tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post7262445432627493131..comments2024-03-25T11:29:25.356-04:00Comments on Existential Ennui: Review: Anarchaos by Curt Clark, a.k.a. Donald E. Westlake (Ace Books, 1967); Plus "Lost" Novel The Comedy is Finished CoverNick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-24471677682200531782014-09-10T10:46:36.932-04:002014-09-10T10:46:36.932-04:00Thank you for that considered comment, Mr Brooks. ...Thank you for that considered comment, Mr Brooks. I've written quite a lot about Westlake's SF work since this post, if you're interested; search for "westlake science fiction" or similar in the Existential Ennui search box in the right hand column and you'll see my various posts.Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-38986002767481871922014-08-27T03:04:51.471-04:002014-08-27T03:04:51.471-04:00Recently, I just came across this fantastic work, ...Recently, I just came across this fantastic work, Anarchaos at a book store.<br /><br />I began reading Science Fiction in 1962, and have many of the Galaxy, World's of If, Analog, etc. magazines of the 60s and early 70s.<br /><br />I was aware that Mr Westlake was the man behind Point Blank, etc, but I was only familiar with his SF work.<br /><br />I agree with the reviewer that Anarchaos begins as a Revenge story, but it quickly becomes a very different treatment of the subject matters of 1984, Brave New World, The World of Null-A, etc., all SF classics and some clearly referenced by name.<br /><br />Mr Westlake provides a reasoned, intelligent and quite prophetic destruction of free market anarchistic dogmas, resulting in the lack of government oversight of currency, imports, exports, banking, corporations and the exact situation, we face in the US right now. Just as the reviewer points out.<br /><br />Malone's [Westlake's] thoughts are quite plainly spoken as he names many of primary "intellectuals" that promoted Anarchism, Libertarianism and several other unproven "isms", stating that their writings were given unwarranted weight and bluntly criticizing the naive notion that the innate "goodness" of men and multi national corporations could replace intelligent, benevolent government.<br /><br />The book is ultimately not about revenge. It is about personal responsibility, to the human race. <br /><br />The main character, Malone, appears to be a direct link to US Senator Malone, the author of the 1959 book "Mainline" warning of the evils of free market anarchy.<br /><br />Highly recommended, this novel may have been too blunt, back in the 1960s, to reach a mass market. <br /><br />I will place it with my copies of 1984, Animal Farm, The Violent Man, etc.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17952482511394556576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-48264098057471429472011-04-20T10:42:04.758-04:002011-04-20T10:42:04.758-04:00They're great. Try Flashman At The Charge (197...They're great. Try Flashman At The Charge (1973), the fourth book to be published. I think this may be my favourite so far: Flashy roped into the Charge of the Light Brigade, kidnapped by Russians, and finally the unwilling saviour of the British Raj with a band of Afghani warriors. The characteristic moment is when Flashy lightens the load of his hotly-pursued carriage by discarding his recent conquest, nude and asleep within a bed of furs, into the Russian snow. Anything for England!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-17321700731890522922011-04-19T06:30:42.195-04:002011-04-19T06:30:42.195-04:00I haven't, but I've heard good things. hav...I haven't, but I've heard good things. have you read any of them?Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-62414153608923623002011-04-19T05:00:49.416-04:002011-04-19T05:00:49.416-04:00Exciting news on the lost Westlake.
Say, Nick, ha...Exciting news on the lost Westlake.<br /><br />Say, Nick, have you ever read MacDonald Fraser's Flashman series? There's 12 to collect. I have a cover gallery here:<br />http://matthewasprey.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/flashman-covert-art-by-gino-dachille/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-13435408486914452322011-04-18T08:57:14.544-04:002011-04-18T08:57:14.544-04:00Ta! I got nothing against aliens per se: some of m...Ta! I got nothing against aliens per se: some of my best friends are xenomorphs. I just think the novel might've been more ludicrous and possibly less believable (at least as believable as it is, anyway) with extraterrestrials in the mix as well.Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-23898617592871491952011-04-18T08:49:08.539-04:002011-04-18T08:49:08.539-04:00Great review. Though why the ethnocentrism toward...Great review. Though why the ethnocentrism towards aliens!?OlmanFeelyushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17521657876810568251noreply@blogger.com