Thanks for this, Steve - once again you've thrown some more titles and authors at me that I'd never heard of before but am now desperate to read! Which is pretty much what you've been doing since we first met 😀. As if my tbr list wasn't long enough already? Even worse, you given me some ideas for things I'd like to try and write, and I really don't have time for any more of those. But keep it up - if nothing else, you're expanding my mind!
You've made me realize that I need to read more of Houellebecq's ouvre since I've only read his study of Lovecraft, Against the World, Against Life. I also need to beef up my Huysmans. It's been a while.
thanks, steve. i put the kings of eternity on my tbr list when you mentioned it recently. i'll be sure to add annihilation as well. not sure how i'll get to all the books on my tbr list but that's a nice problem to have, right? oh, by the way, i'm about halfway through lake of darkness by adam roberts which was another one of your recommendations. it hasn't been published here in the u.s. but i managed to find a copy. i'm loving it! take care and happy reading
Hi Steve you never cease to impress me talking Houellebecq throwing in iggy pop name drops . ( love me some iggy) Annihilation sounds again my kind of thing! I may have to wait a week as I’ve already had a book splurge this month. But will pick up the hardback of that soon. Looks rather beautiful . And as someone who likes gene Wolfe would you say The island of doctor death and other stories is worth reading ? I think you did something on it a while ago . But can’t remember if you were a fan. Some Wolfe and Delany can be difficult to comprehend on a first read I’ve found yet find myself drawn to reading more for some reason . Ps a hawkwind video with Calvert Doing 25 years and psi power surfaced from 78 I think . Never seen it before very good quality well worth watching mate 🫡
I read "Submission" recently and really liked it. It had a lot of interesting information on Huysmans which is a good reason for reading it. As for "Annihilation", I've still got to read Vandermeer's A before I get to H's A!
Yes, I cover 'Submission' in at least one of my 'top SF' of the 21st century vids, maybe two. I'm a Huysmans fan from way back, so it really worked for me. In some ways, I think anyone who hasn't read Huysmans and know of his spiritual journey will miss out when they read 'Submission'.
I’m old, & can’t read regular print anymore. I have been able to track down some of your obscure titles (in Texas/USA, at least) but am disappointed that The Stone Tide isn’t available in audiobook format. But…it’s on my wish list! Thanks, as always, for suggesting intriguing, new (for me) titles. I love the books that combine the human condition, politics, & philosophy. I think we’re kindred spirits, at some level.
Good to hear from you. The theory is that these days, you should be able to use an e-reader (such as amazon kindle) to increase font size etc, but it doesn't work for everyone.
Hi Steve, hope you are doing well! You 100% sold me on Annihilation, man, that is a beautiful jacket too. I was wondering, would you consider doing a video on book protectors, types of material, particular protectors you prefer, for both paperback and hardback books? It is an interesting topic, and I recently managed to get a copy of The Beast that shouted Love at the End of the World that I very much feel the need to keep protected!
I just use easily obtainable (amazon) paperback book bags and for hardcovers, simple rolls of clear material from craft stores. nothing more than that. Let me know if you do read 'Annihilation'.
As for myself, recent reads consist of Ballard's autobiographical diptych _Empire of the Sun_ and _The Kindness of Women._ Also, _Harlan Ellison's Greatest Hits._ This was the first time I had ever re-read any of Ellison's work, as well as being the first time reading a large batch of his stuff since _Slippage_ came out in 1997. Thoroughly enjoyed it - cracking stuff! 😁 Ballard's _Kindness_ was good, but _Empire_ was remarkable! 👍
I need to re-read 'Empire' as it's been a very long time. I found re-reading HE interesting, some of those stories hadn't passed before my eyes for ages- though there are many I re-read on a fairly regular basis.
I think many of the papers have a go in an attempt to win 'virtue signalling' brownie points, but her's very popular with male readers in particular. 75% of the men in the bookshop where I work have read it already.
I loved it, but although it is nominally SF, it does defy expectations - I found the final third of it really quite something. Would suggest trying 'Submission' by him first, though, if you're new to him.
