Riddley Walker redux

[altariel]

I finished Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban last night, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

It's a fable on technology and power, and the struggle for power. It's mythic and earthy. It's about the rise and fall and rise of civilizations. It's written in a worn-down English. It's brilliantly and blackly comic. It's bleak as hell.

I'm often a lazy reader, but I took my time over this one. The effort was worth it. I'll be thinking about it for years.

(espresso_addict, you might find this article interesting; anyone else, it gives away a lot of the book's secrets.)

"Why is Punch crookit? Why wil he all ways kil the babby if he can? Parbly I wont never know its jus on me to think on it."

Obedience, insanity, to stop the body being despoiled by orcs, dulce et decorum est, a greater good, or the promise of eternal life. Who can say?

Comments

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it! One of those unforgettable books; I've never been sure why it isn't better known. I love Hoban's writing in general, though I don't think he's ever written anything else as potent & concentrated.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

It really should be much better known. I think he's written some children's books that are meant to be very good.