Life in the West

The Squire Quartet #1

by Brian W. Aldiss

Thomas C Squire, founder of the Society for Popular Aesthetics, one-time secret agent and successful hedonist faces a midlife crisis. That undermines the stability of his ancestral home in Norfolk. Following the creation of his TV documentary series, FRANKENSTEIN AMONG THE ARTS, Squire attends a conference of academics in Sicily. There, against a background of international rivalry, he becomes involved with the lovely if calculating Selina and the Russian Vasily. In counterpoint to the drama of the conference runs the story of Squire's private life: the horrifying circumstances of his father's death; his many affairs with women; and his fifteen-month separation from his wife. This brilliant novel, sometimes violent and always compassionate, moves from England to Sicily, from Singapore to the former Yugoslavia. LIFE IN THE WEST embodies the best characteristics of Brian Aldiss's writing: wit, human understanding, a fine turn of phrase and consummate storytelling.

Genres: Fiction, 20th Century

310 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Pseudonyms: Jael Cracken, Peter Pica, John Runciman, C.C. Shackleton, Arch Mendicant, & "Doc" Peristyle.

Brian Wilson Aldiss was one of the most important voices in science fiction writing today. He wrote his first novel while working as a bookseller in Oxford. Shortly afterwards he wrote his first work of science fiction and soon gained international recognition. Adored for his innovative literary techniques, evocative plots and irresistible characters, he became a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 1999.
Brian Aldiss died on August 19, 2017, just after celebrating his 92nd birthday with his family and closest friends.

Brian W. Aldiss Group on Good Reads

Reviews

[Richard Watt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aldiss is, of course, better known for science fiction - in fact, I'll wager that, for most people, he's only known as the author of the Helliconia trilogy, or that story (Supertoys Last All Summer Long) which inspired Kubrick / Spielberg's A.I. But he's what many people would consider a 'serious' author, too. In fact, it wouldn't be unfair to say that, at times, he's a bit too serious. This is a novel of ideas. More than that, it's a novel of ideas written in, and set in, the late 1970s, when men were Male Chauvinist Pigs (complete with capitals), and Marxist academics seemed to be on the point of overthrowing the established order. It's also in parts an English Country House novel; a spy thriller; a satire on the workings of what we were only beginning to call the Media; a spirited defence of science fiction; a David Lodge-style academic conference novel; a tale of thwarted and misdirected passion; and a semi-autobiographical family history.[return][return]Which is, to be frank, over-egging the pudding somewhat. Aldiss has some interesting ideas, and several which have not stood the test of time at all - in the end, it is these which make the book such tough going at times; there is no conscious irony in the earnest way in which Marxism is put forward as a real alternative, particularly in academic circles. None of the characters forsee that the marketplace might be the future for academia, and as a result, it seems somewhat stilted and one-sided. In addition, Aldiss seems determined to present all his characters as unappealing - more than simply flawed, Tom Squire is unpleasant and plain stupid at times; his wife Tess is by turns hopelessly wet and teeth-grindingly obtuse; and all of Tom's friends fall out with him at some point, despite the fact that they must all have come across his obnoxious - in truth, merely irritating, but it's presented as obnoxious - behaviour many times before. Tom has, of course - this is 1979 - a younger mistress who worships the ground he walks on, oblivious to any of his flaws. It just doesn't quite hang together.[return][return]And yet, I read it to the end. Aldiss is a stylist, and the story has a clever, elegant structure. And I also desparately wanted Tom Squire to meet his sticky end. In a way, he does, of course, but I think we're meant to see it as a triumphant climax. Anthony Burgess chose this as one of his 99 best novels in English since 1939; I'm afraid I struggled to see why. Perhaps if I had read it in pre-Thatcherite times; perhaps if I had mixed in Marxist academia it would all seem more real. Not yet a period piece, in the end it's a curiosity. File under 'read again in 30 years' - it will surely be a historical novel by then.

[Peter Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this and it began quite well but after reading some of the comments decided that it was a piece of history.Life is too short to finish it now,maybe later when nothing else is around

[Daniel Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of a letdown. This was on a list of the 75 most well written books of the 20th century. It is beautifully written with great detail and description. However, the story was a bit exhaustive. Would much rather recommend something by Somerset Maugham, whose writing this book reminded me of, but who weaves a good story as well.

[Vanyo666 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull, dated and boring until the end. I cannot care one inch about Tom Squire, despite his yoga and his Gurdjieff. Will not pursue the other books in this quartet. Wonder what Burgess saw in this.

[Anthony Faber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 1 of the Squire Quartet. Straight fiction. The main character seems to me to be totally clueless.