BIO
I am a Dutch writer and linguist (Ph.D.) My debut novel Aigou was published in 2026 with Nijgh & Van Ditmar publishers. My stories and essays were published in Dutch and Flemish literary magazines Kluger Hans, Armada, De Optimist, Tirade and papieren helden. In 2024 my short story Prefrontaal, (Prefrontal) won the Great Lowlands Writing Award, and was published in NRC newspaper. An overview of recent publications and reviews can be found in my Linktree.
AIGOU
Novel
He can sit, give paws and cuddle, but he can also record his own thoughts. Aigou even understands his owner, but does the reverse hold true? Saar Schokking, about to turn 40, received this robot dog from her absent father, and has other things on her mind than looking after this little creature. She isn’t even a dog person. Saar is obsessed with her linguistic research, and is at odds with her mother. Meanwhile, everyone around Aigou seems oblivious to the fact that he is just like them: a living being, full of hope and expectations. But if he isn’t looked after in time, he’ll have to go back to the factory – and he wants to avoid that at all costs. ‘Aigou understands you,’ goes the slogan, but who understands Aigou?
Aigou, Nijgh & Van Ditmar, 2026
AIGOU – REVIEWS
Letterenfonds. On behalf of the Dutch foundation of literature, a jury selected Aigou as this year’s debut novel for the literary tote bag of 2026. The jury report about the novel: A daring and successful literary experiment by a clever new voice in Dutch literature.
NRC newspaper. “From the perspective of a little robot dog, Sarah van Vliet has written a gripping and insightful story about AI set in an everyday context. “If only I’d been made a bit less customer-focused,” the little dog sighs – a sentiment that is both endearing and ominous at the same time.” Thomas de Veen in a positive (****) review: Aigou is a sharp and incisively written story that really stays with you, in which you can sense the author’s wit and delight: a lovely book about that poor, adorable little dog. One that really comes to life for you.
Vers Twee (Cultural platform). Isa Sengers in an elaborate and favorable review: I soon began to feel sorry for the abandoned, misunderstood little dog. The language gives the Aigou a sense of consciousness, and this consciousness aroused empathy.
De Lage Landen (The Low Countries). On this Dutch/Flemish cultural platform Joost Vandenberghe writes a positive review: Aigou is a story about how people themselves are worn down like machines, about the influence of parents and loved ones, about work, and, of course, the ambiguous influence of AI.
AIGOU – FRAGMENT
Read the first few chapters, translated by Jane Hedley-Prole, here:
SELECTED OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Women watching
Essay
Art historian Josine de Bruyn Kops was director of Museum Gouda from 1976 to 1986. She carried out a progressive, feminist policy which proved important to a lot of female artists. Sarah van Vliet is her daughter. In this essay, she explores her mother’s directorship and view on art and feminism. (The booklet includes an English translation by Willem Groenewegen).
Proper Nouns and Pronouns
Ph.D. diss.
My dissertation in linguistics was written in English and published by LOT Publications.
Proper nouns and pronouns. The production of referential expressions in narrative discourse. This study aims to provide a comprehensive and cognitively plausible account of reference maintenance in narrative discourse production: the alternation of proper nouns and pronouns. It offers an analysis of the grammatical and discourse factors affecting referential choice in narrative discourse production.
Short stories and essays
More publications and reviews can be found on my Linktree (in Dutch)
CONTACT
To order my booklet Women watching, or for any other queries, you can contact me at: smk.van.vliet [AT] gmail.com. For translation rights, please contact Martijn Prins, m.prins [AT] singeluitgeverijen.nl.