The Novices of Lerna by Ángel Bonomini
First published in 1972, Ángel Bonomini’s short story The Novices of Lerna is a masterpiece of surrealist fiction finally translated into English
First published in Argentina in 1972, Ángel Bonomini’s short story The Novices of Lerna was his most celebrated in his lifetime, though it has since faded into obscurity alongside the man himself. On the strength of this story, it’s unclear why that is. Jordan Landsman’s English translation aims to set things right. It showcases Bonomini’s style, comparable to his contemporary Jorge Luis Borges.
Given his unremarkable academic record, new graduate Ramón Beltra can’t help but be surprised when he receives an unsolicited fellowship from a Swiss university. The sole condition of entry is an exhaustive survey of his measurements, complete with detailed photographs. His suspicion outweighed by itchy feet, he soon departs for Geneva where, upon arrival, he finds that all of The University of Lerna’s scholars look exactly alike. That is, exactly like him. Here, they are asked to rid themselves of distinguishing factors: To don the same blue uniform; keep their names to themselves; and, although they come from all over, to converse only in French, their shared language. Initially incurious towards the ‘experiment’, their dispositions are rocked when their numbers begin to mysteriously dwindle.
Across 100 large-font pages, the fleeting story nevertheless sinks its tenterhooks in. More surrealist than science fiction, The Novices of Lerna’s answers are in short supply. Instead, Bonomini invites us to ruminate for ourselves on the power of deindividuation by a surveillant, faceless regime.