In Twist, his first novel since the acclaimed Apeirogon (2019), Colum McCann plunges readers into the murky depths of the Atlantic Ocean, where the world’s communication infrastructure lies hidden in fragile glass tubes. But this is no simple techno-thriller—it’s a profound exploration of the connections that sustain us and the forces that can sever them completely.
The novel follows Anthony Fennell, an Irish journalist and struggling novelist who embarks on a cable repair ship, the Georges Lecointe, to write about the little-known world of undersea communications. Fennell is immediately drawn to the ship’s enigmatic Chief of Mission, John Conway, and his charismatic partner Zanele, a South African actress on the cusp of international fame. What begins as a straightforward journalistic assignment evolves into a complex meditation on truth, connection, and the human capacity for both repair and destruction.
McCann’s prose is characteristically lyrical yet precise, creating a narrative that ebbs and flows like the ocean itself. The novel is divided into three parts, with a structure that mirrors the fractured nature of its themes. We move from the initial journey at sea to a shattering disruption, and finally to a contemplative epilogue that attempts to make sense of what came before – though complete understanding remains elusive, as it often does in life.
A Masterclass in Literary Architecture
The genius of Twist lies in Colum McCann’s ability to weave multiple storylines without ever losing the central thread. The novel operates on several levels: as a character study of Conway, a meditation on our digital infrastructure, an exploration of post-apartheid South Africa, and a thriller about eco-terrorism. Each narrative strand is meticulously crafted, with McCann expertly controlling the release of information.
The author demonstrates remarkable technical knowledge about undersea cables – those “tiny tubes at the bottom of the ocean” carrying “billions of pulses of light” – while never allowing the technical elements to overshadow the human drama. This balance creates a rare reading experience that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
McCann’s decision to tell the story through Fennell’s first-person narration is particularly effective. As an outsider, Fennell serves as our guide into this unfamiliar world, his perceptions colored by his own biases and failings. His voice – self-deprecating, occasionally unreliable, and deeply human – provides an accessible entry point into the novel’s complex themes.
Characters of Depth and Mystery
The central trio of characters forms a fascinating triangle, each representing different aspects of our modern condition:
- Anthony Fennell – A middle-aged writer struggling with alcoholism and artistic stagnation, Fennell embodies the search for meaning in a fractured world. His journey from passive observer to active participant mirrors our own potential for growth.
- John Conway/Alistair Banks – The enigmatic Conway is the novel’s most compelling creation. A gifted freediver and engineer with a mysterious past, he moves between identities with unsettling ease. His transformation from repairer to destroyer forms the novel’s emotional core.
- Zanele Ombassa – An actress and environmental activist whose star is rising, Zanele represents both artistic expression and political awakening. Her evolution from Conway’s partner to an independent global figure captures the novel’s themes of connection and separation.
The supporting cast is equally well-drawn, from the diverse crew of the Georges Lecointe to Veliane, the mathematician-turned-cook Fennell meets in Ghana. Each character feels fully realized, their interactions revealing McCann’s deep understanding of human nature.
Themes That Resonate Beyond the Page
Twist by Colum McCann explores several interconnected themes that resonate powerfully in our current moment:
- Connection and Disconnection – The novel constantly juxtaposes our hyperconnected world with profound personal isolation. The cables that physically connect continents cannot bridge the emotional distances between people.
- Repair and Destruction – Conway’s journey from repairer to saboteur raises profound questions about when systems become so broken that they must be dismantled rather than fixed.
- Truth and Narrative – Fennell’s struggle to piece together Conway’s story highlights the elusive nature of truth and our human need to create coherent narratives from fragments.
- Environmental Crisis – Through Zanele’s activism and Conway’s ultimate actions, the novel addresses our relationship with the natural world and the unsustainable systems we’ve created.
- Identity and Reinvention – Conway’s multiple identities reflect our modern capacity to reshape ourselves, while questioning how much of our core selves remains constant.
Strengths and Weaknesses
McCann’s prose is a marvel throughout – precise, lyrical, and capable of rendering both technical processes and emotional states with equal clarity. Particularly impressive are his descriptions of freediving, which capture both the physical sensations and altered consciousness of deep-water immersion. When Conway dives, we feel “the first squeeze of the deep on his body” and experience how “his lungs small. His throat cut off. Sinus, air, depth. So much space pressing against his skin.”
The novel’s structure, while ambitious, occasionally creates challenges. The significant time jump between Conway’s disappearance in Ghana and Fennell’s eventual meeting with Zanele in London creates a narrative gap that some readers might find frustrating. Similarly, the epilogue, while beautifully written, leaves several plot threads deliberately unresolved.
Some readers might also find the novel’s pacing uneven. The meticulous detail of life aboard the Georges Lecointe in the first section gives way to a more fragmented, elliptical narrative in the second and third parts. While this shift effectively mirrors Conway’s disintegration, it may challenge readers looking for more conventional storytelling.
A Literary Achievement That Lingers
Twist continues Colum McCann’s tradition of ambitious, globe-spanning novels that combine historical detail with profound explorations of human connection. Like Let the Great World Spin (2009) and TransAtlantic (2013), it weaves together disparate narrative strands to create a powerful tapestry of modern life.
What distinguishes Twist from Colum McCann’s earlier work is its more intimate focus. Despite its international settings and contemporary themes, this is ultimately a novel about three people and the forces that bring them together and drive them apart. The result is perhaps his most emotionally affecting work since Let the Great World Spin.
Readers familiar with McCann’s previous novels will recognize his signature techniques: the lyrical prose, the narrative fragments that gradually cohere, the moments of unexpected connection across time and space. Yet Twist never feels derivative – it represents a writer continuing to push the boundaries of his craft while maintaining his distinctive voice.
Final Verdict: A Profound Exploration of Our Connected Age
Twist by Colum McCann is a remarkable achievement – a novel that uses the physical infrastructure of our digital world to explore the more elusive connections between human beings. It combines technical precision with emotional depth, creating a reading experience that is both intellectually stimulating and deeply moving.
McCann’s novel reminds us that beneath the ocean’s surface – like beneath the surface of our lives – lie both incredible fragility and surprising resilience. The undersea cables that seem so vulnerable to disruption are, in fact, constantly being repaired and maintained by dedicated crews. Similarly, our human connections, though easily severed, contain the possibility of repair.
For readers seeking literary fiction that engages with contemporary issues while maintaining a timeless emotional core, Twist is essential reading. It confirms McCann’s place as one of our most thoughtful and accomplished novelists, capable of illuminating the complexities of modern life with rare insight and compassion.
While not without its occasional structural challenges, Twist by Colum McCann ultimately succeeds as both a compelling narrative and a profound meditation on what it means to be connected in the twenty-first century. Like the ocean itself, it contains depths that reward repeated exploration.
