The New Weird discussion

Kafka, Barker, Borges, Peake, Delany, Le Guin; what appeals to us New Weird fans? Post a title you think that the rest of us would like.

Some of the weirdest short fiction I have ever come across can now only be found on the Wayback Machine. Surreal, nightmarish, and uncanny, the Oneiromantic Ambiguity Collective's "batches" of ultra-short prose experiment with a dream-like style that I find irresistibly creepy. Read a batch or two if you dare... I'd love to hear what you think. Here's the link: web.archive.org/web/20060901144328/ww...

Thanks for this. I'll check it out.

I've had Delaney's, Dhalgren for awhile- been meaning to read it. From what I've heard I think it would be a book people here would be interested in if they haven't already read it.
Barker- you mean Clive Barker, right? I love everything of his that I've read. I guess my favorites so far would be both of the Book of the Art books- The Great and Secret Show and Everville. Weaveworld was also very good. His writing is so addictive.
I would love someone to suggest some good Borges, because I've been meaning to pick up some of his work for awhile.
Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness was a great book. Dispossesed was pretty good too. I'm just not sure her writing moves me as much as many other authors do. I also have Peake's Gormenghast Trilogy, but haven't started it yet cause it seems so daunting sitting there in all its hugeness and old style writing on my bookshelf.
I'm not really into short story collections, but the ones you mentioned, Cog look intriguing enough to check out.
Don't know where you came from Cog, but I am enjoying your discussion prompts.

Amanda wrote: "I've had Delaney's..."

Thanks, Amanda; I've got this theory that China Mieville and Jeffrey Ford have simply combined all of the aspects of a stylistic archetype or aesthetic form that has otherwise been imperfectly or partially expressed in other genres. (probably not true at all, but it seems true; like I've finally found a genre that gives me everything that interests and excites me.)

More suggestions: I just finished Scott Lynch's first book, which is a historical urban fantasy with especially vibrant characters and an interesting religion. He's now on my official favorites list. And I just started on Gene Wolfe's New Sun series, which already seems suitably dark and stylistically odd for you folks to appreciate.

Cog wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I've had Delaney's..."

Thanks, Amanda; I've got this theory that China Mieville and Jeffrey Ford have simply combined all of the aspects of a stylistic archetype or aesthetic form t..."

Do you mean The Lies of Locke Lamora? I read it and thought it was pretty good, but didn't love it. I've been meaning to start Red Seas Under Red Skies sometime soon.
Wolfe is amazing on all possible levels. His books are the rare kind that can be read several times and still not be totally grasped. The New Sun is one of my all-time favorites. I recently started reading the coda for The New Sun tetralogy called The Urth of the New Sun and I imagine I'm probably unraveling about a quarter, [if I'm lucky!:] of the layers he has woven. I hope you enjoy The New Sun!

I think you guys might like Child of the River: Book 1 of the Confluence by Paul McAuley. Check it out- it's absolutely original. I haven't finished it yet but am loving it so far.
Has anyone else read The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien? Weird book, but it's great

Cog wrote: "Some of the weirdest short fiction I have ever come across can now only be found on the Wayback Machine. Surreal, nightmarish, and uncanny, the Oneiromantic Ambiguity Collective's "batches" of ultr..."

I am excited to check this out. The wayback is a great resource for all manner of bizarre materials. Thanks.

Couple more suggestions...

Ekaterina Sedia - just finished The Alchemy of Stone. Very nice litle book. I'm going to look into her others.

Steph Swainston -
The Year of Our War
No Present Like Time
The Modern World
A trilogy set within a world with various races of men and others. She is not the most graceful writer you will ever read, though her work is interesting,fun, and keep you on the line for more.

I dont get the hole New Wierd thing, i mean i know what kind of book it is but as a subgenre.


Which are important New Wierd reads ? Other than Meiville,Vandermeer of course.

Jeffery Ford continues to impress me. His short story collections are supreme in my opinion.

He has a couple of stories you can listen to for free at http://podcastle.org/

As far as pinning New Weird down as a sub-genre, well, that's not an easy task. At its worse, it becomes "Kitchen Sink" fiction. At its best, it balances science fiction, horror, and fantasy. See China Mieville's "Perdido Street Station" where a giant, sentient robot inhabits the same city as a Spider God with an ear fetish while Lovecraft's version of moths fly around drinking the sweet nectar of our consciousness.

Anyone else have a suggestion for Mohammed?

Thanks

I'm looking for names like Jeffrey Ford. I know several Ford's from other genres, the fantasy one that won World Fantasy award but not this Jeffrey Ford.

I know what type of genres it combines, i was interested in must read authors.

hey Mohammed,

In addition to the Big Three (Mieville, Vandermeer, Jeffrey Ford), the only other "must read" New Wierd author for me is M. JOHN HARRISON and his Viriconium novels/stories. His elegance of prose combined with chiaroscuro settings and archetypal characters makes him the fable-spinner of the bunch.

Mohammed wrote: "Thanks

I'm looking for names like Jeffrey Ford. I know several Ford's from other genres, the fantasy one that won World Fantasy award but not this Jeffrey Ford.

I know what type of genres it com..."

Mohammed wrote: "Thanks

I'm looking for names like Jeffrey Ford. I know several Ford's from other genres, the fantasy one that won World Fantasy award but not this Jeffrey Ford.

I know what type of genres it com..."

Steven wrote: "Jeffery Ford continues to impress me. His short story collections are supreme in my opinion.

