Oslast

Oslast is a fictional entity appearing in the works of author M. John Harrison. It is not a physical place or a defined character but rather a conceptual element that represents a state of being or a particular kind of experience. Harrison uses the term "Oslast" to evoke a sense of the uncanny, the sublime, or a profound, often unsettling, encounter with reality. It suggests a moment of overwhelming perception where the ordinary rules of existence seem to bend or break, leading to a feeling of profound disorientation and wonder. The precise nature of Oslast is deliberately ambiguous, allowing readers to project their own interpretations onto the concept. It functions as a thematic device within Harrison's narratives, contributing to their characteristic dreamlike and existential atmosphere. The term's elusiveness is a key part of its power, resisting easy definition and encouraging contemplation of the limits of human understanding and experience.