George Saunders, the Booker Prize-winning author of Lincoln in the Bardo, returns with a new metaphysical novel, Vigil. The story follows an oil tycoon who spent his life covering up climate change evidence, visited on his deathbed by spirits who force him to confront his legacy. Saunders explains his fascination with ghost stories: 'If I allowed a ghost in from the 1940s, I might be more interested in it. It might be because they are in fact here.' He adds that a ghost story can feel more 'truthful' by not narrowing reality to just the present moment.
Saunders, 67, says death has become a 'preoccupation' as he ages, and he worries about being unprepared for it. He recalls a terrifying flight 25 years ago when a plane he was on hit geese shortly after take-off from Chicago. The cabin filled with smoke, and he believed he would die. Despite being a devout Tibetan Buddhist at the time, he experienced pure terror. 'It was like all the elements of my identity got rolled back,' he says. The plane landed safely, and for a week afterwards he felt euphoric, a feeling he now chases in his writing.
Saunders is known for his darkly satirical short stories that hold a mirror to American society. He sees writing as a 'sacramental act' and believes literature can make us better people by fostering empathy. His advice on kindness often goes viral, and he holds an optimistic view that storytelling requires transcending coarse instincts.
