Indie Street Reads #43 • 08/29/10
HOW TO LIVE SAFELY IN A SCIENCE FICTIONAL UNIVERSE
PANTHEON
Time travel is a hot topic right now, yes? People love thinking about this mathematical implausibility in terms of things like LOST, Dr. Who, etc. But maybe it’s not so implausible. I mean, computers and stuff… you know? Anyway, what we have here is an excellent piece of fiction relating to the subject. However, the elements that truly shine are not the non-linear/“post-modern” syntax and style but rather the elements of the fictional universe that are written to seem alienating but actually only make the book more relatable and, in a sense, romantic. There’s a strong sense of isolation and longing here which, as any fan of the podcast knows, is right up Indie Street’s alley. In the press releases for this book, Pantheon jokes that the book has no audience. This is pretty far from the truth. This book would certainly appeal to any fans of the science fiction genre, the “high-brow” literary crowd, and even anyone who has any depth of knowledge of pop culture… and that’s where a lot of the humor comes from. There’s another important distinction, you’ll fly through this book because it’s so lighthearted. It really reminded me of something like Snow Crash in that sense. Also: excellent cover art and lettering on both the hardcover and paperback editions of this book.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2010 | $24
What To Listen To While Reading This Book:
The Secret Stars – Genealogies
