View source for Extensa

{{Short description|2002 novel by Jacek Dukaj}}
{{about|a book|notebook series|Extensa (notebook)}}
{{Infobox book | <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
| name          = Extensa
| title_orig    =
| translator    = not translated
| image         = ExtensaMax.gif
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Polish edition cover
| author        = [[Jacek Dukaj]]
| illustrator   =
| cover_artist  = [[Tomasz Bagiński]]
| country       = [[Poland]]
| language      = [[Polish language|Polish]]
| series        =
| genre         = [[Science fiction]] novel
| publisher     = [[Wydawnictwo Literackie]]
| release_date  = 2002
| english_release_date =
| media_type    = ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] & [[Paperback]])
| pages         = 164 pp
| isbn          = 83-08-03286-9
| congress= PG7163.U4 E96 2002
| oclc= 51216199
| preceded_by   =
| followed_by   =
}}
'''''Extensa''''' is a 2002 [[science fiction]] [[novel]] written by [[Jacek Dukaj]], [[Science fiction and fantasy in Poland|Polish science fiction]] writer. It is the second stand alone novels by Dukaj, and the first published by [[Wydawnictwo Literackie]], marking the writer's growing recognition in Poland.
The novel protagonist is one of the few remaining, unaugmented human beings on Earth, and the novel's plot focuses on their life, as they consider whether to remain a traditional human being or embrace a transition to a [[transhumanist]], [[Technological singularity|singularitarian]] entity.
It was translated into Hungarian in 2012.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dukaj |first=Jacek |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kgjnAgAAQBAJ&q=Extensa+dukaj |title=Extensa |date=2012 |publisher=Typotex Kiadó Kft |isbn=978-963-279-682-6 |language=hu}}</ref>
== Plot ==
The novel fits in the [[Science fiction film|science fiction]] genre, describing a post-[[technological singularity|singularity]] society, where some humans have [[post-human|evolved further]] while others chose to remain behind. Like other works by Dukaj, the novel deals with highly advanced technology (like [[EPR paradox]], related to the [[Einstein-Rosen-Podolsky bridge]]) and its implications for human society. The story depicts a world where there is a cultural conflict between those who support evolving into some [[posthuman]] form, and those who want to preserve "traditional" human form and culture. The main character, otherwise anonymous, who narrates his life, is born in the last enclave of traditional humans, the Green Country, and is constantly torn between his desire to experience the new world, and his fear of losing what makes him human.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2002-12-13 |title=Jacek Dukaj |url=https://kultura.onet.pl/wiadomosci/jacek-dukaj/8fxcypv |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=Onet Kultura |language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Extensa - Jacek Dukaj |url=https://culture.pl/en/work/extensa-jacek-dukaj |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=Culture.pl |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Gorliński-Kucik |first=Piotr |url=https://rebus.us.edu.pl/handle/20.500.12128/2127 |title=Światotwórstwo : O prozie Jacka Dukaja |date=2014 |publisher=Katowice : Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego |isbn=978-83-8012-146-1 |language=pl}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Pięta |first=Iwona |date=2009 |title=Dlaczego czytamy fantastykę. Rozważania o prawdzie na przykładzie prozy Jacka Dukaja |url=https://ojs.tnkul.pl/index.php/rh/article/view/5471 |journal=Roczniki Humanistyczne |language=pl |volume=57 |issue=1 |pages=73–84 |issn=2544-5200}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Oramus |first=Marek |date=2002 |title=Niebo za karę |journal=Nowa Fantastyka |language=pl |issue=10 |pages=69}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Esensja: "Przeczytaj to jeszcze raz: Dryf" – Beatrycze Nowicka |url=https://esensja.pl/ksiazka/recenzje/tekst.html?id=24993 |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=Esensja.pl |language=pl-PL}}</ref>
== Analysis ==
The book's initial part is reminiscent of the [[magic realism]] genre, although later it moves into Dukaj's traditional science fiction.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Uniłowski |first=Krzysztof |url=https://rebus.us.edu.pl/handle/20.500.12128/1487 |title=Lord Dukaj albo fantasta wobec "mainstreamu" |date=2011 |publisher=Katowice : Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego |isbn=978-83-226-2028-1 |language=pl}}</ref>
