Surrender (Alfaguara Novel Prize 2017)

Ray Loriga, through his novel "Rendition", has joined the elite group of writers such as Houellebecq and Murakami who are redefining 21st-century fiction, according to Wayne Burrows of The Big Issue. "Rendición" is a luminous fable about exile, loss, fatherhood, and relationships.

During a decade-long war in an unspecified region, the people live in fear of betrayal and long for loved ones who went to the front lines. When it becomes necessary to evacuate the area for safety, a man, his wife, and their son Julio set off towards a supposedly secure future in a city where everything is public and oddly cheerful, with memories disappearing and intimacy nonexistent.

The story unfolds in a Kafkaesque and Orwellian manner, exploring themes of authority and collective manipulation. Through a humble and reflective voice interspersed with unexpected humor, the author crafts a fable that resonates with themes of exile, loss, fatherhood, and relationships. The plot of "Rendición" surprises with each turn, culminating in a shocking ending that lingers with the reader long after the book is closed.

Critics praise Loriga's departure from traditional Spanish realism, presenting a mental monologue in a desolate landscape reminiscent of a Hopper painting. His writing style, characterized by brief paragraphs, avoids description in favor of silent progression, akin to the sound of tires on a highway.

"Rendición" creates a narrator reminiscent of Kafka's subordinates, offering layers of complexity beyond a mere ideological thesis. Loriga successfully combines picaresque and science fiction elements, drawing comparisons to Rulfo and Ballard while exploring themes of collective manipulation and voluntary self-denunciation.

With praise from illustrious figures such as Pedro Almodóvar and recognition as a cult writer with a unique style by international publications like The Daily Telegraph and Scotland on Sunday, Ray Loriga emerges as a voice of a new generation. His distinctive prose, often likened to Marguerite Duras or Jim Thompson, conveys a sense of melancholy and love, positioning him as a literary figure of great intrigue and talent.

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