I can't wait to read it. How about you?John Scalzi once remarked that people who took Atlas Shrugged seriously tended to be people who (a) imagined that they would wind up on top of the heap if the novel’s comprehensive societal breakdown actually took place, and (b) would in reality last about five minutes in such a situation. John Shirley’s maliciously entertaining new novel Everything is Broken (Prime Books) brings the Ayn Rand scenario to an isolated California coastal town where the libertarian mayor has done away with all those Big Government encumbrances like publicly funded police and fire services, just in time for an earthquake-generated tsunami to smash what’s left of the local infrastructure. Dead bodies are everywhere, Galt Gulch is a debris-choked canyon under armed guard by a band of thugs, and the closest thing to Midas Mulligan is a meth-snorting psychopath in league with the increasingly delusional mayor. A mean book for mean times, Everything is Broken is a bracingly realistic disaster novel with a much-needed political chip on its shoulder. Even a Ron Paul follower should think twice about knocking it off.
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I never made it through "Atlas Shrugged." After about twenty pages, I decided that I didn't want to spend two thousand more with such wretched writing. There are better books in the world.
ReplyDeleteI did finish "Anthem," largely because I was curious whether there was any link between the book and the song of the same title by the band, Rush (the Canadian rock group, not the radio host). The book has the virtue of being short, though equally badly written, and the band continues to be excellent.
"I did finish "Anthem," largely because I was curious whether there was any link between the book and the song of the same title by the band, Rush (the Canadian rock group, not the radio host)."
ReplyDeleteActually, Rushbo Fatfuck is a HUGE fan of Rand's Galtian bullshit. He is at the top of the shitpile of scumbags who make their living by lying to their credulous fearful and hatefuelled audience of credulous boobs.
Rush, the band, is fine--there's LOTS of fine bands out there.
Rand IS one of the lamest authors in print. However, her crap, like "Mein Kampf" her book appeals to a lot of losers who imagine that, but for the international--insert your favorite bogeyman group, here--conspiracy to keep them down THEY would rule the world. Fucking simps.
I've never read Atlas Shrugged. The way some of you get all worked up over it, maybe I should.
ReplyDeleteFatWhiteMan:
ReplyDeleteReading "Atlas Shrugged" is a punishment I wouldn't inflict on any but the most hardened criminal.
Think, "Johathon Livingston Seagull" bad for about 8 times the page count. Otoh, it will prolly burn as long as 2 or 3 othem fake logs.
I liked both Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. I've reread part of The Fountainhead recently and plan to give Atlas another look.
ReplyDeleteI don't make any promises about persevering though, for one reason the internet has ruined my attention span and that famous book requires some time.