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online prowler
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« Reply #120 on: August 08, 2012, 11:22:44 PM » |
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Go for the Swedish edition, it has a huge appendix translating most of the incomprehensible (to everyone outside of Kågedalen) words & the more obscure cultural/historical references. Educating and arousing at the same time. Thanx Arkhe. Looks like I'll travel to Sweden in September sometime. Will def cruise for the edition you suggest then. Inspiring, inspiring. Reading up on the North-Norwegian region - Lofoten's - history from the Stoneage to the 1500's. Quite interesting, though not in-depth. Serves as more of an introduction. Preparing a research travel to these days. Will visit a ritual site from the Stone age. A huge cave. 150 meters deep. Ceiling 50 meters high. Negative cathedral. Contains cave paintings dating 2000BC in perfect condition.  |
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ARKHE
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« Reply #122 on: August 09, 2012, 02:35:10 PM » |
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That one yes.
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Tenebracid
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« Reply #123 on: August 09, 2012, 03:36:43 PM » |
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Nyodene D
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« Reply #124 on: August 31, 2012, 05:19:30 PM » |
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Just finished Frisk by Dennis Cooper. About 60 pages in to Less Than Zero by Brett Easton Ellis. Finally done with Black Sun by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke as well...
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Human Larvae
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« Reply #125 on: September 25, 2012, 11:16:34 AM » |
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It's also quite strange to learn that it's creator, Matt Groening, basically has nothing to do with the show save for it's merchandising.
it's not really that surprising when you think about it. |
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ConcreteMascara
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« Reply #126 on: September 27, 2012, 03:49:16 PM » |
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Finished Gene Wolfe's "The Book of the New Sun" a couple of weeks ago. I plowed through the first 3 books in less than a month, but it took me another month to read the last one. I guess I was subconsciously savoring it? Cheers again to ARKHE and Black Angkar for the suggestion.
Followed that up with "Roadside Picnic" by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. A nice, negative picture of what would happen to humanity following brief alien contact. Reminds me of Phillip K Dick at parts; it's not quite as weird as PKD, but it deals with the same issues of soul crushing modernity, greed and identity that a lot of his works do. Good stuff and a quick read. Also it's the basis/inspiration for Tarkovsky's STALKER.
Starting Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five" now, which shamefully, I've never read before...
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Black_Angkar
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« Reply #127 on: September 28, 2012, 05:24:50 PM » |
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Just started reading, for the first time, Spenglers "The Decline of the West" in its totality. I have been wanting to read the full text for quite some time.
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ARKHE
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« Reply #128 on: September 28, 2012, 06:00:14 PM » |
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Finished Gene Wolfe's "The Book of the New Sun" a couple of weeks ago. I plowed through the first 3 books in less than a month, but it took me another month to read the last one. I guess I was subconsciously savoring it? Cheers again to ARKHE and Black Angkar for the suggestion.
Oh but you have two books left. Urth of the New Sun follows Severian directly as an appendix to the four first books (it's a decade older). 3 books into Book of the Long Sun, the second set of books in that universe - aiming to procure the three Books of the Short Sun as well which ties the whole thing together. Have no idea yet how the New Sun and Long Sun books fit together, but as always with Wolfe you just have to guess. Speaking of PKD, read VALIS some week ago. Amazing book, him dealing semi-autobiographically (the narrator is PKD himself, describing his visions as happening to a fictitious person going through what he went through). He takes the true story of his own experiences and evolve them into what may or might not be a proper SF story. It's extremely convoluted, and probably the best I've read form him. Just 30 or so more books to go... |
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ConcreteMascara
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« Reply #129 on: September 28, 2012, 08:49:39 PM » |
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VALIS is top notch, but I still prefer The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch and Martian Time Slip. Nothing can beat those two.
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Black_Angkar
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« Reply #130 on: September 29, 2012, 07:54:52 AM » |
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Finished Gene Wolfe's "The Book of the New Sun" a couple of weeks ago. I plowed through the first 3 books in less than a month, but it took me another month to read the last one. I guess I was subconsciously savoring it? Cheers again to ARKHE and Black Angkar for the suggestion.
Oh but you have two books left. Urth of the New Sun follows Severian directly as an appendix to the four first books (it's a decade older). 3 books into Book of the Long Sun, the second set of books in that universe - aiming to procure the three Books of the Short Sun as well which ties the whole thing together. Have no idea yet how the New Sun and Long Sun books fit together, but as always with Wolfe you just have to guess. Speaking of PKD, read VALIS some week ago. Amazing book, him dealing semi-autobiographically (the narrator is PKD himself, describing his visions as happening to a fictitious person going through what he went through). He takes the true story of his own experiences and evolve them into what may or might not be a proper SF story. It's extremely convoluted, and probably the best I've read form him. Just 30 or so more books to go... Considering my absolute love for the first books (since I was teenager, have read them more than any others) as well as the Urth of the New Sun I'm amazed that I havent tried the other titles. Do they deliver? As well, VALIS is incredible, I must agree. "The empire never ended" is one of the best oneliners in litterature. |
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FreakAnimalFinland
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« Reply #131 on: September 29, 2012, 08:43:04 AM » |
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M.C. ESCHER "taikapeili" book
Original title probably Magic Mirror. 1990 Taschen Finnish edition, extensive look for Eschers' art, his biography/extensive introduction of all his different eras, techniques, approaches and also ideology behind the works. I'm quite sure everybody has seen his work - even those who wouldn't know the name. With all the background information, the works get further depth.
Mein Kampf
Obviously necessary reading for anyone who has genuine interest to find out what kind of ideals are behind national socialism, beyond exploitative sensationalism and economic leanings. I don't think book has been re-printed in Finland since 40's, but old versions you can still get from libraries and obviously english language versions are available as cheap paperbacks, at nearest paypal button accepting bookdealer.
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FreakAnimalFinland
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« Reply #132 on: September 29, 2012, 09:02:11 AM » |
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NO
by Boyd Rice
Hmm... Read it already while ago. Was considering reviewing it in SI magazine, but then just didn't. Boyd is one of those guys who as youngster appeared to be more intelligent and well spoken than majority, but the more years pass, it is either the exposure to really exceptional thinkers or exposure to actually high class authors, that the books appear now to be basically this type of "zine journalism" level one mans hobby. Nothing wrong with it. That's what I do, with no shame, haha.. But at the same time, when pretty much every topic what perhaps could have been somehow "unusual" view, now appears to be like journal of american individualist populism.
Naturally Boyd has certain vision, but its american vision for prevailing american society. He writes good and easy flowing text, but it really operates on level of... lets say LaVey "satan speaks". It ain't that bad, but still, you get this "uh? so? what else?". In a way, it all makes sense, perhaps like these other american heroes a'la Ayn Rand. Where theoretically it appears to make sense and sinks to fertile ground of individualists... but in the end is so trapped in construction what at the same time opposes, but also makes this ideology possible.
So if you got limited budget what to buy and you got to choose from Boyd or Hitler - go for the real deal.
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ARKHE
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« Reply #133 on: October 07, 2012, 12:05:06 PM » |
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Considering my absolute love for the first books (since I was teenager, have read them more than any others) as well as the Urth of the New Sun I'm amazed that I havent tried the other titles. Do they deliver?
They do. The Long Sun isn't as apocalyptic and surreal as the New Sun, a bit more evolved in writing style - it seems more realistic but I think that's more of a facade - shitloads of things happening beneath the surface. "The bird is never just a bird", as someone said, and the bird is very important here. There's a LOT of religion in it; political vs personal, polytheism vs monotheism, and throngs of animal sacrifice. Still have about 200 pages to go, its slow work but extremely rewarding. So go get it. |
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redswordwhiteplough
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« Reply #134 on: October 22, 2012, 12:34:36 AM » |
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Just finished reading this...  ..and now I'm reading this one  |
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