The Oil Stain Effect, by Jordi Escoin. Infestation, by Eduard Martí
Rating: ★★★★★
“The Oil Spill Effect” by Jordi Escoin is an intelligent narrative mechanism: the triangle between Marc, Núria and Irene unfolds within a time-travel plot built piece by piece, like a puzzle the reader must learn to assemble. It is not easy—details may slip by at first—but it is also mentally stimulating and engaging. The prose is simple yet clear, which is often the hardest thing to achieve in writing.
Meanwhile, Infestation by Eduard Martí bursts in with the voice of a fifteen-year-old girl, as fresh as it is unsettling, shaping a bizarre and original story that challenges conventions. It is fun and highly readable.
The contrast between the two narratives (both set in Andorra—one serious and complex, the other light-hearted) enriches the volume and makes it a bold yet innovative proposal.
The cover, designed by Elsa Velasco, blends the arguments of both stories along with a “bagaleu,” the award thanks to which both works have been published (winner and finalist).
