The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester

Gully Foyle is my name

And Terra is my nation

Deep space is my dwelling place

And death's my destination.

This is one bad-ass and mesmerizing science-fiction novel with a no-holds barred attitude that is irreverently entertaining as much as it is thought-provoking. At this current junction it is difficult to offer any sort of constructive literary criticism other than insubstantial assertions such as "amazing", "mind-blowing", "holy shit man this novel rocked my socks off!", "wow, just wow" and the like. Nevertheless, I might as well try and get some thoughts down even though they are haphazard.

I still can't believe this novel was written in 1956 since it contains some fairly risque subject matter including sexuality, intense violence and profanity that Bester gets away with that surely must have been controversial for its time. I'm still trying to sort out my mishmash of jumbled thoughts but suffice it to say, very few novels have floored me like this one. It's exhilarating from start to finish but it also leaves plenty to think about and raises interesting questions about human evolution and morality. The whole concept of teleportation referred to as "jaunting" is pretty damn cool and the way Bester plays with time is brilliant. There were so many unexpected surprises and even when I thought I knew where the story was heading, Bester pulls a fast one and the narrative shifts rapidly in unpredictably exciting ways. Oh yes, Gully Folly is definitely one of the most memorable characters I have ever come across; a fascinating anti-hero if there ever was one.

What separates this novel from the majority of others that I have read in the genre is that Bester can actually knows how to write a damn good story with delectable prose with plenty of intriguing subtext and scientific/philosophical thematic concerns. I much prefer a well-told and meaningful story with interesting characters and ideas rather than something with great ideas but does not have engaging writing to back it up. Bester is able to simultaneously balance both elements with adept skill and creative imagination. A sci-fi classic.

Read from April 16 to 18, 2011

More than Human by Theodore Sturgeon

More than Human by Theodore Sturgeon is an innovative and bizarre piece of science fiction from the 1960's that takes on a similar narrative structure to William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury; that is, the story is often dense, focusing on intermittent character perspectives that is perplexing because of psychological displacement. For instance, Lone is a man-child and bears an uncanny resemblance to Benjy Compton by possessing an unstable inner consciousness. Far from an easy read, it is difficult to fully grasp all of the subtle complexities but this one of those literary works that is bound to be more satisfying on subsequent readings. Sturgeon layers a plethora of ideas and subtext that can be easily overlooked.

The novel is often full of sadness, despair, loneliness and is at times very twisted but somehow Sturgeon is able to convey such passion and beauty with his writing. The story about a group of freaks and outcasts who are brought together by destiny to introduce humanity to the next stage of evolution could easily have fallen into camp. However, despite their flawed personalities, Sturgeon manages to create empathetic characters through intimately portraying the inner consciousness of these unique individuals. The formation of the human gestalt is a fascinating concept that Sturgeon explores in such a creative way as the group begins to come together and realize their potential.

The question, "What does it mean to be Human?" comes up often in Science-Fiction but Sturgeon takes this concept to a whole new level. He seems to suggest that human beings are an evolutionary dead end even though consciousness sets us apart from other species. The human gestalt as the next step in human evolution carries both dystopian and utopian possibilities depending on one's perspective. I'm still trying to wrack my brain over this novel but suffice it to say, it was certainly unlike anything I have ever read before and look forward to reading it again.

Read from April 06 to 07, 2011

A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

"How'd you like to gaze at a beer can throughout eternity? It might not be so bad. There'd be nothing to fear." 

From the very first sentence I just knew that A Scanner Darkly would turn out to be something special. Dick's writing style may not always be the most consistent; in terms of narrative structure, his stories can be frustratingly erratic and do not always make sense -- it consistently feels as if he is writing under the influence of hallucinogens and is attempting to furiously get down everything in his head before losing a train of the thought. He is a man with a wild imagination and fascinating ideas that tends to overshadow the quality of writing. However, with this novel he is at the top of his game. The convoluted narrative is surprisingly structured in a meticulous way that flows cohesively, the quality of writing embraces the new-wave aestheticism of experimental sensibility that subverts the conventions of pulp science-fiction. Thus, not only is it an exceptional piece of science-fiction but should also be revered beyond its genre classification as a distinguished piece of great literature.

