Gun Arvidssen
Encyclopedia
Purgatory
Purgatory is a 2009 novel by Gun Arvidssen, structured as a dystopian mystery in three acts. The novel has strong undertones of surrealismSurrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
and speculative fiction
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
.
Plot summary
The protagonist, Nathan HabuHabu
' is a Japanese name used to refer to certain venomous snakes:Snakes:* The following species are found in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan:** Trimeresurus elegans, a.k.a. the Sakishima habu, found in the southern Ryukyu Islands...
, realises that he has died and gone to what he considers to be Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, although he is soon reminded by the disembodied voice of a woman that his mental shortcut is inaccurate. The crucial distinction is that as an inductee of Purgatory
Purgatory
Purgatory is the condition or process of purification or temporary punishment in which, it is believed, the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for Heaven...
, he is destined to suffer and learn before progressing to the Next World as opposed to being damned for all eternity.
Habu finds his way to a seemingly familiar place of work, thereafter meeting other occupants of Purgatory and becoming central to various situations with far-reaching consequences. The more individuals and events he becomes involved with, the more Habu grows aware of the intertwining of significance throughout his supposed journey of redemption
Redemption (theology)
Redemption is a concept common to several theologies. It is generally associated with the efforts of people within a faith to overcome their shortcomings and achieve the moral positions exemplified in their faith.- In Buddhism :...
, which takes an increasingly convoluted and surreal path as the novel progresses.