Sam’s Orchid
Two stories that depict a world where real lives have been defined by movies, reality hinges on fiction and, in many respects, life is a metaphor for film.
Two human adventures marked by a monumental fall from grace, followed by a search for redemption and salvation where movies, for all their dreamlike aura, reveal a potently cathartic virtue. In one case, it will be the mystique of the New Wave of French cinema, endlessly intriguing in its amoral heroes' insane quest for survival, and in the other, the obsessional character of 1970s Italian movies, focused on the unveiling of sex, its side effects and its by-products as the main impulse directing human actions.
“I was permitted to read Sam’s Orchid in its manuscript form. It was a kindness and a privilege. It was also painful. Every few pages I seemed to have stopped reading to beat my head on my desk. Despite our history, it was hard to believe that English is not Daniel Soha’s first language. There is lovely poetry here.”
Thomas Scott
Poet
“Sam's Orchid is a tour de force, providing as it does deeply intellectual/historical perceptions of pop culture and, in particular, porn through a tightly-controlled narrative. In my view, Soha is a writer and thinker of the first rank, and my interest in what he has to say rarely flags. […] The novel is at the same time expansive and self-contained and doesn't need any introductory material to set up or introduce its character studies or themes. Sam's story, and that of her paramour(s) is consistently compelling and rarely repetitive. […] I will say that, for the most part, Soha handles gender issues quite skillfully, no easy task given the gap between the periods in which Sam's art and life unwind and his own, more contemporary position as a writer.”
J. Andrew Wainwright
Writer and scholar
“Your manuscript was brought to our attention at the latest Editorial Board meeting when we discussed the potential of its publication. Having read all the reports and taken note of the Editors’ opinions we can confidently state that your work was found to be a captivating, thought-provoking and highly contemporary read. Throughout, your exploration of obsession and cinema is highly compelling, Peter and Samantha strong leads and conduits for these ideas. The evolution of each character is well-paced; combining a fascination with a compulsion that drags the reader to the edge of their seat beyond the final moments. The authorial voice is transfixing, richly realizing the characters, and each revealed layer of their evolving journey further engrosses the reader. Supported by a nuanced and complex cast and a layered narrative, ‘Sam's Orchid’ is undoubtedly a well-written and crafted novel worthy of attention. It is the Board of Editors’ belief the work could have a place in the highly competitive genre.”
Excerpt from a letter of acceptance by publisher “XXX”, dated May 8, 2024.
(The offer was declined by the author.)