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59th out of 160 books
—
109 voters
Mythmakers and Lawbreakers: Anarchist Writers on Fiction
by
Margaret Killjoy (Goodreads Author) ,
Kim Stanley Robinson
“Basically, anarchy is in fact the only political position that is actually possible.”—from the interview with Alan Moore, author of V for Vendetta
We all know that there is a deeply entwined relationship between personal politics and works of fiction. For centuries, authors have used the veil of fiction to cast a critical eye toward the larger society around them: think of...more
We all know that there is a deeply entwined relationship between personal politics and works of fiction. For centuries, authors have used the veil of fiction to cast a critical eye toward the larger society around them: think of...more
Paperback, 140 pages
Published
October 1st 2009
by AK Press
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Very inspiring. The authors interviewed actually have wildly varying degrees of anarchist-ness, or political leanings. What makes it interesting is the d.i.y. spirit and the ways the authors have of looking at publishing as a business and writing as a political act, or not. I really enjoyed the casual nature of many of the interviews, and the open-endedness of the discussion. A thread throughout seems to be that we tend to put the author on a pedestal and emphasize the work of art as a commodity...more
The interviewees in this book are varied - an interesting mix of perspectives, backgrounds, and styles. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, many of them write science fiction or fantasy. But others write fictionalized autobiography, eco-thrillers, or children's lit. Their responses are a bit hit or miss, though just about everyone had at least one interesting to say. I'd already read a fair number of interviews with both Le Guin and Moore previously, and they largely repeat here things they've said elsewhe...more
My rating for this one teetered between three and four stars. This book is mostly a collection of interviews with authors who have expressed an interest in anarchism that's expressed in their fiction. Many of the interviews are with anarchist activists who happen to have an interest in fiction. In addition, there are four or five interviews with significant figures in speculative fiction/comics (Alan Moore, Ursula LeGuin, for example). Kim Stanley Robinson provides a nifty introduction.
The reaso...more
The reaso...more
So you wouldn't naturally put an anarchist press and amazon.com together, but here's the news. You can buy a book entitled Myth makers and Lawbreakers edited by Margaret Killjoy with a forward by Kim Stanley Robinson on amazon. This is a lovely book in terms of feel and size, but wait until you begin reading what these anarchist writers have to say.
In this book that also includes an interview with Ursula K. Le Guin, you will find an interview of one Octavio Buenaventura. I know dear Octavio fro...more
In this book that also includes an interview with Ursula K. Le Guin, you will find an interview of one Octavio Buenaventura. I know dear Octavio fro...more
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Dang. A book about anarchism and writing fiction. What could be more up my alley...
The interviews were all pretty sweet. There is a crystal clear distinction between the authors who are reclusive type anarchisty thinkers (Ursula K. Leguin, Alan Moore) and the younger anarchist authors clearly immersed in contemporary anarchist subculture (crimethinc., octavio). Mostly that the younger (I assume) subculture saturated writers took the opportunity to talk some trash and fight the good in-fight, whe...more
The interviews were all pretty sweet. There is a crystal clear distinction between the authors who are reclusive type anarchisty thinkers (Ursula K. Leguin, Alan Moore) and the younger anarchist authors clearly immersed in contemporary anarchist subculture (crimethinc., octavio). Mostly that the younger (I assume) subculture saturated writers took the opportunity to talk some trash and fight the good in-fight, whe...more
When the term “anarchy” is heard, most people think of the “circle-A” graffiti on crumbling buildings and the T-shirts of punk rock kids, or else imagine a state of complete lawlessness and the breakdown of society. Popular culture does nothing to dispel these collective thoughts. In theory and philosophy, anarchy refers to the absence of a state or rulers and a society in which there is no vertical hierarchy of class, but instead a horizontal equality of societal participants. Margaret Killjoy,...more
This rules!--er, doesn't rule, but works cooperatively to enhance our understanding of stories and their importance!
