Month: July 2011

Platform by Michel Houellebecq (Translated by Frank Wynne)

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I was working on a revision of a story, and a character ended up needing to recommend a French author. Searching my memory, I came up with only a few names, including Camus and Sartre, but as I wanted something more recent, I tried to think of another French writer; Bernard Werber is popular in Korea, and so came to mind, but it was the wrong author to think of, so finally, perhaps because I’d recently mentioned him (here), Michel Houellebecq came to mind. I recalled many of the things I’d read about him: the accusations of his racism, of …

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“Trois morceaux en forme de mechanika” in the latest Clarkesworld!

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My newest publication, “Trois morceaux en forme de mechanika,” is now live as part of Clarkesworld #58 (July 2011). You can see the text (linked above) or listen to the podcast, wonderfully-narrated by Kate Baker, whatever you prefer. There’s all kinds of other good stuff this issue too, especially the hauntingly odd and very smart “Frozen Voice” by An Owomoyela (with its layers of language, linguistic colonialism, “alien” invasion — tough month for humans on Clarkesworld, this July is! — textuality, and identity). There’s some good nonfiction up this month too, including a sensible comment on ebooks (and how people talk …

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Trois morceaux en forme de mechanika

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“Trois morceaux en forme de mechanika” appeared in Clarkesworld #58 (July 2011). This is the second story I’ve written in the steampunky world of a mechanikae uprising. It explores some of the same issues as the previous story, “The Clockworks of Hanyang” and I won’t post a lengthy discussion of its themes, but instead will simply note things that might be of interest to one who has read it: The title is indeed inspired by the piece of music that the mechanika in Erik Satie’s room ponders. Satie, 19th century French composer, wrote the piece as a rebuke to critics …

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