Tommy Orange, the acclaimed Native American author behind the Pulitzer-nominated There There and the Booker-longlisted Wandering Stars, has been selected as the 11th writer to contribute to the Future Library project, per theguardian.com. This unique initiative, launched by Scottish artist Katie Paterson in 2014, invites one author each year to create a manuscript that will remain unread and unpublished until 2114. Orange’s work will join the contributions of other literary luminaries, including Margaret Atwood and Ocean Vuong, in a century-long time capsule of contemporary thought and creativity.
The announcement was made at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, where Paterson praised Orange’s profound exploration of identity, belonging and intergenerational trauma, particularly within the context of Indigenous experiences. She expressed confidence that his work will resonate with readers of the 22nd century.
Orange, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma, expressed his awe at being included in such a prestigious lineup. “I had not heard of this project before, but when I saw the list of names of the other authors from previous years, I was floored,” he said. Orange’s involvement in the Future Library was recommended by Margaret Atwood, the project’s inaugural contributor.
Reflecting on the challenge of writing for an audience nearly a century in the future, Orange acknowledged the difficulties but also the importance of maintaining hope for the longevity of the human project. “Stories are always stories,” he said, “and if I tell a good one, I think it will probably connect with any kind of reader.”
The Future Library manuscripts are stored in a specially designed Silent Room in Oslo’s Deichman Bjørvika library. The project will culminate in 2114 when the anthology, printed on paper from 1,000 Norwegian spruce trees planted for this purpose, will finally be unveiled to the world.
- Featured image: Tommy Orange/The Guardian
