A Voyage to Arcturus David Lindsay 9781545097687 Books
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A Voyage to Arcturus is a novel by Scottish writer David Lindsay, first published in 1920. It combines fantasy, philosophy, and science fiction in an exploration of the nature of good and evil and their relationship with existence. Critic and philosopher Colin Wilson described it as the "greatest novel of the twentieth century", and it was a central influence on C. S. Lewis' Space Trilogy. J. R. R. Tolkien said he read the book "with avidity". Clive Barker has stated " A Voyage to Arcturus is a masterpiece" and called it "an extraordinary work . . . quite magnificent."[4] An interstellar voyage is the framework for a narrative of a journey through fantastic landscapes. The story is set at Tormance, an imaginary planet orbiting Arcturus, which, in the novel (but not in reality) is a double star system, consisting of stars Branchspell and Alppain. The lands through which the characters travel represent philosophical systems or states of mind, through which the main character, Maskull, passes on his search for the meaning of life. Maskull, a man longing for adventures, accepts an invitation from Krag, an acquaintance of his friend Nightspore, to travel to Tormance after a seance. The three set off in a crystal ship from an abandoned observatory in Scotland but Maskull awakens to find himself alone on Tormance. In every land he passes through he usually meets only one or two persons; these meetings often (though not always) end in the death of those he meets, either at his own hand or by that of another. He learns of his own impending death, meets Krag again, and dies shortly after learning that he is in fact Nightspore himself. The book concludes with a final revelation from Krag (who claims to be known on Earth as "Pain") to Nightspore about the origin of the Universe. The author turns out to support a variation of the doctrine of the Demiurge, somewhat similar to that propounded by some Gnostics. All of the characters and lands are types used to convey the author's critique of several philosophical systems. On Tormance, most such viewpoints or ways of life are accompanied by corresponding new bodily sense organs or modifications of the same, thus each distinct Weltanschauung landscape has its corresponding sensorium. Subject voyage david arcturus the tor voyages lindsay haunted to classics book publishing lindsey a devils of columbus apple woman with books science fiction english paperback last violet christmas
A Voyage to Arcturus David Lindsay 9781545097687 Books
This is a seminal science fiction/fantasy novel that sold a mere 600 copies from its original print run, yet somehow those copies made their way into the hands of influential writers and critics. J.R.R. Tolkien was an admirer, and C.S. Lewis was evidently deeply influenced by this book. Later editions inspired horror writer Clive Barker and literary theorist Harold Bloom.Lindsay is not nearly so entertaining a writer as any of his more famous admirers. He is is dour, serious, and stubbornly unconcerned with the reader's need for things to make sense. Maskull the protagonist is on a quest with no particular goal. He goes from place to place and in each place his character changes radically for no apparent reason. Lindsay has a reason, but he's not letting the reader in on it, not even to extent of hinting that the reason exists.
It's all extremely off-putting and at first it seems like a long slog through bad writing. And in truth Lindsay does have his limitations as a writer, especially in rendering the exotic landscape of the alien planet. But after a while the book begins to exert a peculiar fascination. It's not *bad* writing; that's frustrating you, it's a bad attitude; an author who is totally uncompromising and unsentimental. He relentlessly frustrates the protagonist's attempts to make sense of the alien world Tormance while he relentlessly frustrates your attempts to make sense of the protagonist.
Then when he's done with us, Lindsay sweeps it all off the table. The journey he's subjected us to has ultimately had only one point: to demonstrate that while some human ideals may be beautiful and others repulsive, they're all equally futile. What we really long for is actually beyond human experience. It's not exactly a cheerful point of view, but it's delivered with integrity.
