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Skios

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Michael Frayn's "Skios" is a farcical novel set on a Greek island, where mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and coincidences lead to a series of comedic mishaps and confusion. The plot revolves around a mix-up between a renowned speaker and a charming impostor, exploring themes of identity, human folly, and the capriciousness of events. Frayn's writing style is described as light, satirical, and humorous, with a touch of intellectualism underlying the classic farce elements.

Characters:

Characters are largely shallow and stereotypical, serving the farcical nature of the story rather than fostering depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is witty and fast-paced, reminiscent of a script, focusing on humor and situational comedy.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around chaos and mistaken identities during a conference on a Greek island, leading to humorous situations.

Setting:

Set on a Greek island, it showcases a world of wealthy academics during a foundation retreat, enhancing the story's farcical elements.

Pacing:

The pacing is rapid and frenetic, suited to the farcical plot, requiring a quick reading style to keep the momentum.

Notes:

Skios is set on a Greek island and revolves around a comical series of mistaken identities.
The book features Dr. Norman Wilfred, an expert in 'scientometrics', who is supposed to give a keynote lecture.
Oliver Fox, a charming but irresponsible character, mistakenly takes on Wilfred's identity after muddling up suitcases.
The novel is written in the style of a theatrical farce, akin to Frayn's earlier works like Noises Off.
It explores themes of identity, social climbing, and the absurdity of academia.
The narrative switches between different characters and locations, creating a chaotic plot.
Characters often misunderstand each other's intentions and backgrounds, leading to humorous situations.
Frayn critiques modern academia and the superficiality of social events like the Toppler Foundation's gatherings.
The book has been compared to the works of David Lodge, particularly regarding its academic satire.
While some readers found it mildly entertaining, others felt it lacked depth and engaging characters.

Has Romance?

There are elements of romance present through Oliver Fox's escapades and the relationships he navigates.

From The Publisher:

Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and a Washington Post Notable Book of the Year

On the private Greek island of Skios, the high-paying guests of a world-renowned foundation prepare for the annual keynote address, to be given this year by Dr. Norman Wilfred, an aging and ponderous authority on the scientific organization of science. He turns out to be surprisingly youthful and charming, and everyone is soon eating out of his hand.

Meanwhile, in a remote villa at the other end of the island, the ravishing Georgie has agreed to spend a furtive horizontal weekend with a notorious schemer, who has characteristically failed to turn up. Trapped there with her instead is a pompous, balding individual called Dr. Norman Wilfred, who has lost his whereabouts, his luggage, and his temper-indeed, everything he possesses other than the text of a lecture on the scientific organization of science.

In a spiraling farce about upright academics, ambitious climbers, and dotty philanthropists, Michael Frayn, "the god of farce" (Entertainment Weekly), tells a story of personal and professional disintegration, probing his eternal theme of how we know what we know even as he delivers us to the outer limits of hilarity.

Ratings (3)

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1 comment(s)

It Was OK
2 months

picked this up out of the blue...surprised to learn it was on the longlist for the booker

a funny meditation on identity, knowledge, and what makes civilization: our collective agreement to believe in the same things

nobody is who they say they are, everyone assumes a new stranger is a character who can slot into their narrative

on skios, a private foundation holds a lecture every year in the interest of furthering european civilization

frayn skewers the idea of the rich and the intelligentsia keeping civilization together; they can't even get in the right taxis

in fact that's the real message here, as i can tell you, having gotten on the wrong bus more than once:

ALWAYS DOUBLECHECK YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT BUS

 

About the Author:

Michael Frayn is the author of ten novels, including the bestselling Headlong, which was a New York Times Editors' Choice selection and a Booker Prize finalist, and Spies, which received the Whitbread Fiction Award. He has also written a memoir, My Father's Fortune, and fifteen plays, among them Noises Off and Copenhagen, which won three Tony Awards. He lives just south of London.

 
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