Gerhard Roth is perhaps the most significant writer to emerge from the "hot-bed of geniuses," Forum Stadtpark, which has radically influenced German letters over the last two decades. His diverse body of work, encompassing experimental novels, plays, and a children's book, has garnered him numerous major awards, and several of his books have been adapted into films. He is an author who explores uncomfortable territory, with his writing often revolving around extreme mental states and behaviors.
A retired opera prompter finds himself ensnared in a web of intrigue when he travels to Venice for the holidays, only to discover his brother and sister-in-law missing. While attempting to write a travel guide, he faces threats and violence, leading to a chilling package containing their severed hands. As he delves deeper into the mystery, Aldrian becomes an unwilling participant in a deadly game, navigating the flooded city and confronting his own sanity amidst the chaos.
Exploring the essence of human intelligence, the book delves into factors such as brain size, the significance of intelligence centers, and the quantity of nerve cells. It examines the mind-brain relationship, questioning whether intelligence is absolute or relative, and offers insights into what sets human cognition apart from other species. Through this inquiry, it aims to deepen the understanding of the complexities of intelligence.
Misconceptions about salamanders abound, even among experts, as many believe they are confined to northern temperate regions and aquatic environments. In reality, over half of the species thrive in subtropical and tropical areas of the New World, with many adapted to higher temperatures and independent of aquatic habitats. Contrary to the belief that their brains and behaviors are primitive, studies reveal that salamanders possess advanced sensory systems and exhibit complex behaviors influenced by individual experiences, particularly in feeding and prey selection.
The story follows Emil Lanz, an Austrian translator in Venice, who faces a mid-life crisis that leads to a suicide attempt, interrupted by witnessing a murder. As mobsters target him, he fights back, altering his life dramatically. With the help of an eccentric billionaire, Emil grapples with his new reality, questioning whether he has entered a different dimension, an afterlife, or if he is merely insane. The narrative explores themes of survival, identity, and the nature of reality in the face of chaos.
Die Künstler von Gugging: ein faszinierender Einblick in eine fantastische Bilderwelt mit bisher unveröffentlichtem Fotomaterial. 1976 fuhr Gerhard Roth zum ersten Mal nach Gugging, in die Landesnervenheilanstalt nahe Wien, um den Leiter Leo Navratil und den Dichter Ernst Herbeck zu besuchen. Herbeck lebte in Gugging, mit anderen Patienten, die wie er an chronischen psychischen Erkrankungen litten, später wurde dort das so genannte „Haus der Künstler“ eingerichtet. Es war der Auftakt für eine tiefgreifende Auseinandersetzung, die bis heute anhält und Gerhard Roth stark geprägt hat. In der Folge besuchte er sie alle und immer wieder: August Walla, Johann Hauser, Oswald Tschirtner, heute ohne Ausnahme Künstler von Weltruf, aber auch die Vertreter der „zweiten Generation“ wie Arnold Schmidt, Karl Vondal, Leonhard Fink u. a. Roth war nicht nur von ihrer Kreativität beeindruckt, sondern auch von den Persönlichkeiten der Künstler und der Einheit von Leben und Werk, die er in ihnen erkannte. Dieses Buch dokumentiert eine bereits 35 Jahre dauernde Begegnung: mit zahlreichen Abbildungen der Künstler und ihrer Werke sowie Texten von Gerhard Roth über ihr Leben und ihre Bilder. Mehr als 300 seiner Fotografien zeigen sein tiefes Verständnis für das Leben und Schaffen dieser aussergewöhnlichen Menschen.