I always end up rereading the Vorkosigan books or some Sword and Sorcery for my 'easy-reading' periods when im too knackered to manage manage more than a bit of reading before bed. The stone tide sounds like i may enjoy it, i loved Wish I Was Here. Was tempted to pick up annihilation the other week, but will probably wait til it is paperback. Just finished Invisible cities by calvino, another winner of a recommendation by you some time back.
I'd suggest reading Gary Budden's books over Gareth E Rees- if you page back a few months on the channel you'll see my video about him ('My new favourite author') - his novel and linked short story collection form a kind of dyptich and they are amongst the best books I've read this year. I think Gareth needed more editing on this one.
Hotel Transylvania! I read that years (well, decades, actually) ago. I enjoyed it but I think I was too young to get that much out of it. Would love to re-read, thank you for reminding me of it.
"...the men of his generation lived out their lonely, bitter lives. Feelings such as love, tenderness and human fellowship had, for the most part, disappeared; the relationships between his contemporaries were at best indifferent and more often cruel" - About elemental particles.
Michel Houellebecq is one of the very few contemporary writers I read. Already preordered Annihilation (it doesn't come out in the U.S. until next week). I wish there were more "new" novels to look forward to. It's rare that I get excited about anything coming out these days.
I suffer from similar ennui, but that's a consequence of the death of Modernism. I literally have around 4-5 authors I buy automatically and that's it. I also think that's enough, when there are so many great books from the past to cover.
Old, if you’re old, I’m old too! I like “ culture vulture,” as you’ve said in the past. Thanks, as always for bringing these cool books to my attention. I recently submitted a story featuring Crowley, I missed the ban.
I have not read any Gareth Rees but I know what you mean about trying a new author and giving up after two books. I feel that way about Emma Newman, who I think you recommended. Planetfall alright, After Atlas not sufficiently SF. I will try to get more Chris Beckett, even his lesser books are page turners and some of it is great.
I'm sorry you felt 'After Atlas'- as you've described it "wasn't sufficiently SF". Personally, I think it showcased some great ideas, such as the indentured slavery concept and most importantly of all, the idea (to quote from the novel) that "with convenience, something was lost." a phrase that sums up perfectly how the tech forced upon us now that we're told is more convenient limits our choices and is raelly only convenient for those wielding wealth and power, something the book covers really well, if elt- but maybe its' too 'soft SF' for you and maybe you prefer Hard SF. But yes, life is short and if it's not hitting you where you live,l you move on, definitely the right thing to do. Glad to hear you're enjoying Chris Beckett though- alongside Adam Roberts, he's the best British SF writer over 60 that we have.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Thanks for the reply. I thought the indentured slavery had been done elsewhere and better. Yes things can move backwards I grant. What annoyed me about After Atlas was the outcome with bombs going off, trashing the planet for no good reason. Or maybe I missed a major plot point. I don't mind a gloomy plotline but give me some reason for it, like say in A Scanner Darkly. I like Adam Roberts a lot, some of it can be a bit hit or miss, but the standard is quite high.
@@JulianBills The atomic war situation is looked at later in the series and there are reveals relating to 'After Atlas' in the final novel in the sequence, though I would say the third and fourth volumes of the tetralogy are overall a step down from the first two.
Talking about two novels by certain author, you love one, dislike the other. Recently I had the same experience with Nicholas Royle. His First Novel is absolutely brilliant work, maybe the best novel that I have read this year. Regicide, on the other hand, I think is terrible. But I will seek out his other work, particulary the much praised White Spines. Concernig Yarbro, I haven't read her, but I like historical horror. I'm going through Kim Newman's Anno Dracula books. How do they compare?
I loved both of those Royle novels, though I'll admit I preferred 'First Novel'. As much as I love Kim Newman's "Andy Warhol'[s Dracula" which is a novella that later appeared as part of one of his Dracula series, they don't compare in terms of quality. I greatly respect Kim, but Yarbro, as a novelist is far, far superior. Her command of historical narrative and characterisation is at a higher level, but then she and Kim are aiming at different targets.
