I remember the first time I read Harlan Ellison’s I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. It wasn’t just a story; it was an assault. A literary thunderclap. Most science fiction of the Cold War era promised us rockets, aliens, perhaps a better tomorrow wrapped in chrome optimism. Ellison, instead, offered us a world … Continue reading I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
Tag: novel
Mild Indifference and Arse-Breathing: A Reflection on Peter Høeg’s Observations
The following quote is from Peter Høeg’s short story Reflection of a Young Man in Balance, which is part of his collection, Tales of the Night (“Fortællinger om Natten” in Danish). The collection explores themes of love, identity, and existential reflection, often with a lyrical and philosophical style. However, as I’m using this quote in … Continue reading Mild Indifference and Arse-Breathing: A Reflection on Peter Høeg’s Observations
Shards of a Broken Mind: A Critique of The Life of a Stupid Man
The Life of a Stupid Man was published posthumously in 1927, the same year Ryūnosuke Akutagawa took his own life. That makes this work seem like a literary suicide note - one final, unfiltered outpouring of his disillusionment and despair. It wasn’t crafted for an audience so much as exhaled, a last gasp of a man … Continue reading Shards of a Broken Mind: A Critique of The Life of a Stupid Man
To the Devil a Disappointment: Wheatley’s Satanic Soap Opera
Dennis Wheatley’s To the Devil a Daughter was supposed to be a spine-tingling foray into occult horror, but I found myself laughing more often than shivering. From the first page, I was ready for a clever, suspenseful narrative, only to be greeted by a clunky mix of melodrama, cardboard characters, and a plot that wobbled like an … Continue reading To the Devil a Disappointment: Wheatley’s Satanic Soap Opera
The Joy of Dusty Books: Why Reading Classic Literature is the Ultimate Mind-Body Workout
Apparently, I’m boring. Old-fashioned. Out of touch with the times - all because I choose to read classic literature. Imagine that! How terribly narrow-minded, how deliciously myopic, to dismiss an entire world of profound thought, timeless insight, and exquisite artistry simply because it doesn’t come with a glossy cover and a trending hashtag. It’s an … Continue reading The Joy of Dusty Books: Why Reading Classic Literature is the Ultimate Mind-Body Workout
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