13 October 2026
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Story Siqhamo Hlubi Jama
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Prof Rick de Villiers, Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of the Free State, has published his debut novel, Blot, through Batis Books.
A novel that has been years in the making is about to hit bookshelves across South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Rick de Villiers, Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of the Free State, has published his debut novel, Blot, through Batis Books. The release marks a significant milestone for a scholar whose work has long been recognised in literary criticism and academic research and now extends to creative writing.
A rewarding creative undertaking
For Prof De Villiers, seeing his novel published brings a sense of fulfilment after years of dedicated work.
Reflecting on the journey, he notes that Blot was written over approximately four years – often in the limited time available while balancing academic responsibilities. He describes the experience of seeing the book in readers' hands as immensely gratifying.
While academic scholarship and fiction writing may appear to occupy different spaces, Prof De Villiers believes they share a common foundation.
“Writing fiction and reading it closely are both acts of sustained attention,” he observes, emphasising a skill that he argues is increasingly rare in contemporary society.
A story without easy answers
At the centre of Blot is the outgoing director of a censorship bureau. Although the setting and period remain deliberately unspecified, readers may recognise echoes of historical experiences and broader societal questions.
Rather than offering a clear moral lesson, Prof De Villiers explains that the novel invites readers to engage with complex human experiences and motivations. Themes such as censorship, betrayal, and the ambiguity of human behaviour emerge throughout the narrative, but he is careful to avoid prescribing conclusions.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies,
Prof Vasu Reddy, praised the achievement, stating: “Universities thrive when knowledge creation extends beyond traditional boundaries and finds expression through powerful storytelling, art, and creative practice.
Blot reminds us that the most enduring questions are often not those with easy answers, but those that invite deeper reflection on human motives, power, and responsibility.”
The novel’s exploration of censorship and power resonates in a world where debates around freedom of expression, information, and public discourse continue to shape societies across the globe.
Creative work beyond institutional boundaries
The publication of Blot also highlights the role of creative practice within a research-intensive university environment.
Prof De Villiers acknowledges the support he received from
Dr Francois Smith and
Prof Henning Pieterse, who lead the Creative Writing MA programme at the University of the Free State. He credits their guidance, together with the contributions of fellow students in the programme, as invaluable to the development of the novel.
At the same time, he maintains that the significance of creative work extends beyond formal institutions.
According to Prof De Villiers, art has shaped human experience long before universities recognised its value. He argues that creative work offers insights that do not always fit neatly within established frameworks of knowledge yet still enrich intellectual and scholarly life.
Championing South African literature
Although reluctant to speculate about the novel’s impact, Prof De Villiers hopes readers who enjoy Blot will also discover other contemporary South African authors published by Batis Books. He points to works by celebrated writers including Antjie Krog, Ivan Vladislavić, and Athambile Masola.
The novel has also received praise from Nobel laureate
J. M. Coetzee, who
writes: “De Villiers’s hero comes from a long line of petty bureaucratic tyrants, but his Nabokov-flavoured prose is a joy to read.”
The publication represents another example of how creative scholarship at the University of the Free State contributes to South Africa’s cultural and literary landscape, fostering original thought, artistic expression, and meaningful engagement with contemporary issues.
We will share further notices in upcoming university communication channels to confirm the times for the Bloemfontein launch events associated with the book’s release.