Not that he can't output interesting stuff but "He's often described as being right wing" is such a euphemism. He might have started has an anti american imperialism, hence ties to the left of the spectrium, but by now, he's a pretty standard right wing reactionnary. That might be because of his numerous short and long form texts about the fall of western civilisation because of feminists, leftists and muslims, his appearances in the french Foxnews equivalent, his ravings about uneducated popular classes vs the smarter bourgeois catholics, his ~«trueborn french people [...], don't want muslims to assimilate but that they stop being thieves and violent criminals", the praises received by and given to the french far right , etc. None of that being from a character in any way; but from essays, interviews, and other recorded and edited medias over which he had control. He's the rights "crude and morally deviant" author, but still hates the browns and the poor, so he's an acceptable and titillating deviance to them.
Well, all of this may be the case, I'll be honest and say I've never researched much of what is said of him in any great depth. I'm focusing here on my feelings about the work, obviously.
Have not read Muller-Fokker! I think Sladek is definitely a short story author for me, though I enjoyed Reproductive System and Tik-Tok his novels are messy to me. Love his short stories though. Really looking forward to the Sladek video!
He's certainly more focused in short forms, though his late-ish novel 'Tik Tok' is one I'm very fond of. As I said, the Sladek vid will come when I'm up to date on my reading of him.
Hi Steve giving SF a rest . Reading Umberto Eco ' The Prague Cemetery ' He is a fave . I love his stories where the plot seems to twist and turn, and you cant trust the narration . Logie spent some time in Trinidad 🇹🇹 . Yarbro's " False Dawn " is the most brutal end of world books i have ever read . I am told in the Saint-Germain stories Yarbro is telling the stories back ward, showing how SG , became that way, and with each book he is less human. I have only read the first, so i cant confirm .Yarbro makes Rice looks tame . Have Ariosto on my book shelf ( worth a read ? )
You have to step back from SF at times, I agree. I am at present. The Saint-Germain books are more complex than that, as the Comte becomes more humane than most humans pretty early on in his history- they were not written in 'historical' order and only in one is he arguably a full-blown monster -and then only for part of the book- 'Out of the House of Life', which is arguably his "origin" story. In the first written book, "Hotel Transylvania", he is more daring, open and aggressive, but Yarbro has modified him by the time she wrote the second one ('The Palace'). These really are the only exceptions to his overall philosophical, wise and contemplative manner- but on the rare times he is forced to take violent action, it shows....
I seriously need to read his early backlist, which I've neglected- I've almost bought it all many times, then held back due to having an inordinate amount of books. But since I've read five of them, I get the feeling I'll do them all eventually.
I have to say, I really disliked Houellebecq's last two novels (Annihilation being one of them); I find them dull and weak. I liked the beginning of Annihilation but I quickly lost interest when it drifted away from what was going on in the beginning (in relation to politics, terrorism, technology, etc.) and ended up focusing on the family drama and euthanasia. Houellebecq is openly against euthanasia and it has become an important topic in France in recent years, as some politicians are trying to change the law in favour of it; I wasn't really convinced by the way this book deals with this subject, it didn't feel really mature. I do love some of Houellebecq's Work; his novels were really relevant in the 90s and early 2000s. But now he just seems like an out of touch old man who has nothing interesting/relevant to say (and I often find his arguments to be quite weak). He's also the kind of writer that people either love to hate (without having read anything by him), or love to love because he's seen as transgressive and therefore cool. I'd argue that he used to be transgressive in a good way as his novels, poems an essays deal with the negative aspects of our society; he forces the reader to confront the uncomfortable social and personal issues everyone tries to ignore (these issues do need to be confronted and resolved in order to stop them from becoming worse). But now he just sounds like an old curmudgeon (which isn't surprising to be honest, he always seemed like a grumpy bachelor-introvert). My favourite books by him are: - La Poursuite du bonheur (1991) - H.P. Lovecraft. Contre le monde, contre la vie (1991) - Extension du domaine de la lutte (1994) - Le Sens du combat (1996) - Les Particules élémentaires (1998) - Plateforme (2001) - Soumission (2015) Of course, all of this is just my opinion...