This is a book that few will ever try to read and fewer will finish. But I think there will always be some who attempt the journey and preservere to the end. It's one of the few reading experiences that I'd call "unique"
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A Voyage to Arcturus David Lindsay 9781545097687 Books Reviews
A Victorian-age man is swept to another planet, traveling through different regions there to understand the meaning of life. Turns out, the meaning of life is simply the author's nihilistic Demiurge philosophy. Understandable given a Brit who'd just endured World War I, but no profound insights unless you think acknowledging the world is full of pain is one. Look up Demiurge on Wikipedia to understand the underlying metaphysical theme ... but then you'll already know more, and more coherently, than this book will reveal.
A torturously slow, simplistic, disjointed read with a disappointing non-ending ... which is why it didn't sell when originally released in 1920. It isn't a good story and it isn't good philosophy. For sci-fi historians only, because its metaphysical musings delivered via a fantasy vehicle influenced C.S. Lewis and his Space Trilogy. My only guess is those who love it do so simply because it supports their own feelings that the world doesn't make sense and is full of pain, and theological desire to explain it via the Demiurge approach to the nature of God and the Why Is There Evil question. But Wikipedia does it better.
Especially annoyed by the "best book of the 20th century" quote marketing. Unbelievable. Out of copyright, so also available free, but don't be fooled by the first 10% which is decent - it goes downhill from there. This is like choosing to read Nietzsche ... for pleasure. Or spending hours viewing Rothko ... for artistic insight. Ain't gonna happen. It's extremely rare for me to pan a book, but this one qualifies for an "act of mercy" warning to normal readers just looking for a good story ... because life is short.
I first read this book in high school roughly 45 years ago. It was one of my very favorites then. I reread it recently to see if it was only my inexperience and limited world view that caused me to like it so much. It wasn't. If anything, it improved significantly with the passage of time. One thing I didn't realize then (or now, until I googled it) is that it was written around the turn of the century. Unbelievable. It has such a modern feel I would have thought it was of recent vintage. It holds up amazingly well over all this time. If you've ever been confused about morality, mortality, or the meaning of life, you really should read this book.
A science fiction masterpiece. Complex, psychological and very much a philosophers journey into a parallel planet.
Imagine ( or read, as the human visitor to this place ) a beautiful unspoiled planet with two suns ( vividly described) inhabited by beings that communicate by thought , capable of exerting moral authority without force.
Many (famous) writers have copied, and failed to achieve the magic of this story. Before now, I would have placed
Asimov as the premier scifi writer. Well. make that Lindsay!
This is a seminal science fiction/fantasy novel that sold a mere 600 copies from its original print run, yet somehow those copies made their way into the hands of influential writers and critics. J.R.R. Tolkien was an admirer, and C.S. Lewis was evidently deeply influenced by this book. Later editions inspired horror writer Clive Barker and literary theorist Harold Bloom.
Lindsay is not nearly so entertaining a writer as any of his more famous admirers. He is is dour, serious, and stubbornly unconcerned with the reader's need for things to make sense. Maskull the protagonist is on a quest with no particular goal. He goes from place to place and in each place his character changes radically for no apparent reason. Lindsay has a reason, but he's not letting the reader in on it, not even to extent of hinting that the reason exists.
It's all extremely off-putting and at first it seems like a long slog through bad writing. And in truth Lindsay does have his limitations as a writer, especially in rendering the exotic landscape of the alien planet. But after a while the book begins to exert a peculiar fascination. It's not *bad* writing; that's frustrating you, it's a bad attitude; an author who is totally uncompromising and unsentimental. He relentlessly frustrates the protagonist's attempts to make sense of the alien world Tormance while he relentlessly frustrates your attempts to make sense of the protagonist.
Then when he's done with us, Lindsay sweeps it all off the table. The journey he's subjected us to has ultimately had only one point to demonstrate that while some human ideals may be beautiful and others repulsive, they're all equally futile. What we really long for is actually beyond human experience. It's not exactly a cheerful point of view, but it's delivered with integrity.
This is a book that few will ever try to read and fewer will finish. But I think there will always be some who attempt the journey and preservere to the end. It's one of the few reading experiences that I'd call "unique"
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