Two American Authors on Art, Mortality, and Technology

George Saunders and “Vigil”

George Saunders, recipient of the MacArthur "Genius Grant" and the Booker Prize, has released a new novel titled Vigil. The story follows an oil tycoon who encounters spirits on his deathbed, forcing him to confront his legacy.

"My interest in ghost stories is rooted in their ability to address human existence and mortality."

Saunders suggested that memories of deceased loved ones can make the concept of ghosts neurologically active. A personal experience 25 years ago—when a plane he was on nearly crashed—intensified his awareness of death and the appreciation of life that can follow such an event.

Saunders describes writing as a "sacramental act" and believes literature can foster empathy. He uses writing to expand his own capacity for empathy, aiming for a perspective where "everyone is just me on a different day."

Philosophy and Craft

In Vigil, a ghost named Jill Blaine practices "elevation," a philosophy suggesting lives are determined by inherent dispositions rather than free choices. Saunders indicated this is a question posed to the reader, stating that good fiction should provoke thought rather than provide answers.

He acknowledged having "neurotic" and "OCD" tendencies and noted that writing helps him quiet his "monkey mind."

Background

Saunders grew up in Oak Forest, Illinois, and initially studied geophysical engineering. A dream-inspired story titled "A Lack of Order in the Floating Object Room" marked a turning point in his writing, leading him to pursue an MFA at Syracuse University. There he met novelist Paula Redick, whom he described as a spiritual and creative partner.

After working as a tech writer, Saunders published his first short story collection, CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, in 1996 and began teaching creative writing at Syracuse University in 1997. He attributes later success to incorporating humor into his work. He also runs a "Story Club Substack."

On Politics

Saunders prefers to explore complex perspectives through fiction rather than partisan debate. He stated that his motivation for Vigil was to explore whether individuals who suppressed climate change evidence experience regret.

Dave Eggers on AI, Art, and Education

The Guardian interviewed novelist Dave Eggers at the McSweeney's offices in San Francisco. The interview began with a life drawing session.

Background

Eggers, 56, has authored over a dozen novels, multiple nonfiction books, and children's books. He founded the publishing house McSweeney's in 1998 and has launched several nonprofits. His most recent venture, Art + Water, is an arts center in San Francisco that provides free studio space and mentorship.

Key Statements

• On figure drawing: Drawing a human for three hours allows one to learn about them and develop affection through careful observation.
• On MFA costs: He described the cost of a master of fine arts degree—which can reach $100,000 per year—as "absurd" and contributing to an "arts industrial complex that makes everyone miserable."
• On children's writing: Eggers emphasized the importance of tangible choices, stating that children prefer real interactions over screens when given the option.
• On AI: Eggers criticized the use of artificial intelligence in creative writing, saying, "Once you have a machine think for you and write for you, you're cooked as a species." He argued that AI-generated content cannot be considered art.
• On AI lawsuits: Eggers and his wife are part of two class action lawsuits against Anthropic over unauthorized use of their books to train AI models.
• On his writing process: Eggers writes first drafts by hand and uses a 1998 Mac computer that has never been connected to the internet. He does not use social media and owns a flip phone.

New Novel

Eggers's new novel, set in the art world, spans six decades and follows the friendship between two characters, Cricket and Olympia. He worked on it for approximately 20 years.

Other Details

• Eggers studied journalism at the University of Illinois.
• He has written two dystopian novels about big tech: The Circle (2013) and The Every (2021).
• He was invited by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to speak about AI-written novels.
• Eggers sells prints of his artwork to support a youth library.