William S. Burroughs was an American novelist, essayist, and performer, a pivotal figure of the Beat Generation and an influential postmodern author. His work, often drawing from personal experiences with drug addiction and violence, is characterized by sharp social critique and experimental literary techniques like the cut-up method. Burroughs gained notoriety for his novels that courted controversy and challenged the moral and political systems of his era. His influence extends beyond literature into popular culture, where he is lauded for his unique vision and subversive power.
The novella began as a story treatment for a proposed film adaptation of Alan E. Nourse's novel The Bladerunner. A later edition published in the 1980s changed the formatting of the title to Blade Runner, a movie. Burroughs' treatment is set in the early 21st century and involves mutated viruses and 'a medical-care apocalypse'. The term 'blade runner' referred to a smuggler of medical supplies, e.g. scalpels.
First published in 1963 and representing Burroughs's literary breakthrough in the UK, Dead Fingers Talk is, in the words of Burroughs scholar Prof. Oliver Harris, a prophetic work of haunting power, and is perhaps the most commercial and accessible of his works. Combining new material with selections from Naked Lunch and his cut-up novels The Soft Machine and The Ticket That Exploded, the book is also a fascinating precursor to remix and mash-up forms in art and music, which owe much to Burroughs's influence. This newly edited edition of Dead Fingers Talk, based on the restored text of the novel, will delight all Burroughs fans and lovers of experimental literature, and offer a new insight into the artistic process of one of the most original and influential writers of the twentieth century.
The fortieth anniversary edition of the trenchant science-fiction screen treatment written in the mid-1970s. William S. Burroughs outlines the coming medical-care apocalypse: a Dante-esque horror show brought to a boil by a mutated virus and right-wing politics, set in a future all too near.
Ve vyvrcholení Burroughsovy trilogie se v kratších prózách opět pohybujeme v krajích děsivých nočních můr, vzdáleně připomínajících pralesy Jižní Ameriky, v mimozemském prostoru, ale i v ulicích Londýna a jeho podsvětí. Burroughs své povídky opět zaplnil fantastickými postavami z ještě fantastičtějších – a hrozivějších – světů a jeho mistrná koláž, pracující s prvky populární kultury, reklamy, sci-fi a detektivní prózy a popisující neznámé drogy i sex ve všech podobách, nemá za cíl šokovat, ale poukazovat. Varovat. William Burroughs je zcela nenapodobitelný, a to nejen ve svém psaní, hlavně ale v síle a pravdivosti svých idejí, které se nám snaží předat – dříve, než bude pozdě.
William S. Burroughs explores themes of revolution and resistance against oppressive governments, blending parody with serious commentary. His work serves as both a critique and a guide for destabilizing institutional power, reflecting on the role of language and social media in challenging authority. The narrative is infused with humor and horror, leaving readers questioning the line between satire and earnestness, while also offering unsettlingly relevant insights into contemporary societal issues.
"Climate: Into the 21st Century" offers a collection of essays by top meteorological experts, detailing the global climate system of the 20th century. It highlights extreme climatic events, advancements in climate observation, and predictability. Illustrated and engaging, it's ideal for both general readers and educational use.
An intense, compelling conversation between legendary Beat icons William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, featuring photos by Ginsberg, and details of Burroughs' shamanic exorcism of the demon that led him to shoot his wife and drove his work as a writer.
'He felt a sudden deep pity for the finger joint that lay there on the dresser, a few drops of blood gathering around the white bone.' A deliberately severed finger, a junky's Christmas miracle and a Tangier con-artist, among others, feature in these hallucinogenic sketches and stories from the infamous Beat legend. Penguin Modern: fifty new books celebrating the pioneering spirit of the iconic Penguin Modern Classics series, with each one offering a concentrated hit of its contemporary, international flavour. Here are authors ranging from Kathy Acker to James Baldwin, Truman Capote to Stanislaw Lem and George Orwell to Shirley Jackson; essays radical and inspiring; poems moving and disturbing; stories surreal and fabulous; taking us from the deep South to modern Japan, New York's underground scene to the farthest reaches of outer space.
Sbírka dopisů, deníkových poznámek, povídek a autobiografických črt z poloviny 50. let doplňují a zpřesňují obraz autora, který tolik ovlivnil kontrakulturu 60. let a svými popisy nočních můr, prorockých vizí a svobodou myšlení zasáhl do nejrůznějších oborů –heavymetalu, sci-fi literatury a filosofie. Interzóna – což byl pracovní název pro knihu, jež později vyšla jako Nahý oběd – sestává ze tří částí: „Příběhy“, „Leeův deník“ a „Slovo“. Pokud chcete vědět, co se skrývá pod výrazem hipster a hisperská mluva, zapomeňte na Jacka Kerouaka i Neala Cassadyho. Přečtěte si Interzónu.
The Latin American Notebook of William S. Burroughs, Revised Edition
Set in late summer 1953, this notebook captures William Burroughs' introspective reflections following a transformative four-year journey in Latin America. While on the brink of literary success with his first novel, he grapples with personal turmoil and foreboding cultural shifts. The entries reveal a candid exploration of his psyche, showcasing a man caught between ambition and impending disaster, making it a poignant snapshot of Burroughs' life during a pivotal moment in his career.