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The Da Vinci Machine
Hodson's Caper shortstoryJacob Wrestles With the Angel shortstoryMade He a Rib shortstoryMaturation of the Aborigines shortstory Medical Chart of Stephen Payne shortstory Ook Ook Ook shortstory Origins of Pill and Hammer shortstory Report on the Condition of Poetry Circa A.D. 2022 shortstoryThe Cosmic Megillah shortstoryThe Da Vinci Machine shortstoryThe Ecstasy Machine or Professor A'Gley in Antimatterland novellaThe Feasibility Plan shortstoryThe Proof Was in Drinkwater's Pudding shortstory The Two by Fours shortstory Thermidor shortstory Upshaw's Upset shortstory
- GenresScience Fiction
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 19, 2019
The cover and back of the book makes this seem like a novel, but it's in fact a short story collection.. many of them VERY short. The author has a wry sense of humor that shines through in a few of them, but a couple of the others are just nonsensical.
His main issue is population control, as all his story refer to the world population being far in excess of what it is and that it's a huge issue.
I think the oddest one is the title story, the Da Vinci Machine, which talks about how all the old art and artists are no longer appreciated because there's a type writer-like machine that lets anyone create a masterpiece... is his dissing typewriters? Printing? I very odd thing indeed for a writer.
He talks about the impact of musicians as pop icons in 'Ook Ook Ook', which is so over the top it's awesome, even if I think his purpose was to 'warn' against it.
Then there's the final story, which is just weird.
Considering how short it is, probably worth a look.
His main issue is population control, as all his story refer to the world population being far in excess of what it is and that it's a huge issue.
I think the oddest one is the title story, the Da Vinci Machine, which talks about how all the old art and artists are no longer appreciated because there's a type writer-like machine that lets anyone create a masterpiece... is his dissing typewriters? Printing? I very odd thing indeed for a writer.
He talks about the impact of musicians as pop icons in 'Ook Ook Ook', which is so over the top it's awesome, even if I think his purpose was to 'warn' against it.
Then there's the final story, which is just weird.
Considering how short it is, probably worth a look.
December 7, 2008
Some good weird shit in here. Kilgore Troutish.
August 17, 2014
This is a book of short stories. About a third are 1 star, a third are 3 star, and a third are 5 star. So the book as a whole gets the average.
The book has a lot of clever commentary about the state of the world, using clever metaphor and allegory. For example, there's a short story about a man who's crushed in a car accident, and it takes the medics 9 hours to resurrect him and regenerate his limbs... a feat for which he sues them because he's pissed that it took so long. Another chapter involves a man taking up murder and cannibalism because he knows that nobody will do anything so long as it happens to somebody else (an allegory about how we allow horrible atrocities overseas so long as it doesn't affect us).
Those stories are delightful. Fun to read, full of meaning, and capturing the sense that modern societal norms involve entitlement over gratitude, and a deep sense of apathy.
Other chapters, like Ook Ook Ook - which basically involves a cult religion revolving around an Elvis-like singer and eventually leads to world peace because people like the hip gyrations and the sound... they were a waste of my time to read. Some of the chapters leave you scratching your head in bafflement as they read like they were written by a sleep deprived 12 year old.
It's hard to find a copy, so its unlikely one will fall into your possession, but if one does, I recommend you read the first few stories, and stop as soon as you get to one you don't like. The order is arranged such that the best stories are early in the book.
The book has a lot of clever commentary about the state of the world, using clever metaphor and allegory. For example, there's a short story about a man who's crushed in a car accident, and it takes the medics 9 hours to resurrect him and regenerate his limbs... a feat for which he sues them because he's pissed that it took so long. Another chapter involves a man taking up murder and cannibalism because he knows that nobody will do anything so long as it happens to somebody else (an allegory about how we allow horrible atrocities overseas so long as it doesn't affect us).
Those stories are delightful. Fun to read, full of meaning, and capturing the sense that modern societal norms involve entitlement over gratitude, and a deep sense of apathy.
Other chapters, like Ook Ook Ook - which basically involves a cult religion revolving around an Elvis-like singer and eventually leads to world peace because people like the hip gyrations and the sound... they were a waste of my time to read. Some of the chapters leave you scratching your head in bafflement as they read like they were written by a sleep deprived 12 year old.
It's hard to find a copy, so its unlikely one will fall into your possession, but if one does, I recommend you read the first few stories, and stop as soon as you get to one you don't like. The order is arranged such that the best stories are early in the book.
September 20, 2015
A bizzare collection of 1960s sci-fi. Alien ladders murder people. That is the most normal story you get. I love this stuff. Check it out, everyone.
October 10, 2011
An odd little collection of stories all loosely based around the concept of life in a future America of the mid-2000s or so during and after a huge population explosion. Written in the 60s and obviously dated in quite a few ways (personal cameras are referred to as "Brownies", for one). Some amusing bits, overall, interesting enough to be worth the dollar I paid for it at a Goodwill.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews