Strange books

[andrewducker]

Linked for later perusal - the canoncical list of headfuck books is here.

Comments

[heron61.livejournal.com]

An odd list, in addition to utter schlock like Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead and (to me) definitely non-trippy but solid SF by the likes of Gibson and Simmons, it does have a number of very interesting books. I was especially pleased to see Lucius Shepard's Life During Wartime on that list. It starts out as a book about drug-mediated US soldiers in a near future Central American war and soon becomes something far weirder. If you haven't read this book, read it soon.

[andrewducker]

While the fountainhead may be culutrally/socially 'bad', it's still caused many many people to have life-redefining moments, so I'd say it belongs on the list.

[kpollock.livejournal.com]

I couldn't finish the thing, the (horribly dated) style and grindingly slow pace just wore me down. I can't see how it could cause a life-redefining moment from what I've read (but I think I did come out as most in accord with Ayn Rand in that philospher test, so maybe I wouldn't).

[andrewducker]

well, exactly. While Illuminatus/Schroedinger's Cat was a huge mind-opening experience to me, people that already questioned the world around them would have wondered what all the fuss was.

[kpollock.livejournal.com]

Another book I started but couldn't finish (I have tried twice) - I can't recall why except that I just couldn't get into it.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

I find that fact both baffling and sad. I read it at the requisite age for such books (13-20, I've found that when one is younger head trip books make little sense and when older they are far less impressive) and I found it extremely forgettable.

[dapperscavenger.livejournal.com]

I am filled with the urge to buy all of them. Probably in the hope that the act of owning such books will make me more intelligent, despite the fact I'll only ever read half of them at best. Advertisement at its finest.

[andrewducker]

Well, I can happily lend you some of them :->

[markpasc.livejournal.com]

I agree with heron61—Ender's Game? Maybe I forgot my first reaction to it—but having only read the short story there is no way I'm reading Blood Music. Too far out. Nngh.

Between the two poles, I expected to see The Sparrow on there.

[andrewducker]

Ooh, The Sparrow is very good.

I liked Blood Music, although the end didn't work for me.