‘Twist’ Explores Sabotage, Repair and the Hidden Cables Connecting Us

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KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 11 April 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

National Book Award-winning author Colum McCann says he chooses what to write about based on what he most wants to know. His latest novel “Twist” springs from his fascination with the underwater cables, no thicker than a garden hose, that carry some 95% of the world’s telecommunications. McCann’s protagonist is a journalist who goes asea to investigate a cable break off the coast of Africa after the Congo River floods. We talk to McCann about themes of sabotage and repair – both in the abyssal zone he writes about and in our lives. Guest: Colum McCann, author, “Twist”; His other novels include “Apeirogon,” “Transatlantic” and “Let the Great World Spin,” which won a National Book Award. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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1:06.5	Column McCann says he chooses what to write about based on what he most wants to know.
1:11.8	His latest novel, Twist, comes from his fascination with the underwater fiber optic cables,
1:17.4	no thicker than a garden hose, that carry more than 95% of the world's data and communications.
1:24.3	McCann's protagonist is a journalist who investigates a cable break off the coast of Africa.
1:29.3	We'll talk to McCann about breaks, attempts at repair, and sabotage, both in the Abyssal Zone and in our lives.
	...

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