I have to say that the very reasons you cite for losing interest in 'Annihilation' - as I hinted at the in the video about my feelings re its denouement- were the things that impressed me the most, the way he wrongfooted me. You don't make it clear if you finished the book, but I suspect you did- but would love to know for sure. I think it's the manner in which his diffidence undercuts his arguably 'transgressive' stances kind of isolates them from shallow 'coolness'. But each to their own...
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Indeed, I read the whole book. The word 'transgressive' may be a bit strong for Houellebecq. That being said, he has written about uncomfortable topics and 'taboos' (masturbation, sex tourism, sexual misery in a highly consumerist/materialistic/hedonistic society, etc.) and he has been quite controversial in France (he has said things in interviews over the years that made him quite unpopular). He may not be as transgressive as Sade, Bataille, Ellis, Palahniuk, Miller or Lawrence, but he's not PC either and he has shaken the status quo enough for it to be noticeable; he does write about things many people don't want to read or think about, his books can't be considered as being 'comfort reads'.
Thanks for this, Steve - once again you've thrown some more titles and authors at me that I'd never heard of before but am now desperate to read! Which is pretty much what you've been doing since we first met 😀. As if my tbr list wasn't long enough already?
Even worse, you given me some ideas for things I'd like to try and write, and I really don't have time for any more of those. But keep it up - if nothing else, you're expanding my mind!
Cheers Paul!
You've made me realize that I need to read more of Houellebecq's ouvre since I've only read his study of Lovecraft, Against the World, Against Life. I also need to beef up my Huysmans. It's been a while.
Both worth (re)visiting in depth.
thanks, steve. i put the kings of eternity on my tbr list when you mentioned it recently. i'll be sure to add annihilation as well. not sure how i'll get to all the books on my tbr list but that's a nice problem to have, right? oh, by the way, i'm about halfway through lake of darkness by adam roberts which was another one of your recommendations. it hasn't been published here in the u.s. but i managed to find a copy. i'm loving it! take care and happy reading
Glad you're digging Adam- he is now the only genre SF author I buy automatically on an annual basis.
Hi Steve you never cease to impress me talking Houellebecq throwing in iggy pop name drops . ( love me some iggy) Annihilation sounds again my kind of thing! I may have to wait a week as I’ve already had a book splurge this month. But will pick up the hardback of that soon. Looks rather beautiful . And as someone who likes gene Wolfe would you say The island of doctor death and other stories is worth reading ? I think you did something on it a while ago . But can’t remember if you were a fan. Some Wolfe and Delany can be difficult to comprehend on a first read I’ve found yet find myself drawn to reading more for some reason . Ps a hawkwind video with Calvert Doing 25 years and psi power surfaced from 78 I think . Never seen it before very good quality well worth watching mate 🫡
I have that video in a Hawkwind box set.
I read "Submission" recently and really liked it. It had a lot of interesting information on Huysmans which is a good reason for reading it. As for "Annihilation", I've still got to read Vandermeer's A before I get to H's A!
Yes, I cover 'Submission' in at least one of my 'top SF' of the 21st century vids, maybe two. I'm a Huysmans fan from way back, so it really worked for me. In some ways, I think anyone who hasn't read Huysmans and know of his spiritual journey will miss out when they read 'Submission'.
I’m old, & can’t read regular print anymore. I have been able to track down some of your obscure titles (in Texas/USA, at least) but am disappointed that The Stone Tide isn’t available in audiobook format. But…it’s on my wish list! Thanks, as always, for suggesting intriguing, new (for me) titles. I love the books that combine the human condition, politics, & philosophy. I think we’re kindred spirits, at some level.
Good to hear from you. The theory is that these days, you should be able to use an e-reader (such as amazon kindle) to increase font size etc, but it doesn't work for everyone.
Hi Steve, hope you are doing well! You 100% sold me on Annihilation, man, that is a beautiful jacket too. I was wondering, would you consider doing a video on book protectors, types of material, particular protectors you prefer, for both paperback and hardback books? It is an interesting topic, and I recently managed to get a copy of The Beast that shouted Love at the End of the World that I very much feel the need to keep protected!
