Severance (novel)

LingMa Severance

Severance is a science fiction and dystopian novel by Ling Ma. It was first published in 2018 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The novel explores themes of capitalism, immigration, and the apocalypse through the lens of a pandemic that turns people into "fevered" automatons.

Plot Summary

The story follows Candace Chen, a millennial who works in the Bible division of a publishing company in New York City. As the Shen Fever pandemic spreads, Candace continues to go to work, documenting the collapse of society through her photography blog. The fever causes people to repetitively perform their daily routines until they die.

Candace eventually joins a group of survivors led by a man named Bob. The group travels to a facility called "The Facility," where they hope to find safety and a new way of life. Throughout the journey, Candace reflects on her past, her parents' immigration from China, and her own identity.

Characters

• Candace Chen: The protagonist, a first-generation Chinese-American who works in publishing.
• Bob: The leader of the survivor group.
• Jonathan: Candace's boyfriend, who leaves New York before the pandemic worsens.
• Ashley: A member of the survivor group who becomes close to Candace.

Themes

Severance delves into several major themes:

• Capitalism: The novel critiques the relentless nature of capitalism, especially through Candace's dedication to her job even as society collapses.
• Immigration: Candace's reflections on her parents' immigration experience highlight the struggles and identity crises faced by immigrants.
• Pandemic: The Shen Fever serves as a metaphor for the mindless routines of modern life and the dehumanizing effects of capitalism.

Reception

The novel received critical acclaim for its unique take on the apocalypse genre and its insightful social commentary. It won the Kirkus Prize for Fiction and was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award.

Adaptations

As of , there have been discussions about adapting Severance into a film or television series, but no official announcements have been made.

See Also

• Dystopian literature
• Pandemic in fiction
• Chinese-American literature