The Queue

Vladimir Sorokin · b. 1955 · Russia

Originally Очередь (Russian)

Why it matters

An entire novel told only in overheard fragments of dialogue among people waiting in an endless, purposeless Soviet queue. Sorokin's formally radical debut, a portrait of late-Soviet life built from pure voice.

At a glance

Composed entirely of unattributed dialogue fragments, with no narration to orient the reader.