I just use easily obtainable (amazon) paperback book bags and for hardcovers, simple rolls of clear material from craft stores. nothing more than that. Let me know if you do read 'Annihilation'.
As for myself, recent reads consist of Ballard's autobiographical diptych _Empire of the Sun_ and _The Kindness of Women._ Also, _Harlan Ellison's Greatest Hits._ This was the first time I had ever re-read any of Ellison's work, as well as being the first time reading a large batch of his stuff since _Slippage_ came out in 1997. Thoroughly enjoyed it - cracking stuff! 😁 Ballard's _Kindness_ was good, but _Empire_ was remarkable! 👍
I need to re-read 'Empire' as it's been a very long time. I found re-reading HE interesting, some of those stories hadn't passed before my eyes for ages- though there are many I re-read on a fairly regular basis.
I can’t wait to read this. Glad you appreciate Houellebecq. Not many british people do.
I think many of the papers have a go in an attempt to win 'virtue signalling' brownie points, but her's very popular with male readers in particular. 75% of the men in the bookshop where I work have read it already.
Hi Steve, the Houellebecq sounds interesting for sure. 👍
Can’t find it in USA…disappointing!
Publication of translated texts isn't always simultaneous, it varies enormously. Not sure what his profile is in the USA, so it may appear next year.
I loved it, but although it is nominally SF, it does defy expectations - I found the final third of it really quite something. Would suggest trying 'Submission' by him first, though, if you're new to him.
The Kings of Eternity sounds great! Liminal Spaces in urban areas make me think of The Concrete Island!
Well, the term 'liminal space' has long been a phrase used in psychogeography, which often focuses on the urban.....
First thing I thought of was Concrete Island too
Added 2 more books to my TBR list. Carry on my friend.
I've just finished Submission and his Lovecraft book, will definitely pick up Annhilation.
I think if you enjoyed those, you'll definitely like 'Annihilation', though it's arguably subtler- no bad thing.
Just watched the gene Wolfe island of doctor death so that question has been answered another great video and another book to find Many thanks
I always end up rereading the Vorkosigan books or some Sword and Sorcery for my 'easy-reading' periods when im too knackered to manage manage more than a bit of reading before bed. The stone tide sounds like i may enjoy it, i loved Wish I Was Here. Was tempted to pick up annihilation the other week, but will probably wait til it is paperback. Just finished Invisible cities by calvino, another winner of a recommendation by you some time back.
I'd suggest reading Gary Budden's books over Gareth E Rees- if you page back a few months on the channel you'll see my video about him ('My new favourite author') - his novel and linked short story collection form a kind of dyptich and they are amongst the best books I've read this year. I think Gareth needed more editing on this one.
Hotel Transylvania! I read that years (well, decades, actually) ago. I enjoyed it but I think I was too young to get that much out of it. Would love to re-read, thank you for reminding me of it.
I enjoyed revisiting it. It's not typical of the series, but I still really like it. At her best, she's very fine indeed.
"...the men of his generation lived out their lonely, bitter lives. Feelings such as love, tenderness and human fellowship had, for the most part, disappeared; the relationships between his contemporaries were at best indifferent and more often cruel" - About elemental particles.
Annihilation just came out in my language, planning to read it soon!
Michel Houellebecq is one of the very few contemporary writers I read. Already preordered Annihilation (it doesn't come out in the U.S. until next week). I wish there were more "new" novels to look forward to. It's rare that I get excited about anything coming out these days.
I suffer from similar ennui, but that's a consequence of the death of Modernism. I literally have around 4-5 authors I buy automatically and that's it. I also think that's enough, when there are so many great books from the past to cover.
Old, if you’re old, I’m old too! I like “ culture vulture,” as you’ve said in the past. Thanks, as always for bringing these cool books to my attention. I recently submitted a story featuring Crowley, I missed the ban.
As a 'Man of our times' you are exempt from the Crowley rule- besides, we neeed exceptions to prove the rule. Great to hear from you as ever, Jack.
the only channel that I liked its videos before watching them cuz I'm 100& sure that I will learn a couple of things from it
Very kind.
