Classic Fantasy
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A Voyage to Arcturus
by David Lindsaypublished
April 1st 2002
(first published 1920)
by Bison Books
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binding
Paperback, 274 pages
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isbn
0803280041
(isbn13: 9780803280045)
description
A stunning achievement in speculative fiction, A Voyage to Arcturus has inspired, enchanted & unsettled readers for decades. It is simultaneously...more
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bookshelves:
literature
recommends it for: anyone willing to be challenged in their core beliefs
Read in January, 1970
recommended to erik by:
high school friendrecommends it for: anyone willing to be challenged in their core beliefs
This is one of the most incredibly eccentric philosophical fantasy novels ever written!
The Scottish writer David Lindsay died in 1945. He is usually regarded as a fantasy writer. While he wrote a great deal, most of his works are hard to find, out-of-print, neglected. Voyage to Arcturus is the exception, having become a bit of a cult classic and reprinted again and again in paperback editions.
The title suggests science fiction. It is not. Arcturus is a device, a metaphysical stage, ...more
The Scottish writer David Lindsay died in 1945. He is usually regarded as a fantasy writer. While he wrote a great deal, most of his works are hard to find, out-of-print, neglected. Voyage to Arcturus is the exception, having become a bit of a cult classic and reprinted again and again in paperback editions.
The title suggests science fiction. It is not. Arcturus is a device, a metaphysical stage, ...more
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bookshelves:
sci-fi-fantasy
Read in June, 2008
recommended to Jabenami by:
C.S. Lewis
I have always been interested in the rather old school sci-fi, like Lewis's Space Trilogy and such. Back when there was very little character development and the protagonist existed as a vehicle for imagining a world vastly different than our own. Lindsay's book is very much in that vein; an exploration of what it means to be human using aliens. He has the bright idea of creating humanoids with extra sensory organs that mutate throughout the story and are used to explicitly display that which...more
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bookshelves:
fiction,
sciencefictionfantasy
Read in July, 2007
I read this because of the suggestion that the book might have some similarities or revelations about the TV show LOST. Some of it was interesting, but overall I felt totally confused and the payoff at the end wasn't big enough to justify the read. For a science fiction novel to have so many characters over such a short span, and so many places with no map, it was easy to feel confused. Plus the whole idea is that you never know what is right, what is wrong, who is good, who is bad, etc. and ...more
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bookshelves:
sci-fi
Read in January, 2008
If only I had read the blurb on the back which said something like "a modern Pilgrims Progress" I would have saved myself the boredom and the frustration. I found the structure ridiculously over the top pragmatic, the allegory and the symbolism tiresome, and any motivation to mull over all this sci-fi pseudo religious mumbo jumbo was seriously lacking. I'd say not a book for your run of the mill atheist, especially one who doesn't even like sci-fi. I might be missing something since it...more
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This is one of the msot striking novels i have ever read.An earthling, Maskull, travels to the planet Tormance which orbits the star Arcturus. Maskull meets all sorts of beings and grows all sorts of organs. It is bascially a philosopical quest and Mskull meets beings who espouse and live by different world views and his new organs have him perceive the world in different ways.. It is done very imaginatively and effectively. I do not agree with the final metaphysical view of the novel but it i...more
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In my opinion this is the greatest sci fi fantasy novel ever written. I first discovered it in a book on the subconscious and fantasy literature, and then went hunting. This man is horribly under-appreciated. I was astounded when I discovered the original publication date. Highly influenced by George Macdonald. Arcturus is a fully-fleshed out religious philosophy, with remarkable descriptions, and lots of odd and wonderful flourishes.
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recommends it for:
theosophists and SF nerds
The writing swings from mediocre to pretty OK over the course of the story. What saves this book is the creativity and originality of the story. It feels like the author is taking the reader on a journey through a strange dream and is revealing "deep" secrets of the 19th century theosophical movement. He dabbles in a bit of neoplatonism a pinch of gnostic theology and there: we have a nice little sci-fi story.
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Like drinking a cup of pure imagination.
Like alcohol, it sets your head reeling.
Filled with marvelous descriptions of imaginary lands, the imaginary lands seem to be some romantic outcropping of the author's intriguing philosophy/religious beliefs
It's Scottish.
Reminded me of Pilgrim's Progress, Dante's Inferno, Lewis' Out of The Silent Planet.
Harold Bloom wrote a sequel to this.
Like alcohol, it sets your head reeling.
Filled with marvelous descriptions of imaginary lands, the imaginary lands seem to be some romantic outcropping of the author's intriguing philosophy/religious beliefs
It's Scottish.
Reminded me of Pilgrim's Progress, Dante's Inferno, Lewis' Out of The Silent Planet.
Harold Bloom wrote a sequel to this.
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Read in October, 2007
If anyone likes C.S. Lewis' space trilogy but with hermaphrodite eroticism, drug allusions, and goddess fertility cult mythology - this is the book for you.
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Read in January, 2004
A brutal and peculiar book. I found it difficult to read. Many people are interested in gnosticism, but this book's version is both bleak and obviously sincere.
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bookshelves:
unknown-greats
Read in December, 2007
This is a book full of philosophy and conflict that has influenced many, including C.S. Lewis and Harold Bloom.
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If you can get over the atrocious editing in this book, it's a pretty great read.
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bookshelves:
science-fiction
Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in May, 2005
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bookshelves:
science-fictionfantacy
odd...very odd...must re-read and sit...and think...
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