Michel Houellebecq Map and Territory

Michel Houellebecq has a new novel coming out in France in September, a month in which apparently 2/3 of new novels are published in France (!).

No ETA for the English translation or even an English title (in French, La carte et le territoire, which translates to Map and Territory), but the Independent reports that the novel contains “a foul-smeling, alcoholic, badly-dressed writer called Michel Houellebecq.”

I suppose it’s only warranted that after he’s satirized sex, whole generations, women, and an entire religion (Islam) that he goes metafictional to critique himself. Why not?

If you haven’t read him, start with The Elementary Particles. The Possibility of the Island was a rehashing of the central themes of Particles with interesting dressings (cloning! cults!) but didn’t elevate to greatness. Early Houellebecq in Whatever seems to be creating a foundation for his later obsession with sex, ennui and entropy, and Platform is provocative in such a calculated manner against race and religion it ends up eroding its own provocation.

Really, despite his status as literary darling of France (and international star), he’s only had one success of a book. The rest have repeated the same themes in less perfected modes. I suppose what makes him great is the continuity of his vision throughout his work, and the originality of his worldview, but I sincerely hope that Map and Territory can return him to greatness by:

• Avoiding blatant philosophizing
• Keeping characters unsettling but not despicable
• Sex not for the sake of titillation but as characters engaged in philosophical expression