English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

In this article, I propose to consider the  holobiontic figure  as a starting point for examining how literary narratives represent the holobiosis paradigm and its impact on narrative structure. A body of recent science fiction works is challenging the long-standing narrative of microbes as “bad germs” and the ever-evolving plot of the pandemic apocalypse by depicting humans as intricately interwoven with their microbial symbionts. The notion of the holobiontic figure, in this regard, serves as a point of reference for characters in the process of recognising themselves as holobionts. This article conducts a detailed exploration of the narratological aspects of the holobiontic figure through a reading of Joan Slonczewski’s novel  Brain Plague . On the basis of this novel, two essential characteristics of the holobiontic figure are proposed and discussed:  multiscalarity  and  multi-agency . With this, the article aims to provide answers to the question what happens when the scientific concept leaves the scientific discourse and moves between materials: how does it relate to the social world, what structures does it contest, and what conflicts does it provoke?

The Holobiontic Figure: Narrative Complexities of Holobiont Characters in Joan Slonczewski’s Brain Plague