Yesterday in the middle of the night I just finished that most peculiar book of his, 'The Elementary Particles'.

It dawns on me this is a book comparable to Brave New World - its implications are so numerous, it left me dizzy. Anyone read some of his works?

If not, I'm just planting his name here, so that you know he exists. And writes books that are very, very, very 21st century.

Ooh, loved brave new world... Might go off on a Michel Houellebecq book hunting spree tommorow... Thanks for the heads up

Yes, this goes further than BNW - it integrates all the recent discoveries in biomolecular and biogenetics, and sets it on the background of the advanced materialism of the end of the 20th century. His 2 prologues are golden, the epilogue... Unsettling.

Huxley wrote BNW in the 30s (1931 I think?), and could only hint at what the world would become; his 'Fordism' was a reaction to the introduction of industrial production with the Ford's Model T (Ford pioneered the factory assembly chain). The El. Particles was writtem in 98.

The book does mention BNW - there's a discussion in it, how we WISH we'd be in the BNW, but are not - we can't even get there, re. 'free love', 'soma' and 'genetic perfection". Advertizing sells BNW, but reality differs greatly; the characters of his books are unhappy, and for many good reasons.

I hope you're over 18 though, I think you are, I forgot. This is a crude book. I've never read anything like that - and I read a lot. Some passage reminds of Sade, but Sade lived in the 18th century, before individualism became the norm like today; Sade was a pioneered of individualism, 2 centuries later we live in his world.

For everyone's info, Houellebeqc is a French writer, hugely controversial. He's been into trials for racism and defamation, etc. The man is not just a punky agent provocateur: he did his studies, he's learned, he's free, he's inquiring.

You wonder reading this book if it's a pageant to humanity or a landscape of desolation, it is both undoubtedly.

PiHKAL a must read if you liked BNW

Hmmmm cactus......... XD ;)

Thanks hugo I'll have to check it out.

I love quantum mechanics / physics...

Did a quick search on google. Read a few of his poems, very freakin good, Then I read a few of his excerpts, wow. The whole time while reading his stuff I kept thinkng this is how a person would write if they had never been loved or really gave a damn about sociaty thoughts. Then I read his bio, made much more sense. I think his writing speaks to a lot of people becuase he seems to write about thoughts and subjects that people find uncomfortable, but still have. Gona have to read more.

@ hugo Moi ce type j'en entends que du mal : ses livres sont primés mais les gens trouvent ça affreux !...alors je ne me suis jamais lancé...
J'ai pas trop compris ce que tu racontes dessus par rapport à l'autre bouquin : 'BNW' jamais entendu parlé...mais si t'as un avis convainquant...n'hésite pas à m'n faire part ! Merci d'avance !

^ BNW is Brave New World, a classic book written by Aldous Huxley, on par with Orwell's 1984 in the Sci-Fi/Anticipation pantheon.

And yes, Houellebecq IS unsettling and controversial, but what he advances cannot be dismissed.

It's a bit like Spinoza; despised as an atheist, but admired for his virtues. What Houellebecq's writings is exploring is shocking, disgusting even, in a moral mindset; nonetheless it is true (as in, verified by facts and attitudes in current society). Everyone admires the rug, he lifts it a bit.

Houellebecq is challenging the moralistic society, not Moral itself. He's exploring the consequences of advanced liberalism and individualism - that is, the very epoch we're in.

Auré I'm not sure how old you are, but it is easier to relate to his books when you're in your 30s and above, and has several misfortunes under the hood; in effect, to have explored life's many defeats, but to still hope...

Yesterday I started a second of his book, 'Platform'. Read it till 3 am, halfway done. Very fresh cues on all the Asian sex trade, or the extension of liberalism now reaching bodies and souls......

Starting at $8 on Amazon!

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0375727019/ref=wl_itt_dp/702-8818097-9689615?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1BGG4ZW7WKUW8&colid=NWVCFPK0OB8B

Yes Houellebecq is one of the prominent french novelists today. He is controversial also because he couldn't care less about being politically correct and speaks his mind with talent. An other fascinating writer you might like is Alain Finkielkraut. He is a philosophy professor at Polytechnique school in France. He writes mostly from a reality and factual point of view and derives the philosophical implications, often unknown to most who hold their views. The reading of Finkielkraut makes it hard to be impressed with most talking heads afterwards. He is in my opinion the most intelligent public figure in France today.

Last edited: Friday, November 10, 2006 at 8:31:53 AM

Lol Hugo I'm 28 :) so I'll try some Houellebecq soon. You convince me ! X !

Dazzle... I always took you to be very "straight", but after that recommendation I don't think I'm quite right... I think I'll be looking for that too, though... If you have any reccomendations for a first year art student (not of the book sort) my email is in the profile...

And hugo, looked for it today, to no avail, only to hunt on the internet and find out that the Uk title is "atomised"... Just incase anyone else is looking. Just have to finish reading my Amy Hempel book first...