The Fermata was published by Random House in 1994. Arno Strine is a temp worker who possesses the ability to stop time — a power he calls “the Fold” or “the Fermata” (the musical term for a held pause). He uses this power almost exclusively for sexual purposes: undressing frozen women, examining their bodies, writing pornographic fiction that he leaves for them to find.
The novel is Baker’s most deliberate provocation. Arno is not violent — he never touches anyone without their consent within real time — but his use of the Fold is a sustained violation of privacy, and Baker refuses to let the reader ignore this. The novel asks: if you could stop time with no consequences, what would you actually do? Baker’s answer — that male sexual obsession, given unlimited power, would produce exactly what Arno produces — is honest in a way that makes many readers deeply uncomfortable.
Critics divided sharply: some read the novel as a brave exploration of male sexuality’s darkest currents, others as a 340-page rationalization of voyeurism. Baker himself seemed aware of the problem — the novel is structured so that Arno’s behavior gradually escalates, forcing the reader to confront their own complicity in finding earlier violations acceptable.
Collecting The Fermata
First edition (Random House, New York, 1994): Hardcover with dust jacket.
Market values:
- First edition, fine/fine: $20–$50
- Very good/very good: $10–$25
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation.
Time Stops
The Fermata (1994) is Baker’s most controversial novel — the story of Arno Strine, a temp worker who can stop time and uses this power primarily to undress women and observe them. The novel is Baker’s most explicit work and was widely condemned as misogynist, though Baker argued it was a frank exploration of male fantasy and voyeurism. The novel’s intelligence is not in question — Baker’s prose remains characteristically brilliant — but the ethical implications of Arno’s power troubled many readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this misogynist? The debate continues. Baker’s defenders argue that the novel honestly examines male desire rather than endorsing it, and that Arno is presented as pathetic rather than admirable. Critics counter that the novel’s detailed, appreciative descriptions of the undressed women undermine any ironic intent.