He has a couple of stories you can listen to for free at http://podcastle.org/

As far as pinning New ..."

i think i'm confused, isn't jeffrey Ford you guys are talking about the one that did win the world fantasy award for The Physiognomist? Are you talking about a dif. Jeffrey Ford than this one Cog?

I just finished Light by M. John Harrison- very weird-very good!

Didnt he win an award for that one ?

M.John Harrison is pretty highly rated in SFF so i would try him new weird or not.

I think its a bit annoying except Meiville these authors recommended to me in this topic are impossible to find in library system around the country.

I have to get the books online or buy a paperback book of theirs.

Michael Cisco's The Divinity Student. It's the best book I've ever read. Totally bizarre, creative, surreal, weird, and brave.

So many new books to read. You guys are costing me a fortune.

This is especially true with weird fiction, as the best stuff seems to be only available from expensive small press publishers.

Amanda wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "isn't the jeffrey Ford you guys are talking about the one that won the world fantasy award for The Physiognomist?"

That's the one!

Getting a neat looking book- Heart of Veridon Looks interesting

Amanda wrote: "Getting a neat looking book- Heart of Veridon Looks interesting"

This does look very interesting. Have you finished it yet?

Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Getting a neat looking book- Heart of Veridon Looks interesting"

This does look very interesting. Have you finished it yet?"

haven't got it yet actually, still waiting for it to arrive. should be here any day now though

Amanda wrote: "Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Getting a neat looking book- Heart of Veridon Looks interesting"

This does look very interesting. Have you finished it yet?"

haven't got it yet actually, still..."


AND now?

Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Getting a neat looking book- Heart of Veridon Looks interesting"

This does look very interesting. Have you finished it yet?"

haven't got it yet actu..."


No, it's still not here. i don't know why it's taking so long, it should be here by now. I think it might be taking awhile because it's the holidays and the mail is always slower this time of year around here.

Amanda wrote: "Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Getting a neat looking book- Heart of Veridon Looks interesting"

This does look very interesting. Have you finished it yet?"

have..."

Well, let me know how it turns out once it finally shows up ;)

Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Getting a neat looking book- Heart of Veridon Looks interesting"

This does look very interesting. Have you finished it ..."


I finally got it yesterday. Don't know if i'll be able to start it right off with so many other books already going, but i read the first few pages and it has a pretty decent start. Never know what to expect with a new author though

Amanda wrote: "Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Steven wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Getting a neat looking book- Heart of Veridon Looks interesting"

This does look very interesting. Have..."

What else are you reading?

a bunch of stuff, check my currently reading list. a couple though are Random Acts of Senseless Violence by Womack(i love that guy's writing), The Steel Tsar by Michael Moorcock, Nova Swing by M. John Harrison(one of my all-time fav. authors) and a few other books. I just finished More than Human last night. Absolutely fascinating book!! Have to catch up on a few reviews i gotta write, this is the last week of school so i should be able to get more reading done too. have u read anything exceptional lately?

I'm reading Flash Forward. It's a cool premise, but 70 pages in and not a whole lot has happened.

I also have the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" sitting on my desk. Have you read either of those?

Steven wrote: "I'm reading Flash Forward. It's a cool premise, but 70 pages in and not a whole lot has happened.

I also have the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" sitting on my desk. Have you read either of those?"

I've never heard of the first one, and the Dragon Tattoo one i've heard of a bunch, but i don't think it's really my type of thing. It's super popular though

Amanda wrote: "Steven wrote: "I'm reading Flash Forward. It's a cool premise, but 70 pages in and not a whole lot has happened.

I also have the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" sitting on my desk. Have you read..."

They're both really popular. I thought I would see what the big deal is :)

Flash Forward is unknown compared to Stieg Larsson books that was the most sold books of 2008.

Dont read it though because everyone else buy the books...

I'm going to give it a chance despite it's popularity.

I really liked "Let the Right one In" by John Ajvide Lindqvist, a Swedish Novelist.

Steig Larson, also Swedish, so you can see my logic that I'll also like his book. :)

Also, this Steig guy seems interesting.

How did u end up liking fast Forward Steven? i was thinking of maybe trying that one sometime

Amanda wrote: "How did u end up liking fast Forward Steven? i was thinking of maybe trying that one sometime"

I know it's really popular, but it just didn't do it for me. It was a great premise, but I never felt like much was at stake. Maybe I've been reading too many epics lately. Now, as for the other really popular book I'm reading "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", I'm enjoying that one immensely. I'm only about 140 pages in, but it has my interest, so I would suggest that one over Flash Forward.

Well,

I can't really say that the following really fits the new weird genre, but I would like to put out these two authors who definitely fall into the modern weird tale.

I have really enjoyed George Berguno's collection out of Ex Occidente Press, called "Sons of Ishmael." Saddly, I think the collection is out of print but there is a absolutely wonderous Berguno story that can be found for free at the following link...
http://absentwillowreview.com/archive...

This little story convinced me to snag the Berguno collection.

Anyone hear of D.P Watt? I am currently reading his recently published short story collection "Emporium of Automata." Its really superb so far.

As something that defines the roots of weird, right up there with the brothers Grimm, would be J. K. Huysmans, Against Natue.

Thanks Nikko :)

I think you would like my book... It is about a cannibal serial killer who loves eating fetuses and making soup out of his dead victims body parts and there is also a sex-addicted angel who also loves to eat human flesh =P