Mendoza goes global. This leaves Bogotá for Europe and weaves in conspiracy theory, music theory, and apocalyptic prophecy. It’s ambitious, sometimes bloated, but contains some of his most beautiful writing. 8/10 4. Apocalipsis (Apocalypse) – 2020 A short, intense punch. Set during the COVID-19 lockdown. A writer alone in his apartment slowly realizes that the plague isn’t just a virus — it’s a symptom of a metaphysical collapse. Strange graffiti appears, neighbors vanish, and time loops.
❌ Avoid if you need plot twists, clear good/evil, or uplifting resolutions. Mario Mendoza is not for everyone, but for his readers, he’s addictive. His best novel ( Satanás ) is a modern Latin American classic. His most unique ( City of Thresholds ) is a cult masterpiece. If you start with Satanás and find it too grim, skip the rest. If it hooks you, you’ll devour his entire bibliography like a creature from one of his own sewers. novelas de mario mendoza
Satanás is not an easy read, but it’s essential. Mendoza writes evil not as a cartoon but as a logical, terrifying extension of loneliness and fanaticism. The prose is lean, fast, and brutal. Winner of the Premio Biblioteca Breve (Seix Barral). 9/10 2. La ciudad de los umbrales (City of Thresholds) – 2018 The cult hit. This is the most “Mendoza” of his novels. An alcoholic literature professor discovers a hidden subculture in Bogotá’s sewers: a sect that worships an ancient spider deity, “The Eater of Stars.” As he descends into paranoia, reality starts to crack. Mendoza goes global