“Anne Rice went off the boil.”
Yes. Yes, she did.
I have not read any Gareth Rees but I know what you mean about trying a new author and giving up after two books. I feel that way about Emma Newman, who I think you recommended. Planetfall alright, After Atlas not sufficiently SF. I will try to get more Chris Beckett, even his lesser books are page turners and some of it is great.
I'm sorry you felt 'After Atlas'- as you've described it "wasn't sufficiently SF". Personally, I think it showcased some great ideas, such as the indentured slavery concept and most importantly of all, the idea (to quote from the novel) that "with convenience, something was lost." a phrase that sums up perfectly how the tech forced upon us now that we're told is more convenient limits our choices and is raelly only convenient for those wielding wealth and power, something the book covers really well, if elt- but maybe its' too 'soft SF' for you and maybe you prefer Hard SF. But yes, life is short and if it's not hitting you where you live,l you move on, definitely the right thing to do. Glad to hear you're enjoying Chris Beckett though- alongside Adam Roberts, he's the best British SF writer over 60 that we have.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Thanks for the reply. I thought the indentured slavery had been done elsewhere and better. Yes things can move backwards I grant. What annoyed me about After Atlas was the outcome with bombs going off, trashing the planet for no good reason. Or maybe I missed a major plot point. I don't mind a gloomy plotline but give me some reason for it, like say in A Scanner Darkly. I like Adam Roberts a lot, some of it can be a bit hit or miss, but the standard is quite high.
@@JulianBills The atomic war situation is looked at later in the series and there are reveals relating to 'After Atlas' in the final novel in the sequence, though I would say the third and fourth volumes of the tetralogy are overall a step down from the first two.
I've got two Houellebecq books!
Good call!
Talking about two novels by certain author, you love one, dislike the other. Recently I had the same experience with Nicholas Royle. His First Novel is absolutely brilliant work, maybe the best novel that I have read this year. Regicide, on the other hand, I think is terrible. But I will seek out his other work, particulary the much praised White Spines. Concernig Yarbro, I haven't read her, but I like historical horror. I'm going through Kim Newman's Anno Dracula books. How do they compare?
I loved both of those Royle novels, though I'll admit I preferred 'First Novel'. As much as I love Kim Newman's "Andy Warhol'[s Dracula" which is a novella that later appeared as part of one of his Dracula series, they don't compare in terms of quality. I greatly respect Kim, but Yarbro, as a novelist is far, far superior. Her command of historical narrative and characterisation is at a higher level, but then she and Kim are aiming at different targets.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal
Yeah, "Andy Warhol's Dracula" is in his "Johnny Alucard" fix up novel. Thanks for the info.
Not that he can't output interesting stuff but "He's often described as being right wing" is such a euphemism. He might have started has an anti american imperialism, hence ties to the left of the spectrium, but by now, he's a pretty standard right wing reactionnary.
That might be because of his numerous short and long form texts about the fall of western civilisation because of feminists, leftists and muslims, his appearances in the french Foxnews equivalent, his ravings about uneducated popular classes vs the smarter bourgeois catholics, his ~«trueborn french people [...], don't want muslims to assimilate but that they stop being thieves and violent criminals", the praises received by and given to the french far right , etc.
None of that being from a character in any way; but from essays, interviews, and other recorded and edited medias over which he had control.
He's the rights "crude and morally deviant" author, but still hates the browns and the poor, so he's an acceptable and titillating deviance to them.
Well, all of this may be the case, I'll be honest and say I've never researched much of what is said of him in any great depth. I'm focusing here on my feelings about the work, obviously.
Outlaw, u fun, enlightening. Thanks!
Cheers- we try, here in the Hideout!
Have not read Muller-Fokker! I think Sladek is definitely a short story author for me, though I enjoyed Reproductive System and Tik-Tok his novels are messy to me. Love his short stories though. Really looking forward to the Sladek video!
He's certainly more focused in short forms, though his late-ish novel 'Tik Tok' is one I'm very fond of. As I said, the Sladek vid will come when I'm up to date on my reading of him.
