Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
I'm doing it to encourage wider reading - kids (and adults) get stuck pointlessly in genre cul-de-sacs when there's so much out there that they'd enjoy if they gave it a chance.
*What book are you reading? (part 2)
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Vonnegut is in the sci fi section in my local library.Always found it daft that Atwood, Vonnegut and Ballard are never found there.
I'm degenre-ing the library now anyway in favour of one big fiction section.
As was The Daylight Gate by Jeanette Winterson. What the living fuck?
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
She has done some scifi hasn't she?
She might have done, but TDG ain't it! It's about fucking witch trials AND set in the past!
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
Stone Gods. Good feminist slanted sci fi. Up there with Maul and some of the polish third wave stuff
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Sure, but it might explain why that book was found in the sci-fi section
maya
timewasting fool (in every universe)
I only know of Stanislaw Lem re: Polish SF, any recommendations?
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
not huge on it myself dude! I can recommend this though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Door_into_Ocean
Joan Slonczewski
I thought it was great, way outside of my normal ground within the sci fi tradition, and a simple tale told well
e2a
I also have it on epub/mobi if you want an ecopy.
maya
timewasting fool (in every universe)
Ooh- ta!
Name sounds familiar, I think she was on a list of feminist SF writers someone recommended once... Will check it out. Love finding unusual SF writers, so much of the less good stuff feels all the same...Apparently Polish fantastic fiction have long roots- Try "the Manuscript Found In Saragossa" by Jan Potocki, written by a rather eccentric balloon-faring 17th century nobleman who committed suicide by shooting himselfwith a silver bullet fashioned from his own teapot because he thought he had turned into a werewolf!
The novel is among the strangest I've ever read, all stories-within-stories-within-stories, and lots of satirising over picaresque clichés (in one of the stories, the person who tells it goes on and on for pages, only to cheerfully exclaim many pages later "at last, I was born!") It's a little bit like Arabian Nights in that it tells many stories and everything is intervowen and the narratives go back and forth, but here it's ghosts, sword duelling/chivalry gone wrong, mysterious Moorish sects, gypsies, outlaws, illusions, drunkenness, pirates, cabbalists, more drunkenness... It's a riddle wrapped in an enigma insidea conundrum. Or something like that. I love it, anyway...
(* NB: There's two different versions: The abridged version, and the real version, aka the full version. Get the last version, or it won't make any sense)
It's also been adapted into a film by Wojciech Has- the film is about as heavy-going as the book, but if you persevere and keep watching it will make sense eventually... Note that the ending in the book is very different and a bit more ambigious than in the film! But it's a great film in its own right- even the music is good... written by Penderecki, IIRC)
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DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
if you PM an addy I will send you an ecopy sis- might have to wait till saturday tho cos I think its on thecomp I have lentto a friend
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
oooh and I did enjoy the info there- I know the eastern section of europe has much great sci fi but I'm not really au fait with the body of work. Typical of my magpie approach to everything, I only pick at bits that look shiny to my mind
maya
timewasting fool (in every universe)
Know what you mean, nowt wrong with that, tbh. There's lots of not so good stuff in between, even Lem wrote some turds- I think it might be more characteristic of the modern mind, post-internet, to pick'n'mix more... ? Just cherrypicking the gems.
Our freedom of information is unprecedented and the world's knowledge base at our fingertips, then we end up with... kitten pics and porn
((( humanity )))DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
There are some great sci fi shorts with no defined date. Like I have said it is the tropes that place it. If you likeI'll try to explain further. Think I have an essay in me on this.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Go for it.
Truxta went all weird on us and I would like to hear an actual argument.
Just as long as you don't tell me that something set 40 years in the future isn't futuristic!
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
gaah thats just extrapolation- are there projects to build space elevators? no. Are we uplifting chimps with neuro-augs? no. Have we actually put a man anywhere else other than that one time on the moon! no
Jules Verne wrote about a cannon shooting a man into the aether and onto the moon ffs.
I will return to this later. I've got to go sign on. O cruel fate
Jules Verne wrote about a cannon shooting a man into the aether and onto the moon ffs.
I will return to this later. I've got to go sign on. O cruel fate
ringo
Macaroni cheese controller
Feels a bit silly to say that one of the most famous English language novelists is great, but have been completely blown away by just how good he was. Brilliant writing, great story, touching and funny characterisation, he really was the complete package. Can't wait to read more.
Back to my American novel/Pullitzer prize obsession now with The Sportswriter, the first of Richard Ford's trilogy.
I'm gearing up to do this Dickens thing as well having never read any of his books. I love my Kindle.
BoatieBird
Well-Known Member
Yeah, me too.
I've downloaded A Tale of Two Cities but haven't started on it yet.
I've had a cold so I've been comfort reading some Ruth Rendell.
Frances Lengel this might be another SciFi without spacewank for you.
I've read it mate and, although, thamks as ever, for the heads up - i can't as I enjoyed it much. It was entertaining enought but I was (and who in their right minds wouldn't be on) the side of the tower block dwellinig norries vs the port dwelling dandiprats? epreciacially when especially won by
cheatin/]
Plus Eyses Cusack, as he was being led to the rope, sholu' ev
Plus Eyses Cusack, as he was being led to the rope, sholu' ev
bit jenny chengs nose off and part of her upper lips - not misogyny, she just needed taking down
E2a and what about the sand pikeys-why where they fucking rastas?
Fuckin stupid thta was.
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Err, she's a prolific writer - all kinds of stuff. So because of one book, all her stuff goes in sci fi? Now you are being daft OU. And you know it.
