Discourse of this quality is such a rarity. These stories were so intellectually nourishing on their own, it felt almost gluttonous to hear them analyzed so expertly by everyone. This last video was particularly excellent. I’m glad that I wasn’t the only one to draw ties to Solaris- actually to soviet golden age sci-fi in general. Whereas western scifi from the 40’s to the 60’s depicted shiny and optimistic futures, the soviets were fixated on the limits to man’s understanding in a limitless universe. Lafferty seems to have that fixation as well, though instead of darkening his outlook/writing it seems to be the source of his enthusiasm! Thank you everyone
@@frabousie Actually viewing and engaging such discourse is even *more* of a rarity. Thanks so much for frequently commenting meaningfully. I’m pleased that still others are drawing the Solaris connection. I still need to read the Strugatsky brothers, but I have a feeling there will be resonances there as well. I’m always struck by Delany’s remark that Lafferty goes past black comedy into ‘ultraviolet’ humour. His enthusiasm within the darkness that you note. Yeah, it was definitely an embarrassment of riches to discuss all these at length so richly with these guys. (And yet I keep wishing I had remembered to bring up this or that to chew over haha!) And little other than Lafferty’s fiction could’ve made it such a hilarious, delirious blast. Thanks again for watching and engaging this epic romp.😊
Discourse of this quality is such a rarity. These stories were so intellectually nourishing on their own, it felt almost gluttonous to hear them analyzed so expertly by everyone. This last video was particularly excellent. I’m glad that I wasn’t the only one to draw ties to Solaris- actually to soviet golden age sci-fi in general. Whereas western scifi from the 40’s to the 60’s depicted shiny and optimistic futures, the soviets were fixated on the limits to man’s understanding in a limitless universe. Lafferty seems to have that fixation as well, though instead of darkening his outlook/writing it seems to be the source of his enthusiasm! Thank you everyone
@@frabousie Actually viewing and engaging such discourse is even *more* of a rarity. Thanks so much for frequently commenting meaningfully. I’m pleased that still others are drawing the Solaris connection. I still need to read the Strugatsky brothers, but I have a feeling there will be resonances there as well. I’m always struck by Delany’s remark that Lafferty goes past black comedy into ‘ultraviolet’ humour. His enthusiasm within the darkness that you note. Yeah, it was definitely an embarrassment of riches to discuss all these at length so richly with these guys. (And yet I keep wishing I had remembered to bring up this or that to chew over haha!) And little other than Lafferty’s fiction could’ve made it such a hilarious, delirious blast. Thanks again for watching and engaging this epic romp.😊
gotta check out tanuki statues if you haven't seen/ heard of them.
saw a few when I was googling images - thought I put one in there; guess I forgot!🤪