Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is a speculative fiction novel set in an alternate universe where a man known as Piranesi inhabits an abandoned House, one filled with mysterious and impossible architecture. He has taken it upon himself to document and map the House, its many staircases, galleries, and fountains, and he describes its grandeur as something that is “unimaginable” and “solid as the universe.”
Piranesi leads a solitary life, spending his days exploring the ocean currents, noting the tide patterns, and learning the language of the birds. His only other companion is the Other, a man who visits at least twice a week, asking questions about the House and giving Piranesi clues to understanding its mystery. But life in the House isn’t always peaceful, as strange creatures from the sea, called the kraken, sometimes invade the House and cause havoc.
One day, Piranesi discovers a message from outside that changes everything, leading him on a journey of discovery. As he unravels the mystery of the House, he comes to realize its true nature: it is a prison for the powerful magicians that once lived there, trapped in an endless cycle of captivity. Piranesi also finds out that he is the sole custodian of the House, responsible to keep it safe and its doors locked, while the Other is determined to free the magicians.
Meanwhile, a stranger is tracking Piranesi’s moves and drawn closer to the House’s secrets. He is a man from the outside world, a scientist in search of a missing friend and desperate to discover the truth hidden within the House. As the scientist begins to unravel the mystery of the House and its occupants, Piranesi and the Other grapple with the consequences of their actions.
Piranesi is a novel that presents a world of extraordinary beauty and secrets, filled with secrets and stories. The characters of Piranesi and the Other bring a deep sense of humanity to the narrative, as do the tangled relationships between the characters and the magical forces that bind them, challenging readers to sit with ambiguity and ask hard questions about the consequences of power and love. The novel is an intriguing and immersive exploration of the use of power, the nature of friendship and loyalty, and the search for understanding of life and death. In the end, Piranesi and the Other are confronted with difficult choices that could shape the future of themselves and the House and, in the process, redefine their own understanding of the magical power that binds them.
