As She Climbed Across the Table summary

The Mysterious Void

In As She Climbed Across the Table by Jonathan Lethem, we are introduced to the enigmatic concept of Lack, a void created in a laboratory at the fictional university of Beauchamp. Dr. Alice Coombs, a particle physicist, is part of the team that creates this void, and it is her boyfriend, Dr. Philip Engstrand, who gives it the name Lack. The void, however, is not just any scientific discovery; it begins to exhibit peculiar characteristics that baffle the scientists.

As the story unfolds, Lack starts to display a strange form of selectivity. It seems to be drawn to certain objects, such as a pomegranate and a light bulb, while rejecting others, like a bow tie and an ice axe. This behavior leads Alice to anthropomorphize Lack, attributing it with a personality, an act that Philip finds increasingly disconcerting.

The Love Triangle

As the scientists continue to study Lack, its peculiar behavior becomes a source of tension between Alice and Philip. Philip feels increasingly alienated by Alice's obsession with Lack, which he sees as a scientific curiosity gone too far. He is further troubled when Alice starts to spend more time with another colleague, Dr. Mallory Wicks, who shares her fascination with Lack.

Philip's sense of inadequacy is compounded when he realizes that Alice is developing a romantic interest in Lack. She believes that Lack is a perfect entity, devoid of the flaws and complexities that characterize human relationships. This realization drives Philip to desperate measures, as he tries to win back Alice's affection, even attempting to communicate with Lack in an effort to understand it.

The Unraveling of Reality

As Philip's relationship with Alice deteriorates, his obsession with Lack intensifies. He becomes convinced that Lack is not just a scientific oddity but a sentient being with the power to manipulate reality. Philip's growing paranoia leads him to believe that Lack is actively working to keep him and Alice apart, and he becomes determined to destroy it.

His quest to rid the world of Lack leads Philip to a series of surreal and increasingly dangerous actions. As Philip's grip on reality loosens, the line between science and his own psychology blurs, and the story takes on an increasingly surreal tone. The narrative becomes a psychological exploration of love, obsession, and the nature of reality.

The Climactic Conclusion

In the climactic conclusion of As She Climbed Across the Table, Philip's obsession with Lack reaches its peak. He becomes convinced that Lack is a parallel universe, and he devises a plan to enter the void in a desperate attempt to win back Alice. In a surreal and ambiguous ending, the narrative leaves us questioning the nature of reality and the power of our own perceptions.

In the end, As She Climbed Across the Table is a thought-provoking exploration of love and obsession, set against the backdrop of a mind-bending scientific discovery. Lethem's narrative challenges our understanding of reality and the boundaries between science and the human experience, leaving us with a tale that is as perplexing as it is compelling.