Remarkably Bright Creatures (novel)
2022 novel by Shelby Van Pelt
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Remarkably Bright Creatures is a novel by American author Shelby Van Pelt. It was published in May 2022 by Ecco Press. It has been on the New York Times hardcover fiction best-seller list multiple times.[1]
| |
| Author | Shelby Van Pelt |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Ecco |
Publication date | May 3, 2022 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN | 9780063204157 |
It was awarded the 2023 McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize by the Writer's Center.[2]
Remarkably Bright Creatures is a story of the friendship between Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, and Tova, a widow who cleans at the aquarium where Marcellus lives.[1]
Plot
An aquarium caretaker who has befriended a Giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus takes in a 30-year-old man and gets him a job as a maintenance worker at the aquarium.
Characters
- Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus held captive at the Sowell Bay Aquarium near Puget Sound.
- Tova Sullivan is a 70 year old widow who cleans the aquarium at night and becomes friends with Marcellus.
- Cameron Cassmore is a luckless 30 year old on the verge of financial ruin, also known for his remarkable intellect. He befriends Tova when he moves to Sowell Bay and takes a maintenance job at the aquarium.
Sales
The book was a success, reportedly selling over two million copies and going through 30 reprintings since its 2022 debut.[3]
Film adaptation
A film based on the novel was released May 8, 2026, on Netflix, with actress Sally Field starring as Tova Sullivan. The film was directed by Olivia Newman and produced by Anonymous Content.[4]
Awards
- Finalist for the 2023 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year
- 2023 McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize[2]