He would prefer to read the entire Ship of Theseus story first before digesting the marginal story. When asked what is the best way to read S., Dorst said it depends entirely on how the reader naturally processes information, and should follow whatever they’re pulled to read next. Just, what feels right? It wasn’t about it being true, it was about being emotional and compelling … And I love that as this is happening, these two people are falling in love.”

Abrams said to Dorst, “It seems the litmus test for you was, what would I believe? Not what’s real or what’s not real. question the concept of identity while including tons of literary references - i.e.some real, some not. PHOTOS: Gillian Flynn and Reese Witherspoon, Stephenie Meyer and ‘The Host’ Cast: Authors With Their Stars But you seem real – what gives?” Dorst joked back, “Robotics.” Abrams to have constructed this entire thing!’ It was really remarkable. Dunham then told Dorst, “I actually read a theory online that you were a hoax perpetrated by J.J.! They’re like, ‘He has an online presence going back at least 15 years, but it doesn’t seem past J.J. “I thought, well, there’s no way I’ll get this gig, so why don’t I just go in the most ludicrous direction? What would be most fun for me? … They would say, take it as far as you possibly can.”ĭorst drew from his fascination of authorship controversies, such as William Shakespeare, B. “At the time, I was convinced that I was auditioning,” said Dorst, who also teaches creative writing at Texas State University. Even more so, the book features footnotes from an editor and remarks from a translator. Straka (a fictitious author, as Dorst didn’t want to piggyback the margins of an existing classic), but also the story of Jen and Eric, two bibliophiles who communicate to each other through handwritten notes in the book’s margins. S., published by Mulholland Books, is not only the Ship of Theseus mystery novel written by V. “All we did was find an incredibly talented writer and give him an idea for something, and then you took it and made it completely your own.”

The director-producer first told the idea to Bad Robot features head Lindsey Weber, who then suggested Dorst as a top pick. 23 event, co-presented with literary nonprofit 826NYC. “To be a hundred percent clear, Doug is the author of the book,” he said at the Nov. Abrams kicked off the conversation by clarifying that, though his name is on the cover of S., he’s only responsible for the book-within-a-book concept.

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