Piotr Gorliński-Kucik noted that the work combines common tropes used by Dukaj in his other works, namely [[gnosticism]] and [[transhumanism]].<ref name=":3" /> The book has a number of themes, such as the consequences of [[human evolution]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> Another of its themes is the concept of [[Other (philosophy)|otherness]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mazurkiewicz |first=Adam |date=2019 |title=Kręgi obcości w Extensie Jacka Dukaja |url=http://cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/element/bwmeta1.element.ojs-doi-10_34768_zrdp-sn56 |journal=International Journal of Slavic Studies Transgressive, Pragmatic and Speculative Horizons of Popular Literature and Culture |language=en |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=22–43 |doi=10.34768/zrdp-sn56 |issn=2658-154X|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pięta |first=Iwona |date=2012 |title=Funkcja obcości (inności) w kształtowaniu się tożsamości "Ja" podmiotowego w twórczości Jacka Dukaja |url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=259727 |journal=Konteksty Kultury |language=Polish |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=207–221 |issn=2083-7658}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> Related to it is the difficulty of [[First contact (science fiction)|first contact]], particularly in the context where the sides have vastly different technological potential, reminiscent of [[Stanisław Lem]]'s ''[[Fiasco (novel)|Fiasco]]''.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Przytuła |first=Piotr |date=2013 |title=Poza postmodernizm. Jacek Dukaj i spór o uniwersalia |url=http://cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/element/bwmeta1.element.desklight-e72f9071-d6ea-4b77-947d-81f54f09aab4 |journal=Prace Literaturoznawcze |language=PL |issue=1 |pages=141–149 |issn=2353-5164}}</ref> Dukaj himself described the main theme of the novel as [[cultural conflict]].<ref name=":1" />
The book also marked Dukaj's growing recognition by the literary mainstream in Poland, as it was his first book published by the mainstream publisher [[Wydawnictwo Literackie]], while his earlier works were published by sci-fi-specialized publisher [[SuperNowa]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2"/><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kozicka |first=Dorota |date=2014-04-30 |title=Fantastyczni pisarze, czyli o tym, jak pisarze fantastyczni podbijają polską literaturę |url=https://www.ejournals.eu/Wieloglos/2013/Numer-4-2013/art/2576/ |journal=Wielogłos |language=pl |volume=2013 |issue=Numer 4 (18) |pages=105–115 |doi=10.4467/2084395XWI.13.028.1631 |issn=2084-395X}}</ref>
== Reception ==
It was nominated for [[Janusz A. Zajdel Award]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://culture.pl/pl/dzielo/jacek-dukaj-extensa | language = pl |title=Jacek Dukaj, "Extensa"  | access-date = 28 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://polter.pl/ksiazki/Nagroda-im-Janusza-A-Zajdla-za-rok-2002-w2758 |language = pl |title=Nagroda im. Janusza A. Zajdla za rok 2002 | access-date = 28 August 2021}}</ref>
Krzysztof Uniłowski noted that the reception for the book was mixed. As Dukaj's mainstream debut, some mainstream reviewers were snobbish, criticizing the book's sci-fi theme; conversely, for some members of Polish science fiction fandom, Dukaj's change of publishers seemed like a betrayal of his roots.<ref name=":2" />
[[Marek Oramus]] reviewed ''Extensa'' for ''[[Nowa Fantastyka]]'' in 2002. Oramus praised ''Extensa'' for a number of reasons: it is a solid science fiction novel, discussing a number of scientific concepts; it is well structured - beginning with a story of a child growing up, and exploding into a story dealing with the entire Universe; the action is dramatic enough; and the themes have significant moral and philosophical dimensions as well.<ref name=":5" />
