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oselleA recent article in New York magazine introduced me to a science fiction novel that I'd never heard of but is apparently considered by many connoisseurs to be a huge cult classic of the genre, even, according to the Amazon review, "one of the greatest novels of 20th-century American literature": Dhalgren, by Samuel R. Delaney.
The surreal post-apocalyptic premise of the book appeals to me but a couple of things turn me off: one, I've never been a real fan of science fiction -- I'm more of a fantasy/supernatural gal. That said, this really seems to fit more in the latter category than genuine sci-fi. Two, the hardcore geek-fetish for this book reminds me of the hardcore geek-fetish for Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast novels, which I found absolutely unreadable. (The breathless comparisons between the Gormenghast trilogy and The Lord of the Rings, prominently touted in former's reviews, were so utterly ridiculous that I wondered if any of those critics had actually read LoTR.) What appeals to the hardcore geek enthusiasts of any genre is usually not going to appeal to me, even if I happen to like that genre. Dhalgren sounds like it might be that kind of book.
I read the first few pages of the book on Amazon and it was like the craziest fucking fanfiction ever...which is good. But I don't know if I can plow through 800 pages of that, especially since it's supposed to get even crazier. I've been unable to find Dhalgren in either Borders or Barnes & Noble, so I can't check out more of it for myself.
So basically, I'm wondering if anyone has ever read it, or tried to read it, and if so, what did you think? Right now I'm reading Eclipse, which is indescribably awful, but has the same oddly soothing effect on me as watching laundry tumble around in a dryer window (something my addled, anxious mind happens to enjoy a great deal). But I'm thinking that after this nice respite of tumble-dried catatonia, I might be in the mood for some more stimulating fare.
The surreal post-apocalyptic premise of the book appeals to me but a couple of things turn me off: one, I've never been a real fan of science fiction -- I'm more of a fantasy/supernatural gal. That said, this really seems to fit more in the latter category than genuine sci-fi. Two, the hardcore geek-fetish for this book reminds me of the hardcore geek-fetish for Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast novels, which I found absolutely unreadable. (The breathless comparisons between the Gormenghast trilogy and The Lord of the Rings, prominently touted in former's reviews, were so utterly ridiculous that I wondered if any of those critics had actually read LoTR.) What appeals to the hardcore geek enthusiasts of any genre is usually not going to appeal to me, even if I happen to like that genre. Dhalgren sounds like it might be that kind of book.
I read the first few pages of the book on Amazon and it was like the craziest fucking fanfiction ever...which is good. But I don't know if I can plow through 800 pages of that, especially since it's supposed to get even crazier. I've been unable to find Dhalgren in either Borders or Barnes & Noble, so I can't check out more of it for myself.
So basically, I'm wondering if anyone has ever read it, or tried to read it, and if so, what did you think? Right now I'm reading Eclipse, which is indescribably awful, but has the same oddly soothing effect on me as watching laundry tumble around in a dryer window (something my addled, anxious mind happens to enjoy a great deal). But I'm thinking that after this nice respite of tumble-dried catatonia, I might be in the mood for some more stimulating fare.