#or hummingbird salamander or ambergris

[rival-the-rose]

I revisited Borne by Jeff Vandermeer again this week and as always was struck by how much symbolism and allegory appears to be shoved in his writing but either I'm missing the majority of the references or it's all more of a "where lies the strangling fruit" situation.

[that-dinopunk-guy]

I bought some books.

[essektheylyss]

I'm currently reading The Ministry for the Future, and it's really pinpointing some of my issues with contemporary fiction and why I struggle to solve them. It's essentially a near-future speculative fiction concept about climate change, which I think is difficult for me whether optimistic or fatalistic. I am suspicious of escapism where some miraculous solution is found, because I do not enjoy being placated and I find that I have no patience for those who want to be (in this genre of fiction anyway—I personally don't like escapism in general but I acknowledge its necessity otherwise), but I also get frustrated with defeatism because it tends to fall dangerously close to, if not outright within the bounds of, ecofascism, and if a middle ground between the two within a semi-realistic story exists, I haven't found it yet.

Granted, I am only about 20% of the way into this book, so it remains to be seen if Robinson has found that, but... it is making me think I should stick primarily to second-world speculative fiction.

[noxwithoutstars]

i love areaxlibric!! have u seen the movie adaptation of annihilation?

thanks ashdfglkjhds

not yet :'(

Considering the book, I'm kind of terrified to watch it (but that's not the reason I haven't seen it yet). I have, however, read most of VanderMeer's other books. The only ones I haven't read are the Ambergris trilogy and The Strange Bird. I just finished rereading Hummingbird Salamander omg that book is a trip.