Philip K. Dick struggled with drugs for a large part of his life and many of his close friends died through rampant drug abuse. Thus, this novel is incredibly personal for him and remains his most emotionally resonant. Forget Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting or Hubert Selby Jr.'s Requiem for a Dream, Dick has written what is quite possibly the most original, peculiar, entertaining and intellectually captivating anti-drug novel of the 1960's or quite possibly, ever. Mesmerizing in its creativity, this is a powerful story teeming with a plethora of ideas concerning social, political, cultural, philosophical and religious ideologies of an American dystopian society (or perhaps one that is all too familiar) that is struggling to control the aggressive drug trade.The vast population is falling victim to psychological derangement caused by the highly addictive and lethal Substance-D as it floods the streets of California and causes a wide-spread pandemic. The D.E.A. is powerless to stop the flow of drug-trafficking but with the introduction of "scrambler suits" (a fascinating technologically advanced body suit), agents can be better protected as they go undercover to infiltrate the main drug smuggling circles. A Scanner Darkly cleverly explores the role of subjectivity and the concept of self-identity. The protagonist, Bob Archer, is a member of the D.E.A. and assigned by his superiors to investigate none other than himself who also happens to be addicted to Substance-D. Furthermore, mental illness, reality, illusion, the fragility of human consciousness and gnosticism are examined within the narrative context of drug abuse.

  

A noteworthy aspect of the novel is PKD's ability to effectively portray the flustered mind of someone undergoing a drug-induced hallucination along with writing convincing and witty dialogue, which is a large part of the narrative. The effective way characters play off each other through drug-induced banter is funny as much as it intricately designed to shape this cognitively estranged dystopian world (as opposed to just resorting to info-dump and endless descriptions)  as well as emphasizing the underlying social commentary. Even though the novel maintains a certain level of comedy there is also a pervasive sadness to it all. One could even enjoy this novel strictly on an entertaining level as a science fiction neo-noir detective thriller but I think it is a much more rewarding experience to peel the layers and focus on the thematic structural framework. A sci-fi masterpiece that demands to be read and cherished.

Read April 11, 2011

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.

It took me a lot longer to finish than novel than initially expected since Miller's prose tends to be a little bit clunky and objectively detached for my tastes although it does suit the context of the novel: A epic and bleak historical post-apocalyptic account that spans several millenniums all from the perspective of various monks that are stationed at the ancient monastery of St. Leibowitz. While the initial premise is intriguing, the narrative tends to be dense and tedious with flat characters. I admit to having to force myself to keep on reading at times and perhaps if the novel was more refined in the editing department, the story would not have dragged on incessantly. Nonetheless, the novel's preoccupation with preserving human knowledge (conducted by the monks at the abbey) along with its contradictory religious and philosophical convictions kept me interested enough to at least finish the novel. Although Leibowitz is often considered one of the pinnacle works of the science fiction genre, I appreciate the novel much more within its historical context and patent didacticism rather than on a strictly enjoyment level. It is definitely worth a read for those interested in history or are curious to seek out an unorthodox dystopian science fiction novel but personally, I much prefer works within the genre that are quick-paced, overflowing with ideas, imagination and have that pulpy edge like Philip K. Dick or Alfred Bester are able to offer.

