A Gunfighter’s Journey Through an Existential West
Abel. Alessandro Barrico. Editorial word puzzle.” loading=”lazy” src=”https://www.lavoz.com.ar/resizer/v2/FCLQU6SGVVEEZDEF67WKOXCLCE.jpeg?auth=5f9ad4cc1bcb1ebf5c2b7141a39ed047b737c028f1ac97ce4339d39a99b2ab6f&width=360&height=565″ width=”360″ height=”565″/>
Abel knows guns like he knows the lines on his own hand. He is a man forever caught between the contortions of violence and the philosophical weight it carries. At 27, Abel doesn’t just uphold the law; he embodies an existential crossroads, a gunslinger navigating a world as vast as it is desolate.
In Alessandro Baricco’s captivating novel, "Abel," the West is more than just a timeless backdrop. It’s a metaphysical wilderness, punched through by disappearing dreams, papaya-colored sunsets, and the echoing specter of causality. This is a world Scha zeigen the action, the gun senses the intentions. Time bends and stutters, leaving Abel suspended in a halo of bullets and past grievances.
Abel’s reputation precedes him, whispering tales not just of incredible marksmanship, but of a mind endlessly probing the mysteries of existence, a mind that grasps the porous nature of time as much as it does the rapid fire. His fame rests upon an almost mythical shooting technique known only as "mystery"—a method that bends perception and reality as Abel hits multiple targets, impossibly and simultaneously, with crossed hands.
- Abel** . Alessandro Barrico. Anagrama Editorial. 172 pages. $23,500
Allen Baricco plunges us into Abel’s world with a blend of lyrical prose and gritty realism. we are drawn into a morality that, like the desert itself, stretches across shifting sands. It’s a world of lost souls and unspoken truths, where causality itself is questioned. We hear the echoes of David Hume, finding ourselves ultimately questioning what we can confidently know, our understanding of cause and effect dissolving into the metaphorical dust.
He’s haunted by the words of a witch, or at least someone who seems as much, wielding the wisdom of the ancients: Plato, St. Anselm, Spinoza. These voices have shaped Abel’s worldview, clouding his present with the whispers of the past.
Abel’s family is a tapestry of biblical names: his siblings—Lilith, Joshua, David, Samuel and the ghost of young Isaac – each carry their own burdens. Lilith, with her innate clairvoyance, Joshua, marked by his imprisonment, David, consumed by faith, Samuel, a prospector drawn by earthly riches. They are bound to him by blood and an unspoken pact etched in their shared history.
And then there’s Hallelujah "Praise God" – a name dusty with meaning, given by a woman who embodies freedom, a woman necessitates ontability, unbound even as she is drawn to the unforgiving pull of Abel’s world. She is a window into a different world, a life lived not on a shooter’s trigger.
Abigail and Abel’s
The decision to intervene is swift and drawn long ago, a tangled knot of loyalty, and afterworld family and our own duty. Their plan, a whirlwind of exploding churches, thunderous gunshots, and a desperate ride into the impossible emptiness.
Baricco’s western is not driven by quick-draw duels or dusty saloons. It probes deeper, drilling into the heart of existential dreads carried by each character, each shot echoing through uncharted thoughts, each moment layered with meaning that transcends the gunmetal clasp of vengeance;
And barrico narrates all of it with an insightful and undisturbed narrative that compels the reader, keeping them from putting the book down. This unsettling, mesmerizing novel asks us to question what matters most in a world shadowed by violence. It is a story that stays with you, even long after the last shot has rung out.
How does the concept of “mystery” in Abel’s shooting technique tie into the broader metaphysical themes of the novel?
## Interview: Abel, a Gunslinger in a World of Shifting Sands
**Interviewer**: Welcome to the show. Today, we’re talking about Alessandro Baricco’s captivating new novel, ‘Abel,’ a story that is as much about the existential west as it is about a gunslinger named, you guessed it, Abel. Joining me is [Guest Name], a literary critic who has delved deep into this fascinating book. Welcome, [Guest Name]!
**Guest**: Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer**: For our audiences unfamiliar with ‘Abel,’ can you tell us a little bit about this gunslinger and the world he inhabits?
**Guest**: Abel is a complex character, a man who walks a line between violence and deep philosophical thought. As a master gunslinger in the Wild West, he’s renowned for his incredible marksmanship and a unique shooting technique called “mystery,” which seems to defy logic and allow him to hit multiple targets simultaneously. But beneath the surface, there’s Abel grappling with profound questions about the nature of time, causality, and the weight of his actions [1].
**Interviewer**:
Intriguing. You mentioned the West as a metaphysical wilderness.
It sounds like it’s more than just a backdrop, isn’t it?
**Guest**: Absolutely. Baricco paints a picture of the West where deserts stretch as far as the eye can see, but they’re also symbolic of the internal landscapes of the characters. Abel navigates both physical and emotional deserts, confronting ghosts of the past and questioning the very nature of reality. We see this exploration of metaphysical themes echoed in the writing style as well, with time bending and stuttering, leaving a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity [1].
**Interviewer**: That’s fascinating. The article mentions Abel grapples with advice from a mysterious figure described as a witch. Can you tell us a bit more about that?
**Guest**: While Abel’s physical journey is one of gunslinging and survival, there’s also a spiritual journey taking place. The witch, who may not be a true witch in the traditional sense, acts as a catalyst for Abel’s introspection, forcing him to confront his doubts and fears [1].
**Interviewer**:
It sounds like Baricco’s ‘Abel’ isn’t just an exciting Western adventure; it’s a powerful exploration of humanity’s place in a world full of ethical dilemmas and philosophical mysteries.
**Guest**: I wholeheartedly agree. It’s a book that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
**Interviewer**: Thank you so much for your insights, [Guest Name]. It’s certainly got us wanting to pick up a copy of ‘Abel’ and explore its unique world.
(**Sound of applause**)
