The Invention of Morel
Ratings36
Average rating3.8
When I first picked up The Invention of Morel, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s sometimes called one of the first works of magical realism, but to me, it felt more like sci-fi or horror — haunting, imaginative, and eerily ahead of its time. Jorge Luis Borges, who wrote the prologue, called it a work of “reasoned imagination,” and I can’t think of a better description. The book is unsettling, thought-provoking, and honestly, perfect.
The story follows a fugitive hiding on an island, where strange things start happening. He notices a group of people—dressed like they’re at a fancy party—but they don’t acknowledge him. At first, it feels like a ghost story, but as the mystery unfolds, you realize it’s something much stranger. At the center of it all is a machine created by Morel, an invention that records and replays moments in time. The narrator becomes obsessed with one of the visitors, Faustine, and things spiral into a weird mix of obsession, longing, and questions about reality versus delusion.
What really struck me is how creepy and modern the book feels, even in 2025. Bioy Casares taps into themes like memory, loneliness, and immortality, but they also connect to things we’re grappling with today—VR, social media, parasocial relationships, AI, even darker topics like stalking or revenge AI porn. It’s amazing that a book from 1940 captures ideas that are still so relevant now. The narrator’s obsession with Faustine reminded me of how people get fixated on influencers or celebrities they’ll never meet, while Morel’s machine felt like an early vision of technology’s power to distort reality and relationships.
This isn’t just a story you read—it’s one you feel. The eerie atmosphere of the island, the narrator’s growing desperation, and the chilling questions about what’s real and what’s an illusion stick with you. It’s also a book that makes you think. Can you love someone who isn’t truly there? Is it worth giving up your life for an illusion? And what happens when we let technology blur the lines between memory and reality?
If you’re into stories that feel a bit like a Black Mirror episode or something out of a Kafka fever dream, The Invention of Morel will hit the spot. It’s eerie, thought-provoking, and unique. It’s short but dense, and you’ll want to sit with it after you’re done. For me, it was a surreal and unforgettable experience.
When I first picked up The Invention of Morel, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s sometimes called one of the first works of magical realism, but to me, it felt more like sci-fi or horror — haunting, imaginative, and eerily ahead of its time. Jorge Luis Borges, who wrote the prologue, called it a work of “reasoned imagination,” and I can’t think of a better description. The book is unsettling, thought-provoking, and honestly, perfect.
The story follows a fugitive hiding on an island, where strange things start happening. He notices a group of people—dressed like they’re at a fancy party—but they don’t acknowledge him. At first, it feels like a ghost story, but as the mystery unfolds, you realize it’s something much stranger. At the center of it all is a machine created by Morel, an invention that records and replays moments in time. The narrator becomes obsessed with one of the visitors, Faustine, and things spiral into a weird mix of obsession, longing, and questions about reality versus delusion.
What really struck me is how creepy and modern the book feels, even in 2025. Bioy Casares taps into themes like memory, loneliness, and immortality, but they also connect to things we’re grappling with today—VR, social media, parasocial relationships, AI, even darker topics like stalking or revenge AI porn. It’s amazing that a book from 1940 captures ideas that are still so relevant now. The narrator’s obsession with Faustine reminded me of how people get fixated on influencers or celebrities they’ll never meet, while Morel’s machine felt like an early vision of technology’s power to distort reality and relationships.
This isn’t just a story you read—it’s one you feel. The eerie atmosphere of the island, the narrator’s growing desperation, and the chilling questions about what’s real and what’s an illusion stick with you. It’s also a book that makes you think. Can you love someone who isn’t truly there? Is it worth giving up your life for an illusion? And what happens when we let technology blur the lines between memory and reality?
If you’re into stories that feel a bit like a Black Mirror episode or something out of a Kafka fever dream, The Invention of Morel will hit the spot. It’s eerie, thought-provoking, and unique. It’s short but dense, and you’ll want to sit with it after you’re done. For me, it was a surreal and unforgettable experience.
The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It’s short, strange, and full of twists that make you question everything by the time you finish. If you like stories that feel like a puzzle, this one’s for you.
The setup is simple: an unnamed narrator (who’s on the run for a crime we don’t know much about) hides out on a deserted island. At least, he thinks it’s deserted. Pretty soon, he starts noticing people—elegantly dressed, almost otherworldly—and things get weird. Why don’t they acknowledge him? How do they seem so… disconnected from reality?
The narrator becomes obsessed with Faustine, one of these “visitors,” and we get pulled into his spiraling thoughts about love, immortality, and what it means to truly connect with someone.
What’s great about this book is how it balances mystery with some really big ideas. You can enjoy it as a sci-fi mind-bender or dig into the deeper stuff about memory, obsession, and loneliness. The island feels dreamlike and unsettling, and the writing is simple but evocative. It’s not a long book, but it packs a lot into its pages.
If you’re into stories that feel a bit like a Black Mirror episode or something out of a Kafka fever dream, The Invention of Morel will hit the spot. It’s eerie, thought-provoking, and unique. Plus, it’ll leave you wondering about what’s real and what’s just an illusion—long after you’ve put it down.
The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It’s short, strange, and full of twists that make you question everything by the time you finish. If you like stories that feel like a puzzle, this one’s for you.
The setup is simple: an unnamed narrator (who’s on the run for a crime we don’t know much about) hides out on a deserted island. At least, he thinks it’s deserted. Pretty soon, he starts noticing people—elegantly dressed, almost otherworldly—and things get weird. Why don’t they acknowledge him? How do they seem so… disconnected from reality?
The narrator becomes obsessed with Faustine, one of these “visitors,” and we get pulled into his spiraling thoughts about love, immortality, and what it means to truly connect with someone.
What’s great about this book is how it balances mystery with some really big ideas. You can enjoy it as a sci-fi mind-bender or dig into the deeper stuff about memory, obsession, and loneliness. The island feels dreamlike and unsettling, and the writing is simple but evocative. It’s not a long book, but it packs a lot into its pages.
If you’re into stories that feel a bit like a Black Mirror episode or something out of a Kafka fever dream, The Invention of Morel will hit the spot. It’s eerie, thought-provoking, and unique. Plus, it’ll leave you wondering about what’s real and what’s just an illusion—long after you’ve put it down.
