[onions]

...by Russel Hoban.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I read it again from time to time and it just thwaps me over the head every time.

Anyone else read it?

(Please don't move my thread to the sci-fi-section! I know the plot is set in the future, but there's no science and plenty of mystic and folkloric stuff.)

onions

[jfclark]

I just got this book in the mail yesterday, haven't started reading it yet. I have read (twice) Hoban's The Lion of Jachin-Boaz and Boaz-Jachin, which is a densely worded fable of sorts. It was good enough to lead me to order Riddley Walker, though I won't claim it was exactly a classic.

[Llama]

Agreed, it's a very good book. One of the best of the "post-apocalyptic" genre.

[Yobmod]

I'm just reading this. Good so far.

The language seemed like it would be a problem, but actually the concentration it required draws me deeper into the book.
Only problem so far is that i'm about 100 pages in and nothing much is happening (he's found the eyeless Eusa child). All the fables and myths we're given are a good substitute for a plot so far, but theres only 120 more pages left, i hope they'll be some conflict / excitment.

btw, this is SF :p

[alison]

I reckon Hoban is a great writer. But he's kind of unclassifiable, which I think obscures his reputation; people don't know whether to put him under SF or Fantasy or Literature or what. Also, none of his books are remotely like the other ones. Pilgermann is one of the darkest books i have ever read, The Lion of Jachin-Boaz and Boaz-Jachin such a beautiful (and I found, moving) poetic fable; The Mouse and His Child a completely beautiful children's book, and so on. Riddly Walker's astounding; I didn't have trouble with the plot, as such, I just couldn't put it down.