"Dhalgren" by Samuel R. Delany is a dense and challenging novel that defies easy categorization. Set in the city of Bellona, the book explores themes of post-apocalyptic surrealism, sexuality, race, and societal collapse through the eyes of an unnamed protagonist. The narrative is described as circular and dreamlike, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. Delany's writing style is noted for its poetic descriptions, vivid imagery, and experimental structure that plays with the concept of time and space.

Characters:

The characters in the novel are diverse and complex, representing a spectrum of sexual identities and social dynamics as they navigate the challenges of life in Bellona.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is dense, poetic, and often fragmented, featuring stream-of-consciousness techniques and metafictional elements that challenge the reader's perception.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around an unnamed protagonist known as The Kid, who navigates the mysterious and decaying city of Bellona, encountering surreal events and complex interpersonal relationships without a clear resolution of the surrounding disaster.

Setting:

The story is set in the surreal and chaotic city of Bellona, a post-apocalyptic environment that serves as a backdrop for exploring themes of identity and societal norms.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and deliberate, sometimes dragging in places, with a focus on introspection and character interactions more than action.

Beginning in this tone, for us, is a little odd, but such news stands out, to your editor's mind, as the impressive occurrence in our eccentric history. Ernest Newboy, the most notable English-languag...

Notes:

Dhalgren is often described as one of the most polarizing works in science fiction, provoking strong reactions of both love and hate.

The protagonist, known as The Kid, navigates the surreal, decaying city of Bellona, which is mysteriously cut off from the rest of America.

The city of Bellona contains bizarre features such as a huge red sun, the appearance of two moons, and a distorted sense of time.

The narrative is non-linear and heavily relies on a stream-of-consciousness style, evoking dream-like sequences and fragmented storytelling.

The book explores themes of sexual identity and relationships in explicit detail, including polyamory and group sex, marking a departure from Delany's earlier works.

Written after a five-year hiatus following Delany's novel Nova, Dhalgren crystallizes his stylistic evolution and thematic focus on sexuality, race, and the nature of identity.

Dhalgren features a mix of poetic elements intertwined with prose, making it a distinctive literary experience.

The book is noted for its metafictional qualities, with The Kid often writing poetry and keeping a journal throughout his journey, leading to a reflexive commentary on the nature of storytelling and authorship.

Readers often describe Dhalgren as a challenging read, with complex narrative structures that may require multiple readings for full comprehension.

Dhalgren has achieved cult status and is often regarded as a significant yet difficult entry in the canon of science fiction literature.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Dhalgren include graphic sexual content, depictions of violence, and themes related to mental illness.

Has Romance?

Dhalgren includes explicit and significant sexual relationships, indicating a high presence of romance.

From The Publisher:

In one of the most profound and bestselling science fiction novels of all time, Samuel R. Delany has produced a novel "to stand with the best American fiction of the 1970s" (Jonathan Lethem).

Bellona is a city at the dead center of the United States. Something has happened there … The population has fled. Madmen and criminals wander the streets. Strange portents appear in the cloud-covered sky. Into this disaster zone comes a young man-poet, lover, and adventurer-known only as the Kid.

Tackling questions of race, gender, and sexuality, Dhalgren is a literary marvel and groundbreaking work of American magical realism.

Ratings (6)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (2)
Liked It (1)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (25):

Read It (6)
Want To Read (17)
Not Interested (2)

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About the Author:

After his seventh novel, Empire Star (1966), Samuel R. Delany began publishing short fiction professionally with "The Star Pit." It appeared in Worlds of Tomorrow and was turned into a popular two-hour radio play, broadcast annually over WBAI-FM for more than a decade. Two tales, "Aye,…

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Dhalgren

Samuel R. Delany