, my friends, my views on art and aesthetics, my personal philosophy, my thoughts on a variety of topics from love to technology to drugs to depression, life and death.
It is a wide ranging book. It is a highly personal book. I am incredibly proud of it -- more proud than any other achievement in my entire life. Writing a novel young was something I always wanted to do, but having actually done it it has revealed to me that I'm really not young anymore. I learnt more about myself writing this book than from any other single other activity I ever have. If I had one suggestion to anyone reading this, it would be to write your own novel -- no matter what age you are or however you see yourself. It will change your life.
I wrote this novel in 2012. I tried (half-heartedly) to get it published, but without any attempt to revise it. The feedback I have received from those who have read it has been superb, but I feel a) that I would like to revise it at a later date (likely after I finish university) and b) that the material might be recycled into a newer novel, in the same way Proust re-wrote his first attempt at a novel into the classic he later produced. (The similarities between that text and this are considerable, I think.) However: I am still committed to providing extracts above, available to the public. More than that, I am still happy to send the whole text in a read-only .pdf to those who wish to read it. I cannot send out the text blindly, so I ask only two things: 1) that you contact me (thus showing your interest), and 2) that you agree to discuss it with me (in whatever form you see fit). Please contact me via facebook, twitter, tumblr or via comment on this website.
Extracts
- The Preface. This exemplifies the style of the novel; see if it reels you in.
- Alcohol and Infidelity. A piece concerning a vitriolic attack on the influence of alcohol in tearing apart inter-personal relationships from the second quarter of the book, forming an essential part of the protagonist's backstory. Action-packed, dripping with Tarantino-esque violence and anger.
- Authenticity 1: Goals. A short extract introducing the topic of philosophical authenticity and goal-setting.
- Authenticity 2: The difference between drug use and abuse. Using the concept of authenticity I explore how we define drug 'use' and drug 'abuse' -- and why the usual model is inherently flawed. Controversial, but needs to be said.
- An Existential Eulogy. The perfect extract: gets to the heart of my novel's style. This is original and philosophical writing. Here, the protagonist eulogises for a close friend -- there is, of course, a twist. This was very, very fun and cathartic to write.
What's it about?
What exactly is that? In short, a novel which focuses on philosophical issues -- using a story and characters to explore particular those issues. Essentially, all of my short stories fit into this category: a novel allows me to explore more issue in more depth. This has always been my favourite type of novel. This includes the works of the greatest novels of all time: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens (along with a social flavour), Thomas Hardy, etc.
What this novel is not is equally as important. It is not a thriller. It is not a romance. It is not an easy read. It is not wafer-thin. It is not aimed at the charts. It is not erotic fiction. It is the book I have wanted to write for many years, but only recently had the confidence and belief to start (thanks in no small proportion to my girlfriend who supported me all the way and put up with me writing every single day and the unbelievably strong year I've had academically, emotionally, etc.).
How was it written?
The first draft was written in 63 straight days of me writing 2,000 words, usually at or around 6pm, in the summer of 2012. Most novels take years to write. Mine took nine weeks exactly. I'm currently revising it, and working in some new subplots and generally making it better. I want it to be a book that you not only never forget, but want to read as soon as you finish it. There is no point lying: it is a profoundly autobiographical book. Technically, it is a Roman å clef: a book based on reality but dramatised in various places to add to the sense of story. That it certainly is. Please, do not read the main character as a direct reflection of me -- but at the same time, it is obviously hard to separate the two of us. It could equally be classified as a Kunstlerroman, a "novel about the artist". It is about me, my friends, my views on art and aesthetics, my personal philosophy, my thoughts on a variety of topics from love to technology to drugs to depression, life and death.
It is a wide ranging book. It is a highly personal book. I am incredibly proud of it -- more proud than any other achievement in my entire life. Writing a novel young was something I always wanted to do, but having actually done it it has revealed to me that I'm really not young anymore. I learnt more about myself writing this book than from any other single other activity I ever have. If I had one suggestion to anyone reading this, it would be to write your own novel -- no matter what age you are or however you see yourself. It will change your life.
When do I get to read it?
I wrote this novel in 2012. I tried (half-heartedly) to get it published, but without any attempt to revise it. The feedback I have received from those who have read it has been superb, but I feel a) that I would like to revise it at a later date (likely after I finish university) and b) that the material might be recycled into a newer novel, in the same way Proust re-wrote his first attempt at a novel into the classic he later produced. (The similarities between that text and this are considerable, I think.) However: I am still committed to providing extracts above, available to the public. More than that, I am still happy to send the whole text in a read-only .pdf to those who wish to read it. I cannot send out the text blindly, so I ask only two things: 1) that you contact me (thus showing your interest), and 2) that you agree to discuss it with me (in whatever form you see fit). Please contact me via facebook, twitter, tumblr or via comment on this website.
Novel,
Published 28 August 2012
Published 28 August 2012