In the same  year, [[Wojciech Orliński]] reviewed the book for ''[[Gazeta Wyborcza]]''. Orliński called Dukaj the best Polish writer of [[hard science fiction]], while noting that the work is more "tame" and less science-fiction-like than most of his previous works. As such, Orliński described the work as being in a good gateway position for mainstream readers who have so far avoided the science fiction genre, as the work can be described as a tale told by a child, with supernatural elements taking a second seat to the book's focus on "a story of a farmer's family".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orliński |first=Wojciech |date=4 April 2002 |title=Narrenturm, Sapkowski, Andrzej; Extensa, Dukaj, Jacek; Sen numer 9 , Mitchell, David |url=https://wyborcza.pl/7,75517,1192405.html?disableRedirects=true |access-date=2022-09-04 |website=wyborcza.pl}}</ref>
The book was well received by several reviewers at the Polish ''{{ill|Poltergeist (portal)|lt=Poltergeist|pl|Poltergeist (polter.pl)}}'' portal. Katarzyna Sałak gave it a 10/10 score in 2007,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sałak |first=Katarzyna |date=2007 |title=Extensa - Jacek Dukaj. Jakże opowiedzieć mam Extensę? (recenzja) - Książki - POLTERGEIST |url=https://polter.pl/ksiazki/Extensa-Jacek-Dukaj-c10694 |archive-date= |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=polter.pl |language=pl-PL}}</ref> Bartosz Krawczyk, 8/10 in 2010<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krawczyk |first=Bartosz |date=2010 |title=Extensa - Jacek Dukaj. Granice Extensy, czyli o trudnościach odbioru słów kilka (recenzja) - POLTERGEIST |url=https://polter.pl/Extensa-Jacek-Dukaj-c22424 |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=polter.pl |language=pl-PL}}</ref> and Tomasz Czajka, 9/10, also in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Czajka |first=Tomasz |date=2010 |title=Extensa - Jacek Dukaj (recenzja) - POLTERGEIST |url=https://polter.pl/Extensa-Jacek-Dukaj-c21981 |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=polter.pl |language=pl-PL}}</ref> Also in 2010 (the year a second edition was published), Maria Kobielska reviewed it positively for Polish magazine ''e-splot'', focusing on the narrative style and character development.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kobielska |first=Maria |date=2010-04-23 |title=Neoludzkim głosem (Extensa) - Splot |url=http://e-splot.pl/?pid=articles&id=542 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806202633/http://e-splot.pl/?pid=articles&id=542 |archive-date=2016-08-06 |access-date=2022-08-26 }}</ref> That year in ''{{ill|Esensja|pl|Esensja}}'', Grzegorz Rogaczewski discussed the book in his overview of Dukaj's works published. He noted that the book is somewhat less "baroque" and complex than some of Dukaj's earlier works, and the theme of contact between more or less advanced civilization is reminiscent of [[Arkady and Boris Strugatsky|Strugatsky's]] ''[[Roadside Picnic]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Esensja: 'Odczytywanie światów Jacka Dukaja' – Grzegorz Rogaczewski |url=https://esensja.pl/ksiazka/publicystyka/tekst.html?id=326&strona=4 |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Esensja.pl |language=pl-PL}}</ref> Beatrycze Nowicka reviewed the book for ''Esensja'' in 2017. She concluded that the novel still holds up well despite 15 years since it debuted. She praises the book for interesting discussion of various scientific concepts, as well as world building, although she criticized the main character as "irritatingly passive".<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://wydawnictwoliterackie.pl/produkt/1408/extensa Official book website] by the publisher
* [http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2012/03/09/extensa-by-jacek-dukaj/ Detailed summary of ''Extensa'' in English]
* {{in lang|pl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20070429130750/http://dukaj.fantastyka.art.pl/utwory/utwory.html Book fragment]
* Reviews: [http://www.culture.pl/en/culture/artykuly/dz_dukaj_extensa culture.pl], [https://web.archive.org/web/20070505052655/http://dukaj.fantastyka.art.pl/recenzje/Extensa1MO.html Nowa Fantastyka] (please note that the reviews incorrectly describe the post-humans as aliens),
* {{in lang|pl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20070501043743/http://dukaj.fantastyka.art.pl/bibliogr/Extensa.html Description of the book on Jacek Dukaj's official page]
{{Jacek Dukaj}}
[[Category:Polish science fiction novels]]
[[Category:2002 Polish novels]]
[[Category:2002 science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Wydawnictwo Literackie books]]
[[Category:Transhumanism in fiction]]
[[Category:Jacek Dukaj]]