The novel is chronological in its depiction of events and is split into three sections, where each part depicts a specific moment in time. Miller completely subverts genre expectations of the post-apocalyptic science fiction story because he is not interested in presenting an action-packed heroic survival narrative where characters battle the harsh environment or are up against silly mutated creatures. The allegory of the Cold War is rather blatant and the novel is built upon the foundation of Christian religious theodicy to perhaps offer an explanation of human kind's flawed nature to commit sin and to justify the ways of God to man. If there is a God then why does he allow evil in the world and if human beings are his children, then why would he allow history to repeat itself where the nuclear holocaust is carried out? He is a merciful God and is perhaps giving us the opportunity to change our ways and learn from our mistakes. Throughout my reading  a quote from Battlestar Galactica was constantly in the back of my mind: "All of this has happened before and all of it will happen again." Or maybe one interprets the novel from a cynical perspective where there is no God; mankind is destined to continually destroy itself through advanced technology and the blind pursuit of a more idealized society. Miller is far from subtle in his agenda and the ending suggests a rather pessimistic world view -- a terrifying forewarning of history repeating itself with the rise and fall of civilization brought about by the imminent nuclear annihilation of the human race if we are not more cautious and responsible towards advancing technologies. 

Read from May 03 to 06, 2011

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

"People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead."

Baldwin is an incredible writer. He just has a way with words that are imperceptibly profound and flow beautifully. This is a deeply religious novel and while I tend to me ambivalent towards such subject matter, I found myself challenged and also captivated by the influence Christianity has on the lives of these characters and the complex way religion drives the story about the Grimes family as each member struggles with their faith in seeking salvation. 

An engrossing bildungsroman as well as an expansive African American family saga with shifting narrative perspectives, the story alternates between different places in time -- from the deep south during slavery all the way to Harlem in the 1930's. Although the heated racial tensions between blacks and whites is present in the novel, Baldwin is rather subtle in his approach; that is to say, he refrains from taking sides and placing the blame solely on the white man. He paints both a beautiful and ugly picture of the social and political struggles of race, class, sexuality and violence during a particular time in American history.

Read from May 07 to 10, 2011 

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

"I had to touch you with my hands, I had to taste you with my tongue; one can't love and do nothing."

Well, Mr. Greene, you've surely written another masterpiece. I'm struck with an ineffable sensation of awe after finishing this book which happens to not just be the most romantic novel I have ever read but easily one of the best pieces of literature I have ever stumbled upon. This is one of those life-affirming type of novels. Unfortunately, I am going to have to take a break from reading now because everything else I pick up is bound to pale in comparison. I have not come across any novel that accurately and honestly depicts the perplexing nature of romantic love in all of its joy and contradictions. The novel completely resonates with my own beliefs on the subject; of course, the main difference being that Greene is a lot more philosophical and eloquent with his words than I can ever hope to be. I finished this novel in one sitting and by the time I reached the last page I was moved to damn near tears; not so much by the story's tragedy but by Greene's keen insight of love, human relationships, religion, death: Life itself. I have always admired Greene's brevity, his elegant introspective prose full of rich irony that often focuses on flawed characters struggling with their faith but in this novel, he is at the apex of his powers. [Insert interminable superlatives here].

There were times throughout the novel where it seems Greene was perhaps advocating Catholicism and one could probably make that claim but I disagree; he isn't so much as surreptitiously trying to convert readers to the Catholic faith but using the religious doctrine and principles as a thematic structure to the story and to place his characters in their own spiritual crises as a way to tackle the complex issue of religious faith and existentialism (a literary element prevalent in all of his works I have read thus far). Greene's theological concerns may stem from Catholicism but he is more interested in the complex questions of God's existence, love and what it means to live a meaningful life. There are no easy answers. According to the general consensus, it is still hard to believe that I have not yet read his supposedly best works which include Brighton Rock along with Power and the Glory. It will certainly be difficult for any of his works to top End of the Affair for me but considering Greene's masterful writing, I would not rule out the possibility of such an occurrence.

Read on April 29, 2010

The Literature Frenzy Challenge!

Welcome to my ultimate reading challenge! This will be an on-going project of mine and I hope to read everything on this list before departing from this world. I am always open for recommendations so if you want me to read something that is not already on this list, please let me know in the comments section below! Let's get this party started, shall we?

