(English) Through the Mind of a Ghost

Eight stories, each having its unique charm, are woven into the collection. Each story has a tinge of fantasy as a strange event affects a narrator's life. In the first story a ghost appears to the narrator. In the second story, mutant jellyfish changes the world. In the third, a stranger slowly turns into a tree in narrator's house. Yet, narrators are not surprised, which is understandable when we consider that stranger things constantly happen in our world. These fantastical beings do not bring dramatic changes. However, they influence the narrators' lives. They trigger the narrators to break out of their daily routines, to look around them and into themselves. As a result, the narrators begin to redefine their relationship with others and to understand themselves better. The author brilliantly captures the subtle moment when these important changes happen.

Through the Mind of a Ghost . One day, a ghost appears in the bakery the protagonist is working at. The ghost looks just like her and experiences the same emotions as her. At first, she tries to send it away, but soon she discovers that she feels unbearably cold when it is far away from her. Reluctantly, she accepts the life with the ghost, which slowly changes her. Eventually, it enables her to face her past and present.

I Dont Shine . Suddenly, a swarm of mutant jellyfish fills the sea. They emit strange lights and change other species into the same type of jellyfish just by touching them. At first, people panic, but soon they adapt and new jobs are created. The protagonist begins to work in a company that transforms people into jellyfish upon request. It takes about three days for people to metamorphose into complete jellyfish. However, one day, she meets a customer who does not fully change and continues to think and speak as before.

2019년 [문학사상] 신인상을 수상하며 작품 활동을 시작한 임선우는 고요하고도 능청스러운 환상을 부려 놓은 소설들을 착실히 발표해 왔으며, 풍경이 다른 섬들처럼 다양한 매력을 지닌 여덟 편의 작품들이 마침내 한 권의 책으로 엮여 나왔다.

현실은 막막하고, 관계는 지난하고, 일상은 그 모든 막막하고 지난한 것들이 반복되는 무대다. 평범한 일상에 “아무런 예고 없이”(평론가 황예인) 펼쳐지는 임선우식 환상은 “‘나’와 타인의 관계의 문을 열어 주는 매개”임과 동시에 “‘나’ 자신에 대한 완전한 이해를 위한 역할로서 작용”(소유정)한다. 이러한 평가는 곧, 타인과 자신에 대한 깊은 이해가 소멸해 가고 있는 현실에 임선우의 소설이 반드시 필요한 이유에 대한 답이 되어 준다. 유령, 변종 해파리, 나무가 된 사람 등 환상적 존재들은 일상적인 사건처럼 삶에 스며 인물들을 긴긴 생각에 잠기도록 만든다. 왜 내 삶에 이런 일이 벌어졌을까? 나와 똑같이 생긴 유령을 어떻게 대해야 할까? 쉬이 끝나지 않는 고민들은 점점 인물의 삶 전반에 대한 고민으로 넓어지고, 독자들의 곁에도 어느새 책 속 유령이 건넨 따스한 생각들이 깊숙이 스며 있을 것이다.