In this remarkably original introductory collection, Daniel Orozco directs the reader through the undisclosed lives and ethical way of life of bridge painters, office temps, men with obesity, and warehouse workers. He reveals the underground bliss of late night store trips for cookie binges, brilliant data entry, and a banished dictator’s irregular piss on the United States embassy. A love affair flourishes between two police officers in the objectively written pages of a police force blotter, during a quake, the perception of the whole state of California trembles for examination, a new staff first day tour at the workplace comprises explanation of other employees private beliefs and actions. Lights out by Himmer Steve revolves around the work life of Clark. He does not like his position on the job because he believes he has been enclosed in an environment unbearable for him, and his job has robbed him off his comfort in life. There is much alienation and an extremely uncomfortable climate at the workplace, and employees have to bear with the conditions, however much they dislike them
The new worker in Daniel Orozco’s “Orientation is irrelevant to him. The story conveys a sense of office hostility that would make Karl Marx get embarrassed. When the story begins, however, without an introduction, the opening lines place us straight under the insights of ludicrously bizarre employment conditions. The new worker is in a quick manner shown the offices as well as each person’s cubicle while he is pointed out his cubicle, and that of his workmate. He is further shown the telephone and instructed never answer his phone, and rather let the voicemail system do the answering except for emergencies with permission from the supervisor. When they get to other employees, each employee is described using their personal weaknesses and the new staff is assured not to attach too much to the temp receptionist because they leave at a high rate (Orozco, Daniel).
In the story lights out, Clark has risen to high ranks through promotions in the Horizon Company, starting in the mailroom to filling and records to public relations and now vice president of community outreach. These promotions make Clark a permanent employee in Horizon because they justify his work relationship with the organization. For years he was rising through this ranks, he did not realize he was omitting other chances of growth, and he realizes it when it is too late to change a thing. Out of office environment is quite different from the real world. His office has windows that do not reveal what the world is experiencing. If we were to connect this with his life, it would be a perfect fit.
In both stories, each employee is fighting to feel comfortable at the workplace. It is the first day at work yet the new employee is left terrified about survival. On the other hand, Clark working environment is becoming unbearable. While looking through his office window, the falcons chasing smaller birds and the prey smash unwillingly on the invisible glass window, eventually not benefiting the predator or itself. He compares this with his life, where his positions at work have come about through flowing with the current. Taking him to places he does not desire to be at.
The new employee is warned that he must pace his work. This means that he has to work extremely hard. We also see Clark working unusually late to cover for lost time in the morning events. The two employees suffer quietly and persevere their suffering (Stull, Lauren).
Unlike in the story Orientation, where working is fixed for eight hours, in lights out people can work for more hours. Clark leaves the office late after dark.
Works Cited
Orozco, Daniel. Orientation: And Other Stories. Macmillan, 2011.
Stull, Lauren. “The Road Often Taken.” ESSAI 8.1 (2011): 41.
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