"Vigil" is a novel by George Saunders releasing on January 27, 2026, focusing on oil executive K.J. Boone during his deathbed journey. The narrative explores Boone's encounters with both the living and the dead as he faces moral reckoning. This novel serves as a companion piece to "Lincoln in the Bardo," featuring characters who have experienced death. The story reflects on the implications of climate change denial and the potential for repentance. Saunders aims for a narrative rich in political complexity, avoiding simplistic expressions of opinion.
"As Boone races toward death, visitors (worldly and otherworldly, alive and dead) arrive, clamoring for a reckoning."
"The afterlife in the two books are a little different - different rules apply - but I feel like I'm using 'what comes next' to understand with more precision what's happening now."
"If he had a chance to explain himself, would he try? Could he even do it?"
"So instead of saying, 'Here, world, here's my fully formed opinion,' you end up taking yourself on a little trip in the direction of more complexity, more ambiguity, a deeper understanding."
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