Anyway, I'm halfway through Flat Earth News and think it should be compulsory reading.
I think I must have scabs on my chin, my jaw has dropped so fast and so low whilst reading the PR chapter. Jesus. I think I'm a cynical person (in a positive way!), I question so many things, analyse constantly - and then I read about these 'pseudo-groups', set up by PR companies, who produce 'research', and I think 'Shiiiiiiit! My eyes always skimmed past the actual group/think tank/focus group's name and go right onto to analyse/question/demolish their research'. No more.
I'd love to see what he's made of the intervening years since publication.
Your enthusiasm has made me want to read Dickens now. I never have, and they've got some in the library, so thanks for that ringo !
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
More undeserved rudeness. On the book thread!
I was merely suggesting a reason for why someone may have misfiled a book. A novice remembers the last book they filed by the author was a sci fi, so they assume that all of her books are and file accordingly.
MysteryGuest
beyond boring and interesting
Ooh- ta!
Apparently Polish fantastic fiction have long roots- Try "the Manuscript Found In Saragossa" by Jan Potocki, written by a rather eccentric balloon-faring 17th century nobleman who committed suicide by shooting himselfwith a silver bullet fashioned from his own teapot because he thought he had turned into a werewolf!
The novel is among the strangest I've ever read, all stories-within-stories-within-stories, and lots of satirising over picaresque clichés (in one of the stories, the person who tells it goes on and on for pages, only to cheerfully exclaim many pages later "at last, I was born!") It's a little bit like Arabian Nights in that it tells many stories and everything is intervowen and the narratives go back and forth, but here it's ghosts, sword duelling/chivalry gone wrong, mysterious Moorish sects, gypsies, outlaws, illusions, drunkenness, pirates, cabbalists, more drunkenness... It's a riddle wrapped in an enigma insidea conundrum. Or something like that. I love it, anyway...
(* NB: There's two different versions: The abridged version, and the real version, aka the full version. Get the last version, or it won't make any sense)
It's also been adapted into a film by Wojciech Has- the film is about as heavy-going as the book, but if you persevere and keep watching it will make sense eventually... Note that the ending in the book is very different and a bit more ambigious than in the film! But it's a great film in its own right- even the music is good... written by Penderecki, IIRC)
Yup, seen the film and read the book - another hearty recommendation for both here. Dreamlike and dark...
There's no novices in there. It's a small library. Out of all the books she has written, one is sci fi. The one I wanted is in no way sci fi. It was, however, filed under sci fi. I only found it cos I was looking for Ballard.More undeserved rudeness. On the book thread!
I was merely suggesting a reason for why someone may have misfiled a book. A novice remembers the last book they filed by the author was a sci fi, so they assume that all of her books are and file accordingly.
Just started on Gentlemen of the West by Agnes Owens.
This was her first novel she had published and so far it seems almost like each chapter is a different short story, but maybe it will all piece together more as it goes along. She seems to prefer writing shorter works, or maybe that's what she can get published. I was expecting this to be good as I've read and really liked another novels of hers and some short stories and it's not let me down. The short stories were from the book Lean Tales that also featured James Kelman and Alasdair Gray - and I think her writing has a fair bit in common with theirs in terms of style and subject as well as quality.
Anyway, really enjoying this - great humour and sometimes a bit of grimness. I've got a couple of others by her to read after too.
This was her first novel she had published and so far it seems almost like each chapter is a different short story, but maybe it will all piece together more as it goes along. She seems to prefer writing shorter works, or maybe that's what she can get published. I was expecting this to be good as I've read and really liked another novels of hers and some short stories and it's not let me down. The short stories were from the book Lean Tales that also featured James Kelman and Alasdair Gray - and I think her writing has a fair bit in common with theirs in terms of style and subject as well as quality.
Anyway, really enjoying this - great humour and sometimes a bit of grimness. I've got a couple of others by her to read after too.
seventh bullet
sovietwave
Good!
In what way specifically? It didn't come to the attention of the authorities while Stalin was around?
Plenty of people also did that, both secretly and openly against the 'revolution from above.'
Not slagging Bulgakov, btw (I've never read him).
little_legs
Поехали!
M&M was published posthumously in 1966 or something. But I have heard that when MB's wife gave the original copy to the publisher there were rumours doing rounds that an explosive book was about to be published that was going to expose (or satirise?) the stupidity of the upper echelons of CP.
TruXta I would highly recommend The Heart of Dog
sojourner Thanks for mentioning A Country Doctor's Notebook, I have put it on my to read list
TruXta I would highly recommend The Heart of Dog
sojourner Thanks for mentioning A Country Doctor's Notebook, I have put it on my to read list
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seventh bullet
sovietwave
So it was hidden away during the Stalin years and beyond.
little_legs
Поехали!
He read it privately to his friends. I am convinced MB would have been executed if the book would be published in his lifetime.
Some of my friends also believe that the book is about God. There is recurrent theme of Kot who is clearly the devil but also a ministry of culture official and the Master who is the guy that is supposed to save our souls and restore the spirit of the people poisoned by the political dogma. That would also put MB in bad books.
Edit: I should probably add that I think M&M is about Stalin's time though.
Some of my friends also believe that the book is about God. There is recurrent theme of Kot who is clearly the devil but also a ministry of culture official and the Master who is the guy that is supposed to save our souls and restore the spirit of the people poisoned by the political dogma. That would also put MB in bad books.
Edit: I should probably add that I think M&M is about Stalin's time though.
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