I started doing zines in 1993, and I've had fiction in them since I started. From Mishap #17:
"...we fucking need new stories. I'm not making a claim for the greatness of my own, but we need stories whose values and reference points are located within anarchy and our hopes for a better world."
Within Killjoy's collection of interviews nearly every point I would make about the importa...more
I started doing zines in 1993, and I've had fiction in them since I started. From Mishap #17:
"...we fucking need new stories. I'm not making a claim for the greatness of my own, but we need stories whose values and reference points are located within anarchy and our hopes for a better world."
Within Killjoy's collection of interviews nearly every point I would make about the importa...more
Oct 12, 2009
Tinea
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anarchists and writers
Shelves:
anarchism-and-activism
"Any book that doesn’t start from the fact that this culture is killing the planet and work to resolve that is unforgivable. We’d be better off with blank pages."
-Derrick Jensen
"I guess when I was 17 or 18 and I started doing Food Not Bombs and working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in south Florida. ... I was becoming an activist outside of my brain, outside of creating art. And by being more involved in the world, I started thinking about my identity: who fucked me over, why am I the...more
-Derrick Jensen
"I guess when I was 17 or 18 and I started doing Food Not Bombs and working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in south Florida. ... I was becoming an activist outside of my brain, outside of creating art. And by being more involved in the world, I started thinking about my identity: who fucked me over, why am I the...more
Jan 23, 2010
Steev Hise
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
political-minded fiction readers, activists
Recommended to Steev by:
bht
This is pretty interesting stuff. It gets a bit redundant by about 2/3 of the way through. Some of it is sort of like reading celebrity interviews in something like People magazine, only more niche-market of course, but still with the more famous authors it's a little bit... fawning or fannish. Then the other lesser-known authors are mostly traveller kid types like the editor, so it sort of devolves into a friendly compare-notes kind of chat about lifestyle and "war stories" and such. But, overa...more
When the term “anarchy” is heard, most people think of the “circle-A” graffiti on crumbling buildings and the T-shirts of punk rock kids, or else imagine a state of complete lawlessness and the breakdown of society. Popular culture does nothing to dispel these collective thoughts. In theory and philosophy, anarchy refers to the absence of a state or rulers and a society in which there is no vertical hierarchy of class, but instead a horizontal equality of societal participants. Margaret Killjoy,...more
A compilation of interviews with writers who incorporate Anarchism and Anarchist themes in their work. To those who don't understand or misunderstand Anarchism, this book will enlighten. To those who do know something about Anarchism, it is an introduction to the most progressive fiction writers in the world today and a barometer of the growing dissatisfaction with corporate and government authoritarianism. These are not just 'fringe crazies'. These are thoughtful people with an alternative pers...more
I was worried when I bought this that the content might not be worth the price, but this is a good book of interviews; interesting and thought provoking.
Oct 01, 2009
Jose
marked it as to-read
Just arrived at AK Press (9/30/09). You can order it at:
http://www.akpress.org/2009/items/myt...
http://www.akpress.org/2009/items/myt...
They're not all, to me, the most interesting interviews, but enough of them are super interesting!
A very interesting collection of interviews with anarchist fiction writers. I like the overall them the author held throughout the book; a story can explore possibilities and have a tendency to stick better versus theory. I have read nothing but non-fiction for the past couple years and I look forward to the refreshing references Margaret offers. The best part about this book, I think, is the anarchist fiction writer appendix.
Margaret does an excellent job interviewing anarchist writers, but I wanted more: essays on the history of anarchist fiction, excerpts. Nonetheless, this little volume has inspired me to try my hand at short stories again (maybe a bad thing, as my few attempts have been absolutely dismal!). Books that inspire are my favorite books of all.
Interviews with writers of fiction who are anarchists, self-described or otherwise.
Also, if you have a chance to see the "power point presentation" I recommend it.
Also, if you have a chance to see the "power point presentation" I recommend it.
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In addition to writing, Margaret is an itinerant creator, the founder of SteamPunk Magazine and Graceless: A Journal Of The Radical Gothic, and plays the accordion.
More about Margaret Killjoy...
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