Books matching: absurdist elements
37 result(s)
- #1
Save:The Nightly Disease by Max Booth III follows the story of Isaac, a depressed and misanthropic night auditor at a hotel in Texas. The novel delves into his life filled with absurd and darkly humorous elements, such as encounters with owls and a series of unfortunate events that push him to the edge. The writing style is described as a blend of black comedy, gory vividness, and a seething hatred for humanity, reminiscent of David Lynch and Thomas Ligotti, with a touch of Chuck Palahniuk's angry young man rants.
Isaac's character is portrayed as a flawed and relatable individual who navigates through a life filled with disasters and hardships, all while maintaining a sense of humor and resilience. The book captures the essence of a soul-crushing job, misadventures, and hallucinatory experiences, all wrapped in a narrative that is violent, absurd, and entertaining.
'The Beast That Shouted Love at the Heart of the World' by Harlan Ellison is a collection of speculative fiction stories that mark the reader with their unique and hard-hitting style. The book includes award-winning tales like "A Boy and His Dog" and "The Beast That Shouted Love at the Heart of the World," which are known for their strong emotional impact and memorable endings. Ellison's writing style is described as poetic, strange, and sometimes impenetrable, with stories that hop erratically between different settings and themes, challenging readers to pay close attention and interpret the narrative.
I’ve been reading Harlan Ellison since I was a boy. I have known him as long, although by no means as well, as his wife, Susan—we met in Glasgow in 1985 at the same convention at which he first met an...- #3
Save:The Crooked God Machine by Autumn Christian is a dark and surreal tale set on the Black Planet, where a masked God terrorizes the inhabitants through the television. The protagonist, Charles, navigates a world filled with nightmare elements like swamp witches, plague machines, and hell shuttles, seeking understanding and love amidst the chaos. The writing style is described as poetic, surreal, and bleak, reminiscent of a meeting point between Philip K. Dick, Anne Rice, and Kerouac, creating a world where darkness is the norm and light is a stranger.
My Daddy’s hands were like burnt maps. He said if we wanted to learn how to conquer the world, all we had to do was look at his hands. After working at the factory he used to sit at the kitchen table ... - #4
Save:Many readers found 'Deadeye Dick' to be a darkly humorous and tragic novel, typical of Kurt Vonnegut's style. The story follows the life of Rudy Waltz, a character who experiences a series of unfortunate events, including a double homicide and the detonation of a neutron bomb over Midland City. Vonnegut weaves together elements of humor, wit, and satire to explore themes of war, violence, and the impact of weapons on society. The writing style is described as meandering, with a mix of dark humor and emotional detachment that is uniquely Vonnegut.
I have caught life. I have come down with life. I was a wisp of undifferentiated nothingness, and then a little peephole opened quite suddenly. Light and sound poured in. Voices began to describe me a... - #5
Save:The Portmanteau Book by Thomas Rockwell is a unique collection of poems, short fiction, interviews, mock ads, puzzles, and weird comics that captivates readers with its experimental and quirky nature. The book includes a storyline involving five kids trying to beat the heat in a time when air conditioning was a luxury, alongside other short stories, bad poetry, and faux advertisements. The author's writing style is described as full of crazy ideas and images, capturing the mind of a child perfectly and offering a blend of creativity and warped humor that appeals to both children and adults.
- #6
Save:'The Eternal Husband' by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a novella that explores the complex relationship between two very different men, Trusotsky and Velchaninov. Trusotsky is portrayed as a drunk and feverish character, while Velchaninov is a respected and wealthy man. The story delves into their past connection through Trusotsky's deceased wife, leading to a tense and unsettling interaction between the two men. The novella is described as a dark comedy, blurring the lines between humor and horror as the characters engage in a cat-and-mouse game that escalates to a dramatic confrontation.
The narrative of 'The Eternal Husband' is praised for its psychological depth and exploration of themes such as guilt, fidelity, and the complexities of human relationships. Dostoyevsky's writing style is noted for its ability to delve into the protagonist's psyche, dissecting their inner turmoil and mental torment with intricate detail. The novella is commended for its unpredictability, ironic ending, and the way it delves into the themes of repentance, madness, and the haunting nature of past indiscretions.
- #7
Save:"Death and the Penguin" by Andrey Kurkov follows the story of Viktor, a struggling writer who adopts a penguin named Misha from the Kiev zoo. Viktor's life takes a turn when he is hired to write obituaries for the living, and mysterious deaths start occurring around the subjects of his obituaries. Set in post-communist Ukraine, the novel offers a black comedy full of humor and pathos, with elements of surrealism and a touch of midlife crisis. The relationship between Viktor, Misha, and a young girl named Sonya adds depth to the story, while the atmospheric setting and quirky characters create an intriguing narrative.
First, a stone landed a metre from Viktor’s foot. He glanced back. Two louts stood grinning, one of whom stooped, picked up another from a section of broken cobble, and bowled it at him skittler-fashi... - #8
Save:Software by Rudy Rucker is a gritty, gripping science fiction novel that explores cyberpunk themes in a retro Pulp or early Golden Age format. The story is set in a future world where robots have rebelled against their enslavement to humanity and offer immortality to their creator, Cobb Anderson, in the form of a robot body with his own taped memories. The plot follows Cobb Anderson, an aging 'pheezer' in Florida, as he is approached by a representative of the robots, known as boppers, with the offer of immortality. The book delves into themes of sentient robots, old age, and the transmigration of the soul, presenting interesting science fiction concepts alongside bits of lurid imagery and unsubtle social commentary.
A computer disguised in an ice cream truck, a party animal teenager, and a retired drunkard are the unlikely heroes in this near-future setting. The tone of the book is described as funny, fresh, and original, providing a quick, fun read with good characters and a unique take on the transition from human to robotic bodies.
Cobb Anderson would have held out longer, but you don't see dolphins every day. There were twenty of them, fifty, rolling in the little gray waves, wicketting up out of the water. It was good to see t... - #9
Save:'Lord of Dark Places' by Hal Bennett is a provocative and intense read that delves into themes of mythology, religion, racism, misogyny, homosexuality, war, patriotism, and more. The writing style is described as authentic and cringe-worthy, with graphic descriptions that push readers out of their comfort zones. The plot weaves together social, racial, political, religious, sexual, and moral issues, challenging readers to confront uncomfortable truths and perspectives.
The author uses an uneducated and underrepresented character to make a poignant statement about the importance of wisdom and education in achieving greatness. explores themes of duality, harmony from chaos, and the complexity of love and hatred. The writing style is characterized by contradiction and explicitness, leading to a thought-provoking and intense reading experience.
- #10
Save:Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins is a whimsical and unconventional love story between a princess and an outlaw. The book explores the theme of making love last, as the central question revolves around the idea of eternal love. Through the quirky characters of Princess Leigh-Cheri and Bernard Wrangler, Robbins weaves a tale filled with humor, philosophy, and social commentary. The writing style is described as poetic, with unique metaphors and insightful theories that challenge traditional storytelling norms.
IN THE LAST QUARTER of the twentieth century, at a time when Western civilization was declining too rapidly for comfort and yet too slowly to be very exciting, much of the world sat on the edge of an ...
