On Dhalgren

by Bill Wood (Editor)

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read Dhalgren I was living in an abandoned hotel in 90's Baltimore -- I immediately recognized the novel's landscape and characters. Even the shattered plot of the novel made sense to my addled brain. I still think it's probably the best novel I've ever read, and I'm glad this collection of reviews and essays was recommended to me (by the same person who handed me that initial copy of Dhalgren). It's fun to read the contemporary reviews -- in particular the reviews by legends like Harlan Ellison and Theodore Sturgeon. The critical work presented is fascinating and, at least some of it (some by a pseudonymous Delany himself) is quite detailed in regards to the key question of the novel -- ie, wtf is going on? The majority of the critical essays walk some (party) line between post-structuralism, or post-modernism, and semiotics, even delving into the realms of (fanciful?) mathematics and topology to try and tease out the answer to this central question. There are valuable hints from the author himself, although Delany tries to remain above the fray. I guess that I've read enough of Delany's essays and novels to have a sense of his philosophical leanings, and admit that my interpretation of the novel, while not radically changed, has been lent an analytical character that it certainly never had. The closing essay about the history of the publication of Hogg is a fascinating look at the publishing industry and also sheds light on Dhalgen (which was written at the same time). If you've made it through Dhalgren and have the patience for literary criticism I'd highly recommend this one although it comes with a warning: you might just end up reading Dhalgren again!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection of reviews, essays, and critiques of Samuel Delany's SF novel "Dhalgren"