1. The Blade Itself (The First Law #1) by Joe Abercrombie (recommended by Steven)
2. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (re-read)
3. Watership Down by Richard Adams 
4. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
5. Money by Martin Amis (recommended by Matthew)
6. Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson 
7. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
9. Persuasion by Jane Austen
10. Emma by Jane Austen
11. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
12. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
13. Go Tell it to the Mountain by James Baldwin
14. Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
15. Another Country by James Baldwin
16. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
17. The Science Fiction Short Stories of J.G. Ballard 
18. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
19. Herzog by Saul Bellow 
20. The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow
21. Seize the Day by Saul Bellow
22. Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow
23. Humboldt's Gift by Saul Bellow
24. Dangling Man by Saul Bellow
25. Mr. Sammler's Planet by Saul Bellow 
26. Zuleika Dobson by Sir Max Beerbohm (recommended by Ron)
27. The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
28. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
29. Virtual Unrealities (short stories) by Alfred Bester 
30. The Ninth Configuration by William Peter Blatty
31.  The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano
32. The Souls of Black Folk by Du Bois
33. Dandelion Wine by Bradbury
34. Farenheit 451 Bradbury
35. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
36. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
37. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
38. Master and the Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
39. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess 
40. Kindred by Octavia Butler
41. Tobacco Road by Erskine Caldwell 
42. In Cold Bloody by Truman Capote
43. Night at the Circus by Angela Carter
44. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver
45. O Pioneers! By Willa Cather
46. My Antonia by Willa Cather
47. If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino
48. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
49. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
50. The Wapshot Chronicles by John Cheever
51. The Awakening and Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin
52. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
53. White Noise by Don DeLillo  
54. Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany  
55. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
56. The Kiss and other Stories by Anton Chekhov
57. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
58. A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
59. Ubik by Philip K. Dick
60. The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick
61. Martian Time Slip by Philip K. Dick
62. Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick
63. Crack in Space by PKD
64. Dr. Bloodmoney by PKD
65. Valis by PKD
66. The Idiot by Dostoeyevsky
67. Notes from the Underground by Dostoeyevsky
68. Crime and Punishment by Dostoeyevsky
69. Brothers Karamazov by Dostoeyevsky
70. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass 
71. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
72. Mill on the Floss by Eliot
73. Middlemarch by Eliot
74. The Merkabah Rider by Edward M. Erdelac
75. The Little Prince by Exupery
76. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
77. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
78. Light in August by William Faulkner
79. Go Down Moses by William Faulkner
80. Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner
81. The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald
82. Tender is the Night by Fitzgerald
83. The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney 
84. Sentimental Education by Flaubert 
85. Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
86. Howard’s End by E.M. Forster
87. A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
88. A Room With a View by E.M. Forster
89. The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles
90. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin 
91. Tana French - Dublin Murder Squad
92. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
93. The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
94. The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass
95. I, Claudius by Robert Graves 
96. Loving by Henry Green 
97. The Quiet American by Graham Greene
98. The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene
99. Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene
100. A Burnt-Out Case by Graham Greene
101. End of the Affair by Graham Greene
102. Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
103. Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
104. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
105. Replay by Ken Grimwood
106. Kampus by James Gunn
107. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
108. Cockroach by Rawi Hage
109. Mortal Leap by MacDonald Harris
110. The Paradox Men by Charles Harness
111. Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
112. Tess of the D’Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy
113. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
114. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
115. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
116. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
117. The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories by Hemingway
118. The Liveship Traders (Trilogy) by Robin Hobb 
119. Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy) by Robin Hobb 
120. Mythago Wood (#1) by Robert Holdstock 
121. How to Be Good by Nick Horny
122. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
123. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 
124. Never Let Me go by Kazuo Ishiguro
125. There Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
126. Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson
127. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
128. Dubliners by James Joyce
129. The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
130. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
131. The Reefs of Earth by R.A. Lafferty 
132. The Complete Fiction of Nella Larsen
133. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
134. The Lathe of Heaven by Le Guin
135. Left Hand of Darkness by Le Guin
136. The Dispossessed by Le Guin
137. Wizard of Earthsea by Le Guin
138. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (recommended by Natalyia) 
139. The Paradox Men by Charles L. Harness
140. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
141.  Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
142. Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman
143. Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti
144. Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry
145. Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean (recommended by Julia)
146. The Garden Party and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield
147. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy 
148. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
149. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
150. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
151. Moby Dick by Herman Melville  
152. Embassytown by China Mieville
153. Perdido Street Station by China Mieville 
154. The City and the City by China Mieville
155. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
156. The Crucible by Arthur Miller
157.  A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.
158. Of Human Bondage by Maugham
159. Razor's Edge by Maugham
160. Cakes and Ale by Maugham 
161. So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell
162. The Last Dragon by McDerrmott
163. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
164. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
165. Paradise by Toni Morrison
166. Utopia by Thomas Moore
167. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
168. The Bell by Iris Murdoch
169. The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch
170. Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
171. One Day by Dave Nicholls (recommended by Becky)
172. A Good Man is Hard to Find and other Stories by Flannery O’Connor
173. Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor
174. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
175.  At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O'Brien
176. Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
177. Animal Farm by George Orwell 
178. The Portable Dorthy Parker by DorthyParker
179. The Moviegoer by Walker Percy
180. Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge 
181. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
182. Swann's Way by Marcel Proust 
183. Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
184. Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym 
185. V by Thomas Pynchon 
186. The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick
187. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand 
188. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
189. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (recommended by Satia)  
190. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
191. The Callahan Chronicals by Spider Robinson 
192. Of Love and Hunger by Julian Maclaren Ross 
193. American Pastoral by Philip Roth
194. The Human Stain by Philip Roth 
195. Call it Sleep by Henry Roth
196. Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
197. The Sparrow by Mary Dorry Russell 
198. Hyperion by Dan Simmons
199. Sirius by Olaf Stapledon
200. Tales of a Tub by Jonathan Swift
201. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
202. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
203. Light Years by James Salter 
204. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
205. Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
206. A Sport and a Pastime by James Salter
207. Only Forward by Michael Marshall Smith (recommended by Stephen) 
208. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
209. As You like It by Shakespeare
210. Macbeth by Shakespeare
211. King Henry IV, Part 1 by Shakespeare
212. King Henry IV, Part 2 by Shakespeare
213. Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare
214. Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare
215. The Way Station by Clifford D. Simak
216. Pygmalian: A Romance in Five Acts by Bernard Shaw
217. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
218. The Comforters by Muriel Spark
     
