Books matching: surreal environments
100 result(s)
- #1
Save:The novella "This World Is Full of Monsters" by Jeff VanderMeer is a bizarre and poetic story that delves into themes of loss, transformation, acceptance, and joy. The writing style is described as dream-like, with dense attention to detail that demands reader collaboration in imagination. The plot follows a character on a strange journey through a world filled with exotic creatures, where reality and imagination blur.
- #2
Save:Helen Oyeyemi's 'What is Not Yours is Not Yours' is a collection of linked short stories that blend fairy tales, folklore, and contemporary culture. The stories feature diverse characters and settings, with elements of magical realism and mythological ideas. The writing style is described as beautiful, with exquisite details that draw in the reader and a natural flow that veers among the weird, humorous, and practical.
Once upon a time in Catalonia a baby was found in a chapel. This was over at Santa Maria de Montserrat. It was an April morning. And the baby was so wriggly and minuscule that the basket she was found... - #3
Save:A Planet Called Treason, by Orson Scott Card, takes place on a strange planet called Treason. Here, several families, banished for their rebellious pasts, develop unique abilities and specializations tied to their survival. The story centers on Lanik Mueller, a prince with mutations that grant him extra limbs and parts, adding a surreal twist to his quest. This book blends elements of fantasy and science fiction, creating a captivating, albeit odd, narrative that poses deep questions about morality and identity.
Card's writing style is imaginative and engaging, inviting readers to visualize the story as if it were a film. While some are drawn in by its emotional and philosophical depth, others find the main character's transformations unsettling. The book's blend of action and intellectual stimulation creates a mix of fascination and discomfort, making it a memorable yet polarizing read.
- #4
Save:'The Wine-Dark Sea' by Robert Aickman is a collection of unsettling and atmospheric horror stories that delve into themes of psychological unease, supernatural encounters, and mysterious occurrences. Aickman's writing style is described as quiet, subtle, and masterfully crafted, evoking a sense of disquiet and uncanniness that lingers long after the stories are finished. The narratives often revolve around characters with hidden secrets and dark pasts, leading them into eerie and inexplicable situations that challenge their perceptions of reality.
Aickman at his best was this century’s most profound writer of what we call horror stories and he, with greater accuracy, preferred to call strange stories. In his work is a vast disparity between the... - #5
Save:The Barnum Museum by Steven Millhauser is a collection of short stories that are described as experimental and unconventional in nature. The writing style is often praised for being strange, unsettling, and immersive, with a focus on detailed descriptions and evocative prose. The stories range from eerie and mysterious to philosophical and thought-provoking, with a mix of hypnotists, old cinemas, strange museums, and bizarre concepts that create a dreamlike atmosphere throughout the book.
The board. The board shows the ground plan of an English mansion. The nine rooms are displayed along the sides of the board and are connected by a floor consisting of a series of identical yellow squa... - #6
Save:Livia Llewellyn's 'Furnace' is a collection of dark and sensual stories that blend horror, the strange, and the erotic into a haunting and evocative narrative. The book features tales that explore themes of death, annihilation, and transformation, all wrapped in sumptuous prose and unsettling dream logic. Readers are drawn into a world where reality is turned inside out, with blood, sex, and horror on full display, leaving a lasting impact reminiscent of Franz Kafka's work.
The collection showcases Llewellyn's talent for crafting stories that are dark, disturbing, and unforgettable. From explicit sex intertwined with themes of death to narratives that challenge perceptions of reality, 'Furnace' takes readers on a journey through ethereal landscapes where characters grapple with their desires, fears, and the unknown. Each story in the collection offers a unique exploration of human nature, often leaving readers with conflicting emotions and a sense of unease that lingers long after the book is closed.
There is a place deep in the warehouse district, far outside the civilized edges of the city called Obsidia, where the population bleeds off into cul-de-sacs and dead-end roads, where only abandoned b... - #7
Save:In the distant future at the End of Time, the remaining humans have god-like powers, including the ability to alter their environments at will and collect space and time travelers for amusement. The protagonist, Jherek Carnelian, decides to fall in love with Mrs. Amelia Underwood, a Victorian time traveler, and embarks on a journey to rescue her, leading to humorous and fantastical adventures. The book is a mix of science fiction, fantasy, social commentary, and satire, creating a rich and decadent culture where death is unknown, birth is rare, and innocence and humor play central roles in the narrative.
Between the Iron Orchid and her son, Jherek Carnelian, lay the remains of a lunch. Spread on a cloth of plain damask were ivory plates containing pale fish, potatoes, meringue, vanilla ice-cream and, ... 'The Shadow at the Bottom of the World' by Thomas Ligotti is a collection of short stories that delve into philosophical terror and existential horror. Ligotti's writing style weaves a narrative of bleakness, evil, and the futility of life, with recurring themes of doppelgangers, puppets, and malevolent forces lurking within the world. The stories explore the depths of darkness and the unsettling nature of existence, creating a world that is familiar yet discomfortingly foreign, with dense and complex characters that challenge the reader's perception of reality.
The book showcases Ligotti's growth as a writer over the years, ranging from traditional gothic modes to surreal and darkly comedic works. The stories are arranged chronologically, offering a condensed overview of Ligotti's unique writing style that is characterized by obsessively composed bleakness and a sense of nihilism that is both captivating and unsettling.
My interest in the town of Mirocaw was first aroused when I heard that an annual festival was held there which promised to include, to some extent, the participation of clowns among its other elements...- #9
Save:'The Third Bear' by Jeff VanderMeer is a collection of short stories that delve into dark dream logic, creating worlds and moods that are compelling and immersive. The stories are described as beholden to more of a dream logic rather than a true logic, held together by feel and atmospheric writing. The writing style is praised for its thickly layered language and innovative use of style, with each story offering a unique and unconventional narrative.
Fitted in chain mail, leathers, and a metal helmet, carrying an old sword some knight had once left in Grommin by mistake, Clem set forth in search of the Third Bear. The entire village came out to se... - #10
Save:'The Way Through Doors' by Jesse Ball is a unique and dreamlike novel that weaves together multiple stories within stories, creating a non-linear narrative that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. The book follows a man who tells stories to an amnesiac woman in an attempt to trigger her memory, leading to a series of interconnected tales that are both whimsical and mysterious. With a writing style reminiscent of fables and old-world fairy tales, the book creates a dreamlike atmosphere that lingers with the reader long after putting it down.
The room was broad, and lit from behind by massive windows that lined the dark mahogany-paneled wall. Light came through in a vague haze, sifted just beyond the glass by the leaves of the oaks from th...
