According to ActualItte, the Future Library project in Oslo has added manuscripts by authors Tommy Orange and Amitav Ghosh to a growing collection of unpublished works sealed until the year 2114. Developed by artist Katie Paterson, the century-long public art initiative tasks one writer each year with contributing an original, unread text that remains locked away in the Silent Room at the Deichman Bjørvika public library until the next century.
The Ritual Transmission in Nordmarka Forest
Tommy Orange and Amitav Ghosh traveled to the Nordmarka forest north of Oslo to complete the official handover ceremony on June 28, according to ActualItte. Orange delivered the chosen contribution for 2024 following a previous delay, while Ghosh submitted the designated text for 2025. Their manuscripts joined a roster that already includes works by Margaret Atwood, David Mitchell, Sjón, Elif Shafak, Han Kang, Karl Ove Knausgård, Ocean Vuong, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Judith Schalansky, and Valeria Luiselli.
How the Century-Long Literary Time Capsule Works
Established in 2014 by Scottish artist Katie Paterson as part of the Slow Space public art program, Future Library operates on a strict hundred-year timeline. One thousand Norway spruce trees were planted in the Nordmarka forest during the project’s launch. According to project parameters reported by ActualItte, those trees will be harvested in 2114 to supply the paper needed to finally print all one hundred compiled manuscripts.
Did you know? The interior of the Silent Room at Deichman Bjørvika features one hundred concentric wooden layers representing the growth rings of a tree trunk, alongside one hundred illuminated drawers designated for each future manuscript.
Safeguarding the Unread Manuscripts Until 2114
The operational continuity of the project relies on formal agreements overseen by the Future Library Trust and the City of Oslo. These institutions guarantee the physical protection of the forest, the specialized architectural installation, and the archived documents. With twelve texts now secured in the illuminated drawers and 88 slots remaining empty, visitors can view the authors’ names and titles—such as Margaret Atwood’s Scribbler Moon and David Mitchell’s From Me Flows What You Call Time—while the contents remain completely hidden from readers and selection committees alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Future Library books be published?
The collected works are scheduled for printing and public release in the year 2114.
Where are the manuscript titles displayed?
The titles and author names are housed inside the Silent Room at the Deichman Bjørvika public library in Oslo.
How many authors have contributed so far?
Twelve authors have submitted manuscripts to the project out of the one hundred planned contributions.
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