The Disappearance of Sieger Somerman
In this riveting novel, truth turns out to be a slippery notion
Ema Somerman is a tech genius. She’s the CEO of a company she started with two friends. Based in Norway, Profil develops software that can be used to identify deepfakes. In a world full of digital manipulation, she has made a career for herself by drawing the line between truth and fiction.
Hayo Deinum
hayo@sharedstories.nl
Ema’s childhood was marred by the sudden disappearance of her father Sieger, who worked as a journalist for a national newspaper. When new information turns up about his disappearance, Ema’s professional world transforms into a hall of mirrors. What seems real proves to be deceptive. As she finds out more, she begins to feel increasingly ambivalent about Profil and the truth turns out to be a slippery notion.
Is there even such a thing as objective reality when everyone can create their own version of what is real? And if the truth is protected, who will guard the guards themselves? The Disappearance of Sieger Somerman is a rollercoaster of a novel exploring the power of perception, trauma and our crumbling relationship with the truth.
Jori Stam alternates with great ease between past, present and future. His energetic prose brings the protagonists, and a wide array of settings, vividly to life.
The Disappearance of Sieger Somerman is an accomplished novel about the dangers of AI.
Parool
Stam is reminiscent of the great Dutch author W.F. Hermans – his prose is precise and detailed, the ultimate meaning of the story remains somewhat enigmatic; his characters seem to be animated by something bigger than their individual psychologies – they are victims in a drama about fate and destiny.
Trouw
Stam is a master of suggestion. He excels at the two key components of a successful thriller: cliffhangers and postponed gratification. He manages to evoke an almost constant sense of dread and unease.
Parool