Orélien abandons effort to document his novel’s origins amid AI allegations
Orélien has ended an effort to assemble material supporting his denial that AI was used to write his novel, according to his Quebec publisher. The decision leaves the allegation unresolved. The publisher says it cannot verify the writing process before receiving the manuscript, while continuing sales and planning another printing in the absence of conclusive findings.
Artificial Intelligence··Midday
The publisher confirms the effort has ended
Orélien, the author whose novel C'était ça ou mourir faces allegations of AI use, has stopped assembling material intended to support his denial, according to his publisher Éditions du Boréal. The publisher accepted the decision, co-director Renaud Roussel said in comments to the Canadian Press, while expressing a wish for definitive answers. The author did not immediately answer questions for that report. The abandoned effort leaves the AI allegation unresolved.[1]
The manuscript arrived after the claimed early drafts
Orélien has said he started work in 2017 and wrote an initial draft exceeding 300 pages in 2019. Boréal says it received the manuscript on 12 September 2025 and cannot verify the earlier writing process. The documentation effort announced in September was intended to establish that history through earlier drafts. An earlier decision removed the novel from the Goncourt selection.[1]
Sales continue as a new printing is planned
Boréal paused promotion in September, citing the author's wellbeing, and restated during the week its intention to keep selling the book while conclusive findings were absent. A new printing was planned for the following week. The publisher reported declining sales, while retailer Renaud-Bray had described no significant change earlier that week. The Canadian Press's account brings together those differing assessments without establishing a common sales total.[1]
