mobi

The work/energy crisis and the apocalypse - George Caffentzis

1980 essay by George Caffentzis examining capitalist society following the 1973 energy and economic crisis amidst the widespread refusal of work by women and the young.

The litany of natural stuffs - petroleum, natural gas, uranium, coal, wood, water, sunlight - apprehension about their limits, joy in their abundance, skepticism about their benefits, pass for the bulk of "analyses" of the "energy crisis" that "we" face.

The stars my destination - Alfred Bester

In a world where transportation is possible with a thought, prisoners break free, economies crash and the slums emptied. Gully Foyle is marooned in space with a material that could destroy the universe. He has to give it away, but to who?

Heart of a Dog - Mikhail Bulgakov

A scientist implants the testicles and pituitary gland of a recently deceased man into a stray dog, creating a monster. A damning critique of the New Soviet man and the Leninist program, written in 1925 it remained unpublished until 1987.

Last exit to Brooklyn - Hubert Selby Jr.

Film adaptation directed by Uli Edel

Series of stories set in 1950s Brooklyn; a local union official struggles with his sexuality during a strike, a sex worker trawls the bars for sailors and steals their money, and a crossdresser is thrown out of her home. Trigger warning, features a rape passage.

Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

Former World War II bomber Joseph Heller's 1961 satirical masterpiece is a savage indictment of military madness and stupidity, and the desire of the ordinary man to survive it. It is a tale of the dangerously sane Captain Yossarian, who spends his time in Italy plotting to survive. It does, however, contain casual sexism throughout.

Jailbird - Kurt Vonnegut

Down by Law directed by Jim Jarmusch

Story of a man recently released from prison after serving time for his role in the Watergate scandal, while discussing the history of the American labour movement, political system and the 'Red Scare' of the late 1950s.

Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut

Film adaptation directed by George Roy Hill

Vonnegut's darkly humourous novel recounting the story of an ill-prepared soldier and the grim reality of the Second World War.

A fourth-generation German-American
now living in easy circumstances
on Cape Cod
[and smoking too much],
who, as an American infantry scout
hors de combat,
as a prisoner of war,
witnessed the fire-bombing of Dresden, Germany,
'The Florence of the Elbe,'
a long time ago,
and survived to tell the tale.
This is a novel
somewhat in the telegraphic schizophrenic
manner of tales

Manituana - Wu Ming

Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant

Fantastically researched historical fiction about the Iroquois, a group of native American tribes who side with the British during the American war in independence.

Ham on rye - Charles Bukowski

Semi-autobiographical 'coming-of-age' novel, telling the story of a young man growing up in Los Angeles during the Great Depression.

1

The first thing I remember is being under something. It was a table, I
saw a table leg, I saw the legs of the people, and a portion of the
tablecloth hanging down. It was dark under there, I liked being under there.
It must have been in Germany. I must have been between one and two years

Mo said she was quirky - James Kelman

Helen's on her way back from work when she sees a homeless man that reminds her of her long lost brother and sends her into a reverie. 24 hours following the thoughts of a mother, a girlfriend and a croupier.