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I have a deep affection for Vollman, yet I haven't managed to get to this particular book. It is something that I truly need to read.

Well, I've now reached 100 pages in, and it has been quite interesting so far! His writing in this book is the most "Pynchonesque" I've seen. This is probably because it is a very early novel of his. However, it also has a strong "William S. Burroughsish" flavor to it. It's as if the two of them came together and had an unnatural love child. Maybe it's not the absolute best Vollman book, but it's still a pretty good one, and it doesn't have to be on his "A" list.

As I continue to progress through the book, my liking for it grows more and more.

I've now finished reading it, and it was an excellent read! The word "unique" is a very fitting description for this book. LOL

When I look at the table of contents, I notice that it lists approximately twice as many chapters as there actually are in the book. This makes me find myself wishing that he had written another volume. LOL

I stop at 18% of the book.

The delirium is completely crazy, original and rich.

However, after reading several hundred pages, I give up.

Perhaps it's because the content is too intense or the writing style is a bit too avant-garde for me.

But still, I have to admit that there are some really interesting and thought-provoking parts in it.

I just can't seem to keep up with the author's train of thought for the entire nine hundred pages.

Maybe I'll come back to it later and give it another try, but for now, I'm content with what I've read.

Who knows, maybe the next time I pick it up, I'll be able to fully appreciate the genius of the author.

A novel that initially appears to center around electricity and a conflict between humans and bugs turns out to be a platform for insanity. Vollmann's brilliance lies in his seemingly limitless imagination. His fabricated histories are convincing falsehoods that, despite being far-fetched, possess an odd plausibility. You find yourself questioning if they are half true. There is a 4 or 5-page section where Vollmann employs his own purported breakup to depict the heartbreak of a character, and those pages seem to distill tragedy into a concentrated dose. Vollmann is truly remarkable!

He weaves a complex and captivating narrative that challenges the reader's perception of reality. The combination of the strange premise and his unique writing style makes for an engaging and thought-provoking read. Whether you are a fan of science fiction or simply enjoy exploring the boundaries of the imagination, Vollmann's work is sure to leave an impression.

His ability to create a world that is both familiar and alien is a testament to his talent as a writer. In this novel, he takes us on a journey through a dystopian landscape where the line between truth and fiction is blurred. It is a world where electricity holds the key to survival, and where the war between humans and bugs rages on.

Vollmann's attention to detail and his willingness to explore the darkest corners of the human psyche make this novel a must-read for anyone looking for something different. So, if you are ready to embark on a wild and unforgettable adventure, pick up this novel and prepare to be amazed.

A warning: this isn’t a review so much as it is me just trying to figure out what the hell I just read and my thoughts on it.

Before delving into this book, I had read two Vollmann works, both chosen mainly for their brevity. "Whores for Gloria," a novella that is part of his prostitution trilogy, and "Into the Forbidden Zone," a Kindle exclusive travelogue about going to Japan after the tsunami, mainly to report on the damaged nuclear plants. Both were disappointments.

However, I wasn't ready to give up on him. I don't recall where I heard it, but I convinced myself that his debut novel, "You Bright and Risen Angels," would be a good entry point into Vollmann's proper works. In hindsight, I regret this decision. After starting the book, I researched more about the author and his body of work. Although not explicitly stated, the way this work is mentioned makes it seem more suitable for completionists or those already in love with him.

I began reading with great excitement, but that enthusiasm quickly waned, and it took me about four and a half months to finish the book. (For comparison, I was able to finish the unabridged "Journey to the West" in three months.) The narrative is highly original, to the extent that I'm not sure I can accurately summarize it. There are two authors, one presumed to be Vollmann himself, and Big George, an ambiguous figure. They "battle" for control of the narrative, which is presented to us as words but could more accurately be described as a simulator. In this simulator, electricity brings numerous figures and their interactions to life. This is not the first time this simulation has been played, nor is there anything particularly special about this particular instance; it is merely a glimpse into one of many.

Within this world, which presents itself as a cartoonish version of ours, the forces of electricity, led by a man more villainous than all the baron-robbers combined, and bugs engage in a battle. The main characters are humans who have defected to the bugs. Somehow, this is a metaphor for the Afghani mujahedeen in the 80s. I won't claim to be particularly knowledgeable about the politics of that time and region. At times, I could see parallels from what little I know, but for the most part, I was simply confused.

It's maddening. The prose ranges from poetic language that makes your head struggle to wrap around to crass bathroom humor, which some may enjoy; I found it annoying and distracting. The cartoonish parts initially put me off, as did the narrative flow. I'm not really interested in some kids' experiences at summer camp; I'd much rather hear about their later lives as revolutionaries.

The characters are also, for the most part, rather one-dimensional. The main character's transformation from the ultimate loser into a revolutionary killer is hardly explored. Most of the other characters receive even less development. The final section of the book, following a traitorous character, is excellent and could probably stand alone as a short story. (This is no doubt helped by the entire section being a long digression; if you're looking for a concrete ending or answers about what happens to everyone, this may not be the book for you.)

And yet, despite the loose ends not being tied up at the end, the last 100 or so pages did manage to grip me. (There were glimmers there of the great contemporary American writer I keep hearing about.) The book itself requires a lot of work (Vollmann, I remember hearing, has since disregarded his first novel), but there is a great story here. The problem is that this isn't what Vollmann focused on. I've heard some people say that this is loosely based on Vollmann's own life, and indeed, there is some truth to that idea, which explains all the seemingly irrelevant parts. However, this knowledge doesn't immediately make the book better. There were times when I hated this book, moments when I cringed whenever I read about Vollmann, but now that I'm done with it, I'm glad I read it. It was ultimately good enough to make me want to read more Vollmann, perhaps "The Ice-Shirt," in the near future, but I don't ever see myself wanting to read this book again. I'll probably donate my copy. If you already love Vollmann, you should probably check this out; otherwise, pass.

