الموت الحراري للكون

by Pamela Zoline, أحمد صلاح المهدي (Translator)

رؤية كابوسية من الواقع اليومي لزوجة وأم أمريكية من الطبقة المتوسطة، تغمرها الفوضى المتزايدة في منزلها، مُحاطة بالأوساخ وبقايا الحياة اليومية. في محاولاتها لتنظيم هذه الفوضى تحلم بتنظيف «الكون» بأكمله وترتيبه من «الإنتروبيا الكونية» التي تقود كل شيء نحو الفوضى والتدهور.

داخل هذه المساحة المنزلية، تُقدَّم حياتها كما لو كانت «تجربة علمية». ونجد أنفسنا مدعوين لنكون مشاهدين لمعاناتها الخاصة، وتأمل مصير كلٍّ من الكون وحياتها المنزلية.

قد لا تبدو قصة «الموت الحراري للكون» للوهلة الأولى خيالًا علميًّا على الإطلاق؛ فهي لا تحتوي على وحوش ذات عيون جاحظة، أو رحلات بين الكواكب، أو عوالم ما بعد نهاية العالَم، أو عجائب تكنولوجية، إنها لا تُركِّز على الفضاء «الخارجي» بقدر ما تُركِّز على الفضاء «الداخلي» لبطلة القصة، التي تشعر بـ«الموت الحراري» الخاص بها، حيث تنظر إلى «الفوضى» كدليل على تفكك عالمها وعقلها.

نوع مختلف من القصص ذات بنية «تجريبية»، تتميز بأسلوب سرد مُجَزَّأ وغير خطي، تتداخل المشاهد الواقعية لحياة بطلتها مع تعليقات فلسفية وعلمية عشوائية حول الفلك، والفيزياء، وطبيعة الوجود، وعلى القراء فك رموز كل فقرة وعبارة، بل حتى كل كلمة، لبناء عالَم النص وبالتالي فهمه.

تُعَد هذه القصة رمزًا لـ«موجة الخيال العلمي الجديدة»، التي ركزت على استكشاف العوالم «الداخلية» والتجريب الشكلي في الأساليب السردية.

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction, Fiction, Feminism

ebook

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Don Wentworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply put, this is perhaps the single greatest science fiction story. Ever.

Ever.

Brutal, incisive, surreal, acerbic and bleak, it is simply not to be missed. Let the buyer beware.

[Adam Meek · Rating 2 out of 5]

At lunch only one glass of milk is spilled.

[Mia Steadman · Rating 4 out of 5]

“35. Sarah Boyle has at times felt a unity with her body, at other times a complete separation. The mind/body duality considered. The time/space duality considered. The male/female duality considered. The matter/ energy duality considered. Sometimes, at extremes, her Body seems to her an animal on a leash, taken for walks in the park by her Mind. […] 36. Housework is never completed, the chaos always lurks ready to encroach on any area left unweeded, a jungle filled with dirty pans and the roaring of giant stuffed toy animals suddenly turned savage. Terrible glass eyes.”

⭐️4
A very engaging read for one of my Master’s classes analysing early examples of feminist science fiction.

Structurally, I found it really interesting, especially the way the domestic sphere is broken up and reframed through scientific terminology. The domestic overpowers the scientific, taking up space literally and narratively. This is all done in a really cohesive way, the integration is thoughtful and effective.

There’s a heavy use of imagery and symbolism throughout. The title itself carries a double meaning - scientific and social - for the female main character. I found the recurring ‘Russian doll’ imagery particularly engaging. It acts as a powerful representation of reproduction, the continuation of oppression, and deep, generational female rage. I also loved the symbol of the ‘glass eyes’ signifying the disconnect between inner and outer realities, and the main character’s (as well as a wider feminine) loss of self.

The short story ends with a chaotic and ambiguous crescendo, but not an unexpected one. We've seen ‘The Heat Death of the Universe’ unravel throughout, building toward this clattering, destructive conclusion. I'm excited to explore this text further in my studies!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So when Ballard did this in 'The Atrocity Exhibition' I was bamboozled, trying to make narrative sense of it. I'm glad that I read that before I read this. Ballard taught me to give up all pre-conceived notions of the novel form, or any other recognisable literary form, which made it easier to read this very clever and interesting short story (although I use that term loosely). A female response to Ballard's intensely male and misogynistic Avant-garde approach? Possibly, but I think it does something more interesting than just write back to the male perspective.

[Sarah Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

*not adding read dates b/c I don't want a 10 page story clogging up my book goal*

The material in Monster, She Wrote about female pulp horror/sci-fi writers unlocked a hidden memory of this story I read as a teenager in one of my parents' old sci-fi anthologies and I just had to go read it again. As a teen I thought it was pretty weird but kinda cool. As an adult I think it's one of the best short stories ever written.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite uncomfortable and difficult to read due to the format. Sort of reads like a screenplay, though not in a positive sense.

"Sarah Boyle is never quite sure how many children she has" (31).

I didn't really enjoy reading it. It might be said that the importance and relevance of the story were lost on me, I don't know. I'm just not all that impressed by the content.

[Vanessa Yeazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one read for my sci-fi class (will these reviews of super short stories ever stop? No, no they won't sorry). Unique story, and story structure. It was thought-provoking, especially the descent into madness by the mother figure. Didn't blow my mind, but still enjoyed it.

[andrea hartmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this short story was about as overwhelming as spilling a glass of milk at lunchtime.

Except maybe this story has a shred of meaning, though was too complicated.

[sam young · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay after finishing and understanding the plot it actually makes sense and was pretty good

[Kurt Rongey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it from a pdf facsimile of the July 1967 issue of New Worlds.

[Bianca (caca) · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was confused but by the end I was like… yep I get it I hate it that I get it but I kinda love it too

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Boyle would’ve been very active in the I Regret Having Children Facebook group

[Frank Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

10th Jan. 2023 - OK. So I've tried this again and I still don't see what anybody is getting out of this. I hesitate to even call it science fiction.

6th Jan. 2023 - Well, I didn't get it. Maybe I should try it again tomorrow night.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what high school felt like.

[Jessica Mae Stover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can be found in this collection: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

This story is part of a curated, scifi-thematic, challenge read that I programmed. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... Let me know if you take me up on it!