Hi Steve giving SF a rest . Reading Umberto Eco ' The Prague Cemetery ' He is a fave . I love his stories where the plot seems to twist and turn, and you cant trust the narration . Logie spent some time in Trinidad 🇹🇹 . Yarbro's " False Dawn " is the most brutal end of world books i have ever read . I am told in the Saint-Germain stories Yarbro is telling the stories back ward, showing how SG , became that way, and with each book he is less human. I have only read the first, so i cant confirm .Yarbro makes Rice looks tame . Have Ariosto on my book shelf ( worth a read ? )
You have to step back from SF at times, I agree. I am at present. The Saint-Germain books are more complex than that, as the Comte becomes more humane than most humans pretty early on in his history- they were not written in 'historical' order and only in one is he arguably a full-blown monster -and then only for part of the book- 'Out of the House of Life', which is arguably his "origin" story. In the first written book, "Hotel Transylvania", he is more daring, open and aggressive, but Yarbro has modified him by the time she wrote the second one ('The Palace'). These really are the only exceptions to his overall philosophical, wise and contemplative manner- but on the rare times he is forced to take violent action, it shows....
Am reading Atomised (off & on) at the moment.
Timely, Stephen 👍
I seriously need to read his early backlist, which I've neglected- I've almost bought it all many times, then held back due to having an inordinate amount of books. But since I've read five of them, I get the feeling I'll do them all eventually.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal You do have an inordinate amount.. well, if you ever need to donate.. 😉
Houellebecq [who ell bec] say my French wife
I have to say, I really disliked Houellebecq's last two novels (Annihilation being one of them); I find them dull and weak. I liked the beginning of Annihilation but I quickly lost interest when it drifted away from what was going on in the beginning (in relation to politics, terrorism, technology, etc.) and ended up focusing on the family drama and euthanasia. Houellebecq is openly against euthanasia and it has become an important topic in France in recent years, as some politicians are trying to change the law in favour of it; I wasn't really convinced by the way this book deals with this subject, it didn't feel really mature.
I do love some of Houellebecq's Work; his novels were really relevant in the 90s and early 2000s.
But now he just seems like an out of touch old man who has nothing interesting/relevant to say (and I often find his arguments to be quite weak).
He's also the kind of writer that people either love to hate (without having read anything by him), or love to love because he's seen as transgressive and therefore cool. I'd argue that he used to be transgressive in a good way as his novels, poems an essays deal with the negative aspects of our society; he forces the reader to confront the uncomfortable social and personal issues everyone tries to ignore (these issues do need to be confronted and resolved in order to stop them from becoming worse). But now he just sounds like an old curmudgeon (which isn't surprising to be honest, he always seemed like a grumpy bachelor-introvert).
My favourite books by him are:
- La Poursuite du bonheur (1991)
- H.P. Lovecraft. Contre le monde, contre la vie (1991)
- Extension du domaine de la lutte (1994)
- Le Sens du combat (1996)
- Les Particules élémentaires (1998)
- Plateforme (2001)
- Soumission (2015)
Of course, all of this is just my opinion...
I have to say that the very reasons you cite for losing interest in 'Annihilation' - as I hinted at the in the video about my feelings re its denouement- were the things that impressed me the most, the way he wrongfooted me. You don't make it clear if you finished the book, but I suspect you did- but would love to know for sure.
I think it's the manner in which his diffidence undercuts his arguably 'transgressive' stances kind of isolates them from shallow 'coolness'. But each to their own...
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Indeed, I read the whole book.
The word 'transgressive' may be a bit strong for Houellebecq. That being said, he has written about uncomfortable topics and 'taboos' (masturbation, sex tourism, sexual misery in a highly consumerist/materialistic/hedonistic society, etc.) and he has been quite controversial in France (he has said things in interviews over the years that made him quite unpopular). He may not be as transgressive as Sade, Bataille, Ellis, Palahniuk, Miller or Lawrence, but he's not PC either and he has shaken the status quo enough for it to be noticeable; he does write about things many people don't want to read or think about, his books can't be considered as being 'comfort reads'.