Saturday, July 01, 2006

"Take on the grand themes in the grand manner"

The Penguin Podcast this week has been featuring a reading/question-and-answer-period by Britsh novelist Will Self. Self is reading from his new novel The Book of Dave. The book is a satire on religion and man's religious impulse. It tells the story of a group of London civilization 700 years in the future. Civilization has collapsed when (I assume) the polar icecaps melt and everything is flooded. The people living on the Island of Ham have created religion based on the rantings of a London cab dirver Dave Roth.

In the question and answer portion of the podcast (episode 4 on the web site), Self discusses how he believe religion develops and how religions are often used to make people do things they aren't inherently inclined to do. He also discusses his writing process and making it as a writer.

The books isn't available in bookstores outside of Britain yet (as far as I can see--I looked it up: it isn't going to be in US bookstores until November). I'm probably going to just by it straight from Penguin.

Update: Bah!
Unfortunately, as you are a customer from the USA we are not allowed to sell to you. However, if you click here http://us.penguingroup.com you will be redirected to the Penguin Group (US) who will be delighted to help you.
Asshats. I blame the gov'ment!

Update 2: BWAHAHAH! Thank you amazon.co.uk.
Thank you for your order.
We will send you an e-mail confirmation shortly.
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4 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:43 PM

    I now have a small reason to live--that is, perhaps there is someone out there (i.e. the author of "Dave...") who understands religion enough to properly mock it and its most ardent (and annoying) adherents. I shall have this book as soon as the ORrris-BOoNasTy sends it to me. Until then I must maintain my absolute adherence to the Calvinist Christianity, lest I lose my social group, my existential padding and prove myself as one of the non-elect (i.e one of those unfortunate human souls that God created expressly for the purposes of glorifying himself by permitting me to fulfill my own hideous and well-deserved destiny in everlasting physical and psychological torture in hell).

    I hope that book becomes available soon.

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  2. Anonymous2:45 PM

    I wonder if the Dave book will be available in hell by the time I get there...?

    John T.

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  3. Clint Gardner5:54 PM

    I will loan it to you if I get it and read it in time for your imminent SLC appearance.

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  4. TheBunny1:47 PM

    Ooooo, I have ordered my copy also. The timing couldn't be more perfect. I was really surprised at my Mom's reaction (and I think she surprised herself) when I recently told her, "Mom, I don't think I'm a Christian anymore."

    ReplyDelete

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