The story presented is not easy to understand.

The plot seems disorganised, jumping from one event to another without a clear flow.

Moreover, it feels incomplete, leaving many loose ends and unanswered questions.

Worse still, there are no likeable characters that the reader can easily root for or empathise with.

However, despite all these drawbacks, one cannot deny that this guy can certainly write.

His use of language is vivid and descriptive, painting a detailed picture in the reader's mind.

The words he chooses have a certain charm and power that draw the reader in, even if the overall story is a bit of a mess.

It's as if he has a natural talent for writing, but perhaps needs to work on improving the structure and character development of his stories to make them more engaging and enjoyable for the reader.

Overall, while the story may not be perfect, it does show promise and leaves the reader curious to see what this writer will come up with next.

A Social Gazette of the Personalities Interviewed for this Book

--You Bright and Risen Angels: a cartoon

Author's Note

This book is a collection of interviews with a diverse range of personalities. Each person has their own unique story and perspective, which adds to the richness and depth of the overall work. The cartoon "You Bright and Risen Angels" serves as an interesting visual representation that may offer a different way of looking at the personalities within the book. It could potentially capture their essence or a particular aspect of their character in a creative and engaging manner. The author's note provides additional context and perhaps offers some insights or thoughts about the process of interviewing these individuals or the significance of their stories. Overall, this combination of the social gazette, the cartoon, and the author's note creates a multi-faceted exploration of the personalities and their contributions.

A plodding wasteland stretches for metaphoric depth at every turn.

It seems as if the pages of this book are filled with a never-ending expanse of dullness and monotony.

The story fails to engage, leaving the reader feeling as though they are trudging through a barren landscape with no sign of life or excitement.

I find myself regretting the time I spent on this book, longing to have it back.

However, unfortunately, that is not possible.

The hours lost in this literary wasteland are now a part of my past, a reminder of a reading experience that did not meet my expectations.

As I look back, I can't help but wonder what could have been if only the author had managed to bring some life and energy to the story.

Maybe then, it wouldn't have felt like such a chore to get through.

But alas, here we are, with a book that fails to leave a lasting impression and a reader left disappointed.

Even more necessary now than when it was first published,

this scathing critique of capitalist fascism, which in no way absolves the author,

serves as the wellspring from which Vollman drew inspiration.

In its waters, he metaphorically washed the feet of his idols and found the impetus for all that he wrote

up to, but not including, his second and even greater masterpiece, "Europe Central."

This work holds a special significance as it delves deep into the complex and often dark underbelly of society,

exposing the flaws and vices of capitalist fascism with a raw and unflinching gaze.

It forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths and challenges them to think critically about the world around them.

As we navigate the modern era, which is rife with its own set of problems and inequalities,

this hate fuck of capitalist fascism remains as relevant and thought-provoking as ever.

It serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need to constantly question and resist the forces that seek to oppress and exploit us.

Structurally, this book was in a complete mess.

The prose at times was so hyperbolic that it was truly distracting. It seemed to go overboard in its attempts to create an impact.

However, on the other hand, some of the writing within the book was thrillingly inventive and adroit. The author showed flashes of great creativity and skill in certain passages.

So, in many ways, this is a novel that can be considered a failed one, yet it is also an extremely ambitious one. It is punctuated by some extremely good writing and vignettes that stand out.

There are indeed episodes within the book that are worth searching out and exploring. They offer glimpses of the author's potential.

Nevertheless, I cannot recommend it as an enjoyable read overall. The flaws in its structure and the over-the-top prose in some parts detract from the overall experience.

It is a book that has its moments of brilliance but is ultimately let down by its inconsistent quality.

Vollman's first novel is truly a remarkable piece of work.

It is interspersed with moments that are absolute mind bogglingly genius, leaving the reader in awe of the author's creativity and imagination.

However, it also exhibits an immature lack of control, with the narrative sometimes veering off in unexpected and perhaps overly convoluted directions.

What's more, there is a penchant for turning absurdity intensely boring, as if the author is trying too hard to be different and ends up losing the reader's interest.

Overall, Vollman's first novel is about as frustrating and enlightening as any piece of experimental fiction. It challenges the reader's expectations and forces them to think outside the box, but at the same time, it can be a bit of a struggle to get through.

Nevertheless, for those who are willing to persevere, it offers a unique and thought-provoking reading experience that is well worth the effort.

A creative and highly entertaining book awaits readers. Vollmann presents a unique scenario where the forces of electricity are pitted against insects, and there are a few human allies in the mix. However, the book is not so much about a war as it is about following a small group of characters throughout their lives. As the story progresses, towards the end, Vollmann starts to bring in some of his characters from The Rainbow Stories. It's interesting to note that this is Vollmann's first fiction novel, while RS is his second, and they share some similarities.

Vollmann has a tendency to ramble, which unfortunately caused the book to lose momentum around the halfway point. The characters, such as Bug, felt rather flat throughout the narrative. Nevertheless, the beauty and ecstasy of the writing mostly managed to overshadow this drawback. The very beginning and the very end of the book are particularly interesting, captivating the reader's attention and leaving them with a lasting impression.