219. The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark
220. The Ballad of Peckham Rye by Muriel Spark
221. Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark
222. Not to Disturb by Muriel Spark
     
223. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
224. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
225. East of Eden by Steinbeck
226. Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck
227. In Dubious Battle by Steinbeck 
228. Pastures of Heaven by Steinbeck
229. The Winter of Our Discontent by Steinbeck
230. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner 
231. Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover
232. To Marry Medusa by Theodore Sturgeon
233. More than Human by Theodore Sturgeon
234. Theft of Swords by Michael Sullivan
235. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
236. Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas/Jennifer Graham
237. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
238. Rabbit, Run by John Updike 
239. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
240. A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh 
241. Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh
242. Brideshead Revisted by Evelyn Waugh 
243. Scoop by Evelyn Waugh
244. Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh
245. War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
246. The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty by Eudora Welty
247. The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
248. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman 
249. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Wilde (re-read) 
250. The Collected Poems of William Carlos Williams
251. A Streetcar Named Desire by Williams
252. Glass Menagerie by Williams
253. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
254. Savages by Don Winslow (recommended by Stephen)
255. Black Boy by Richard Wright
256. Native Son by Richard Wright
257. Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding
258. Between the Acts by Virginia Woolf 
259. Jacob's Room by Virginia Woolf
260. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf - An In-depth Analysis
261. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
262. Mrs. Dalloway  by Virginia Woolf
263. The Waves by Virginia Woolf  
264. Young Hearts Crying by Richard Yates
265. Lord of Light by Robert Zelazny
266. The Book Thief by Mark Zusak 
267. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin 
268. Dooryways in the Sand by Robert Zelazny