Colony by Annika Norlin

Ants live in communities, where everyone helps out. Everyone has a task for the community . . . Everyone is needed. No one has to know everything.

One morning, Emelie can’t get out of bed. Her therapist calls it burnout. Her neighbour calls it the tiny work death. She needs to get away from the brightness of the city lights, the noise of the people, the constant demands, so she goes to the woods, pitches her tent overlooking the lake, breathes. And that’s where she sees them, the Colony-

A man with a sad face.
A tall, strong, older woman.
A woman in her forties, squatting to examine an ant hill.
Another woman in her forties, short, long hair, ample bosom, good posture – the leader?
An extremely beautiful man.
A slightly younger man, in a Helly Hansen jacket and trucker hat.
And a teenage boy, standing a little way from the group.

Who are they? What do they mean to each other? And why do they behave in such strange ways- thanking the fish they eat, sleeping under a tree, singing off key, dancing without music, never letting the boy fully in?

As Emelie becomes more and more drawn to the Colony, she begins to re-evaluate her own lifestyle. Wouldn’t it be nice to live as these seven do? Apart from society and its expectations. But groups always have their dynamics and roles. Which are you? And what if you want to change?

‘Swedish writer Norlin’s remarkable debut revolves around a commune in the Swedish countryside … Norlin’s character work is superior, bringing each Colony member to vivid life and examining in nuanced detail how they interact. It’s an impressive tale of a found family.’
-Publishers Weekly

‘In this elegant, darkly funny, and deeply touching story about group dynamics and our need for belonging, the author once again shows she’s a receptive and warm depicter of human life. This is a novel to take to your heart and warm yourself upon.’
-Svenska Dagbladet

‘A brilliant debut.’
-DN

About the Author: Annika Norlin (Author)
Born in the northern parts of Sweden, Annika Norlin is a writer and musician. She has won numerous awards for her lyrically driven indie pop in her own name, and in projects Hello Saferide and S kert! After searching for her authorial voice for decades, she finally found it in 2020 when she published her debut book, a collection of short stories. Colony is her debut novel. It has won several awards in Sweden and will be published in fifteen languages.

Alice E. Olsson (Author)
Alice E. Olsson is a literary translator, writer, and editor working across Swedish and English. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Comparative Literature at University College London, specialising in literature and human rights.

04 Mar 2025
 

Colony by Annika Norlin ISBN 9781761381294