Front, philosophy and fiction: a military man's novel presented in Odesa

The literary evening in Odesa turned into a discussion about human nature, internal contradictions, and the line between good and evil. The author of the novel "The Antinomian" Oleg Palchykov told how his service at the front, Jung's philosophy and David Lynch's work shaped the atmosphere of his debut book.

This was reported by Intent correspondent Natalia Dovbysh.

A literary evening dedicated to the debut novel "Antinomian" by Oleg Palchikov, a soldier and founder of Unit Cafe, was held in Odesa. The event brought together connoisseurs of contemporary literature, philosophical fiction and readers interested in the themes of war, inner choice and human nature.

During the meeting, the author spoke about the creation of the book, which was born in the conditions of war and military service. According to Palchykov, the idea for the novel appeared before the full-scale invasion, but full-fledged work on the text began during his service, when he had short moments for creativity between combat missions.

Illustration for the book

Oleh Palchykov explained that the central theme of The Antinomian was the integrity of man-his internal contradictions, the struggle between the rational and the irrational, light and darkness, fear and freedom. In the novel, the protagonist goes through a difficult path of self-discovery through different worlds, symbols, archetypes, and psychological trials.

During the presentation, the writer read an excerpt from the book, in which the audience was able to immerse themselves in a dark fantasy universe with a black sun, underworlds, mystical creatures, and philosophical paradoxes. The author emphasized that the book is deliberately based on the paradoxical nature of thinking and the idea that it is impossible to reduce a person to simple categories of "good" and "evil."

Illustration for the book

Palchykov also spoke about the structure of the work. The novel Antinomian is the first part of a planned trilogy. The author is currently working on the second book, which, according to him, will have a different style, rhythm, and even a different language of the characters' inner world.

During the discussion with the guests, the writer admitted that he did not create a rigid plot plan. According to him, the story unfolded organically - the characters often "led" the author themselves, forcing him to change the direction of the narrative, revise scenes and look for new artistic solutions.

The meeting paid special attention to the author's sources of inspiration. Palchykov recalled Carl Jung's psychology, archetype theory, philosophical concepts, and the work of director David Lynch, which influenced the atmosphere and structure of the novel.

Illustration for the book

Oleg Palchykov is known not only as a writer. He was born in Odesa, worked in design, architectural visualization, and urban projects, and founded the UNIT Military Club, a space that later became known to Odesa residents as the Unit Cafe. Currently, the author is serving with the 3rd Army Corps in Donbas, and his literary debut is the result of a combination of military experience, creative path, and many years of philosophical search.

Also in May, the Bookstore-Café continued to introduce its visitors to the Odesa Through the Eyes of Strangers book series and on May 21 presented the book Odesa and Its People Through the Eyes of an English Prisoner in Russia by William Burkhardt Barker.

Анна Бальчінос